One of the best tricks to add personality to your home is placing a well-chosen carpet or rug. However, maintaining the delicate material comes with challenges like water damage and embedded dust – more importantly, carpet beetle infestations. These tiny pests feed on carpet fibres, upholstery and clothing, causing damages if left unchecked.
Furthermore, carpet beetle larvae shed tiny hairs that can trigger skin rashes and allergies, while inhaled hairs may cause respiratory irritation. Knowing how to get rid of carpet beetles help create a clean and healthy living space.
Why Do Carpet Beetles Infest Homes?
Carpet beetles can enter homes through open windows, doors, utility lines, vents, chimneys, and even flowers, infested fabrics or pet fur. They are particularly drawn to natural fibres such as wool, silk, and leather; and while adult bugs primarily feed on pollen, their larvae thrive on fabrics.
The main reason these bugs grow is poor sanitation. Dust, lint and food residues create an ideal habitat for them to grow. Pet dander and dead insects also serve as a primary food source for larvae. High humidity, on the other hand, can accelerate their reproduction.
Although carpets and rugs are their primary targets, you can also find them in pantries if they gain access to dry food products. Storage boxes and attics provide a perfect breeding ground.
So, how can you identify an infestation? Look for small, oval-shaped beetles near windows or lights, and carpet beetle larvae look like tiny, fuzzy worms. Other major signs are shed skins and faecal matter on fabrics, as well as unexplained holes in rugs and upholstery.
How Can You Get Rid of Carpet Beetles?
To get rid of carpet beetles, adopt a regular and thorough cleaning routine for upholstered furniture and storage areas. Vacuuming is a great way to remove food sources that attract bugs, while deep cleaning, natural remedies, and insecticides help eliminate infestations.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming not only helps remove adult beetles, larvae and eggs embedded deep in carpets, but also clears away pet dander and food debris that attract pests, minimizing their chances of survival.
To save time and effort, a robot vacuum can automatically navigate and clean your home without your intervention. As an example, DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI comes with an upgraded AIVI 3D 3.0 Omni-Approach Technology, which works together with TruEdge 2.0 to maximise coverage along edges, corners and around obstacles. The side brush extends to hard-to-clean areas, such as under furniture, along baseboards, and in carpeted corners, achieving 100% coverage1. With its powerful 18,000 Pa suction 2, this vacuum can efficiently kill and eliminate pest problems at home.
Steam Cleaning
For those wondering how to kill carpet beetles quickly, why not give heat treatment a try? Steam cleaning penetrates deep into carpet fibres and instantly kills larvae and eggs with high temperature. Steam cleaning also eliminates organic debris that sustains beetle infestations, further disrupting their life cycle.
Washing and Freezing Infested Items
Another easy way to get rid of carpet beetles is through washing and freezing fabrics. Infested clothes, blankets and linens that may be should be washed in hot water (at least 48°C)to kill eggs and larvae. For delicate fabrics like wool and silk, high heat may cause damage to the material. Instead, freezing them for at least 48 hours can eliminate pests.
Applying Natural Remedies
Seeking natural remedies to get rid of carpet bugs safely? Use boric acid, which dehydrates carpet beetle larvae upon contact. Sprinkling a small amount on carpets and vacuuming it up after a few hours can eliminate hidden pests.
On the other hand, diatomaceous earth is a safe and natural insecticide that damages the exoskeletons of bugs, causing them to dry out and die. Other household products like white vinegar and essential oils further disrupt beetle scent trails, making it harder for them to locate food sources. Spray them onto carpets, upholstery and hidden corners to repel adult beetles.
Using Insecticides
In case of severe infestations, you may need to get insecticide sprays and foggers to control the situation. Pesticides containing deltamethrin or cyfluthrin also help target adult beetles and larvae.
Applying insecticides to high-risk areas like carpets, baseboards, furniture and storage areas, to ensure beetle eggs and larvae are eradicated. Follow manufacturer guidelines for safe application, especially in homes with pets or children.
Professional Pest Control
If these DIY methods fail to wipe out carpet bugs, hiring professional pest control services may be the best solution. Exterminators can assess infestation levels and develop a customised treatment plan.
Pest control professionals use industrial-grade insecticides and fumigation techniques to clear out all carpet beetles, larvae, and eggs.
How Can You Prevent Carpet Beetles from Coming Back?
By eliminating entry points, food sources, and hiding spots, you can lower the risk of carpet bugs returning to your home. Other preventative measures such as setting a consistent cleaning schedule and proper storage help keep pests away in the long run.
Regular Vacuuming With A Robot Vacuum
Preventing carpet beetles starts with consistent cleaning. Vacuuming is a simple yet effective way to keep your home free of dust, debris and pet hair, all of which serve as food sources for these pests; it also helps remove their eggs and larvae before they have a chance to mature. Upgrading to a robot vacuum to help with daily maintenance, especially one equipped with strong suction, an advanced navigation system, and auto-empty features, just like DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI. This way, you can protect your home against reinfestation with minimal effort.
Sealing Cracks And Gaps
Carpet beetles typically enter homes through tiny openings and cracks around windows, doors, vents and utility lines. Hence, inspect your home and seal any cracks and gapsthat bugs could use as entry points. Installing screens on vents and chimneys can also stop them from sneaking inside. Besides, before bringing second-hand furniture and clothing into your home, thoroughly inspect them as they may carry carpet beetle larvae that you may have missed.
Placing Pheromone Traps
Another preventative measure is using pheromone traps in areas where carpet beetles are most active. These traps release chemicals that attract and capture adult beetles, stopping them from laying eggs and reproducing. Moreover, they help intercept new pests before they enter your home, keeping the infestation under control.
Proper Storage Maintenance
Since carpet bugs thrive in cluttered storage spaces, keeping storage areas clean and organised is essential for prevention. Their favourite “food”, such as wool and silk fabrics, should be stored in airtight containers to prevent access. Adding mothballs or cedar blocks to closets and storage bins provides an extra layer of protection against fabric pests.
Disclaimer(s):
● 100% Cleaning Coverage: The data is from the ECOVACS laboratory. It refers to the sweeping function of ECOVACS DEEBOT X8 Family products that can achieve 100% sweeping coverage at outer corners and inner corners in the experimental scenario. Specific results are subject to actual home use.
● 18,000Pa: This data comes from ECOVACS laboratory. The suction power of DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI can reach 18,000Pa.
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