Carpet beetles can quickly infest a home, leaving larvae in your carpet, fabric or furniture. In severe infestations, an insecticide treatment may be necessary.
Keep windows closed; if they must remain open, install window screens. Always shake freshly cut flowers before bringing them inside, as well as carefully inspect plants and dried foods such as pasta and flour before eating or handling.
Vacuuming
Carpet beetle infestations can be difficult to eradicate on their own, but there are steps you can take to help. First, vacuum rugs and furniture daily in order to eliminate some eggs and larvae. Furthermore, launder clothing that's been exposed to carpet beetles in order to wash it as soon as possible.
Female carpet beetles can lay up to 50 eggs at one time, quickly becoming an infestation threat. Their larvae feed on wool-made clothing and rugs as well as animal furs/skins (including mounted trophies), dried flowers/potpourri/book bindings/bindings, seeds/grains/flour and pet hair, among other fabrics.
Maintain a regular vacuuming schedule using the crevice tool to reach corners and tight spaces, using professional steam-cleaning services if possible for large pieces of upholstered furniture. Keep moth balls, flakes or crystals around stored fabrics that contain 1,4-dichlorobenzene as an insecticidal compound; additionally install window screens or close screenless windows during spring, summer and fall when beetles may seek shelter in homes looking for sustenance.
Heat Treatment
If vacuuming and sanitization alone aren't enough to keep Carpet Beetles at bay in your home or business, a heat treatment could be more cost-effective in eliminating them. Although more costly, this approach has proven successful at eliminating these pests from residences and businesses alike.
Temperature-heat treatment works by subjecting infested items to high temperatures for an extended period of time, using ovens, dryers or mattress warmers designed specifically to do this job. It's an effective solution for clothing and rugs which cannot be frozen.
As another helpful preventative measure, sprinkling commercially available sanitizer can also help keep carpet beetles at bay. Be sure to do this in areas where carpet beetles tend to congregate - such as under or around edges of rugs, baseboards, closet walls and shelving where fabrics are stored - plus make sure any fresh-cut flowers are shaken out before bringing inside and seal any gaps around doors and windows as adult Carpet Beetles are drawn by pollen and may enter through window screens - two surefire ways of keeping them away!
Insecticidal Treatments
As commercial products containing naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene can produce toxic fumes when used improperly, they should only be used as directed and should be kept out of reach of children or pets. Moth balls (often called mothballs) should only be placed where children and pets cannot access them. Boric acid insecticide is another option available at pharmacies or grocery stores which disrupts metabolism to kill carpet beetles - simply sprinkle this powder product regularly into crevices or closets where carpet beetles may lurk.
Vacuuming on a regular basis, removing bird, rodent and bee/wasp/wasp nests outside the structure, and washing or steam cleaning machine-washable fabrics may help deter pests like carpet beetles; should these treatments fail to eliminate an infestation, insecticides with carpet beetle labels may be applied directly to infested areas and articles of fabric that cannot be laundered/dry cleaned as an additional preventive measure.
Prevention
Homeowners can take several steps to prevent carpet beetle infestation, such as regularly vacuuming to clear away debris that attracts them and aid their breeding cycle. Furthermore, using a hand steamer on fabrics like rugs, curtains and clothing kills them immediately upon contact with any insects that come near.
Store dry food items in sealed containers to help deter beetles and their larvae from snacking on flour and grains, and it is wise to regularly inspect for bird and animal nests around your home. Additionally, it is a good practice to remove them as soon as they appear.
Keep closets and drawers free from hair, dust and lint to deter carpet beetles. Additionally, placing cedar or scented wood shavings can also deter these pests. Essential oils have also proven successful as natural carpet beetle deterrents; peppermint and clove oil mixed with water is an inexpensive spray that can treat areas where pests are present; this should not be used around children or animals as these chemicals may be toxic for them.
