How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles Once and for All

None of us want bugs invading our homes—especially the kind that chew through our favorite fabrics. If you’re a seasoned homeowner, chances are you’ve already battled pests like spiders or fruit flies. But carpet beetles? They’re in a league of their own. These tiny intruders burrow deep into rugs, furniture and clothing, causing real damage over time. That’s why it’s essential to know how to get rid of carpet beetles—and also keep them from coming back.

According to Tim Jankowski, president of Aladdin’s Cleaning & Restoration, these pests dine on (and can be found in) “carpet fabrics but also clothing, upholstery and bedding.” Sure, knowing how to clean your carpet properly is a good start. But since carpet beetles often lurk in places you wouldn’t expect, it’s crucial to know how to get rid of carpet beetles the right way. This includes understanding what makes your home a target for carpet beetles to begin with, how to identify a full-blown infestation and of course, carpet beetle extermination.

Ahead, you’ll find all the expert-backed tips you need to kick carpet battles out—for good.

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What are carpet beetles, exactly?

Carpet beetles are fairly common houseplant pests, particularly if you’ve brought the plants indoors after they spent some time outside. They come in a range of colors, including black, brown, yellow and orange. “There are many different varieties of these bugs, but they are usually small and oval-shaped,” says Jankowski. “The most common are the fur beetle and the varied carpet beetle.” The carpet beetle variety you encounter may depend on the region of the country you live in. It can’t hurt to acquaint yourself with what your region’s carpet beetle looks like to better identify the pest.

Carpet beetles prefer dark areas of the home and spots where natural fibers are stored. Think: basements, attics and unused spare rooms. Like their name suggests, the bugs love to dwell in rooms where they can infest rugs and carpets. They also like to live wherever there are large accumulations of pet hair and lint, as they eat these natural fibers too. The bugs can also be found under or inside upholstered furniture, so it’s good to know how to clean couches properly.

Are carpet beetles harmful?

Carpet beetles aren’t directly dangerous to humans or pets, but they can cause a huge array of issues. These include:

• Skin irritation: While carpet beetles don’t bite humans or pets, coming into contact with them can cause skin irritation. Hairs on carpet beetle larvae can be allergenic to some people and pets, resulting in “itchy, raised welts or rashes.” Although not everyone is allergic to them, for those who are, the skin irritation can also worsen over time.

• Gastrointestinal issues in pets: Although the risk of carpet beetles’ bite is next to zero, your pets may experience gastrointestinal issues if they ingest the bugs.

• Fabric damage: Carpet beetles can cause major damage to your belongings made of natural fibers—and this includes everything from clothes to curtains to carpets made of wool, silk, leather and fur, among others. Imagine that prized Persian carpet of yours in tatters, surely not a good sight. And since they can be incredibly hard to get rid of, it means an extended risk for your fabrics.

“The sheer volume of the reproductive cycle of carpet bugs leads to them being very difficult to eradicate,” says Jankowski. “The females of most species can lay anywhere from 25 to 100 eggs at a time, and the eggs are incredibly hard to see.” So you might be walking or laying on them without knowing it. Again, gross!

The real problem with carpet bugs is the larvae. These “usually cause more damage, as they use the fibers they chew to grow into adulthood,” says Jankowski. Adult carpet beetles, meanwhile, prefer flower pollen and don’t dine on household fabric.

What causes you to get carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles may enter the home from the exterior of the house during the spring and summer. “Carpet beetles are much like moths being attracted to light,” says Jankowski. “So porch lights or interior lights can bring them in from an open window or patio door.”

How can you tell if you have a carpet beetle infestation?

If you’re noticing holes in your favorite sweater after you got it out of the back of the closet, carpet beetles may (or may not) be the real culprits. To confirm whether you have a carpet beetle infestation, start by watching for the signs of one. These are:

• Groups near light sources: “Adults will typically congregate around windows and lights and are easier to identify,” says Jankowski. Because the bugs breed so quickly, just a few adults can be a worrying sign.

• Signs of damage: To spot carpe larvae as best as you can, look for the signs of damage in your fabrics. Developing larvae drop tiny, molted skins that are visible to the naked eye. But as they eat, the larvae also leave behind threadbare spots in carpets—a telltale sign of a carpet beetle infestation. “Usually, the larvae are not seen, and the damage to items in your home will not be visible until there is a true infestation,” he says.

• Larvae bundles: You could also try checking the edges and undersides of rugs and carpets for the larvae bundles from time to time. Although this is more of a preventive step, consider adding it to your cleaning schedule.

Will carpet beetles eventually just go away?

Unfortunately, carpet beetles don’t go away on their own. “Carpet bugs will continue to repopulate,” says Jankowski. As soon as you notice the infestation, you need to begin treating carpets, clothing and other fabrics within the home. Otherwise, the bugs will appear in the same places in your home every year. “From egg stage to death, the beetles can live up to two years, the majority of which is spent in the destructive [larval] stage,” he says.

How to get rid of carpet beetles at home

While professional exterminators might be the best solution for major infestations, there are a few at-home options for getting rid of a smaller-scale carpet beetle infestation. These include natural and chemical cleaning solutions to keep your home pest free.

Natural solutions

While natural remedies for getting rid of carpet beetles are better for milder infestations, they’re a good choice for homeowners with pets. These include:

• White vinegar and water: “The acidic properties of the vinegar will kill larvae and adult carpet bugs,” says Jankowski. Start by adding 2 teaspoons of white vinegar to an empty spray bottle and filling the rest with water. Quickly mist furniture and carpets with a few spritzes without lingering, as “the solution can stain or damage your fabrics from time to time.”

• Vacuum regularly: Regular carpet cleaning is another natural solution if you’re looking to get rid of carpet beetles, and it works especially well if you have pets. Use a vacuum with special carpet attachments to vacuum the carpet edges and underneath the rugs. This will not only suck up the pests but will also get all the pet hair, which attracts the beetles to begin with.

• Launder clothes and rugs: Heat can also kill the beetles, so take your infected items to the dry cleaner or run them through the laundry. According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, “dry-cleaning or hot laundering kills any eggs or larvae that may be present. Heat generated by a clothes dryer is effective as well.”

Chemical solutions

In addition to the carpet cleaners you get at the supermarket, there are some more chemical solutions that can help get rid of carpet beetles. “But they may contain harsh chemicals, so keep them away from children and pets,” says Jankowski. Keeping all precautions in mind, here’s what you can use:

• Mothballs: You can use mothballs, but it’s important to follow instructions carefully. Place mothballs only in sealed drawers where children or pets cannot find them. Products containing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can be hazardous if used improperly. Mothballs are only effective if you use them in the right concentration, which you can achieve by sealing them with susceptible items in large containers.

• Boric acid: Apply boric acid to crevices and cracks where carpet beetles might enter the home. Be sure to keep the material from entering the house, as it can be poisonous to children and pets if ingested.

FAQs

How can you prevent carpet beetles?

These bugs aren’t inevitable. Just as important as knowing how to get rid of carpet beetles is knowing how to prevent an infestation in the first place. Here’s what to do:

• Add screens to windows and use screen doors.
• Keep windows and doors closed.
• When storing rugs and clothes, be sure to place them in sealed bags.
• Avoid bringing threadbare rugs into the home. They may already have carpet beetles.

Does a carpet beetle infestation require professional extermination?

If you’re dealing with a large-scale infestation, getting professional help might be the way to go to get rid of carpet beetles once and for all. In case of a milder infestation, you can use at-home solutions to battle the pests. However, when trying at-home remedies, take special care to ensure all carpet beetle larvae are exterminated to prevent them from making a comeback.

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Sources:

• Tim Jankowski, president of Aladdin’s Cleaning & Restoration
• WebMD: “What to Know About Black Carpet Beetles”
• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment: “Carpet Beetles”
• Orkin: “Boric Acid and Carpet Beetles”

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