Carpet beetles get their name from the feeding habits of their larvae. The larvae feed on natural fibers found in rugs, carpet, clothing, and other fabric items. Infestations can lead to significant damage to these items. To keep these beetles from moving into your space, there are a few things you’ll want to do. Check out a few tips to help you keep your home free of carpet beetles.
1. Seal Entry Points
The best way to prevent a carpet beetle infestation is to ensure that these pests can’t get into your house. You’ll want to check the exterior of your home for potential entry points. Look for cracks in siding, door and window frames, and the foundation. If you find openings, seal them with caulk or steel wool. Gaps near cables and utility lines can also provide pests with a way indoors. If you don’t have screens on your doors and windows, it’s best to leave them shut.
2. Check Items Before Bringing Them into Your Home
Carpet beetles can also make their way inside on different things. Adult beetles hang out on plants because they feed on nectar. Check potted plants or cut flowers before taking them inside. Because these beetles feed on fabric, they can also be found on clothing and linen. Before purchasing secondhand clothing, check it for signs of these beetles. Upholstered furniture can also be a favorite spot for carpet beetles, so thoroughly examine it before bringing a piece home.
3. Protect Your Clothes & Linen
To make your space less attractive to carpet beetles, you’ll want to carefully store clothing and linen that isn’t being used regularly. The natural fibers found in silk, wool, leather, and other materials are a good food source for these pests. Storing these pieces in a sealed bin can help to protect them from hungry larvae. The container needs to have a tight-fitting lid to keep bugs out. Washing and drying your items can help to remove these pests too. You’ll want to use hot water and high heat when drying your items because the heat will kill the carpet beetles.
4. Vacuum or Steam Clean
One of the best ways to remove carpet beetles from your home is to use a vacuum or steam cleaner. Vacuuming will help to physically remove beetles and eggs that are hiding in rugs and carpets. You can also vacuum upholstered furniture, being careful to get into the crevices and under cushions. When finished vacuuming, empty the contents into a sealed bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash bin. Steam cleaners will also help to remove carpet beetles, and the heat will help to kill them.
5. Use Pest Control Products
Pest control products can help to control a carpet beetle infestation. Insecticide dusts are an effective solution, and they provide long-lasting control. Our Bed Bug Killer dust and our Spider & Insect Dust are both labeled to control carpet beetles. The dust can be applied using the puffer bottle or a paintbrush. We recommend using a paintbrush when applying to cracks and crevices. You’ll want to treat under rugs and along the edges of carpets and baseboards as well as other infested areas in your home.
Carpet beetles can cause damage to your items, so you don’t want them moving into your home. Implementing a few preventive measures and using the right control methods can help to keep these pests away. If you’re dealing with carpet beetles or other pests, we want to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.