During warm summer days, mosquitoes buzz around your yard while ants creep inside for a quick bite to eat.
However, there’s one summer pest that may surprise you! Carpet beetles pop up in homes as temperatures rise, laying eggs in your carpeting and other fabric items.
These nuisance insects can damage your belongings, but don’t worry! We can help. Here’s how to get rid of carpet beetles naturally when you spot them in your home.
Carpet beetles are hard to conquer. Because these tiny pests are easy to miss, you may not notice any signs of carpet beetles in your home.
Carpet beetle larvae are responsible for chewing through the fibers in your fabric items. Before maturing into adulthood, young carpet beetles will feast on the carpeted or cloth materials near where they hatch.
According to the University of Maine’s extension program, many synthetic fibers aren’t digestible to the larvae. In turn, the insects consume copious amounts of textiles to satisfy their nutritional needs.
If you have carpet beetles, you may notice damage to the following:
Do you see adult carpet beetles but can’t find their larvae? Try looking under your rugs, mattresses, and couch cushions. Check out this video where a homeowner finds carpet beetle larvae molts under and inside their couch!
Chemical treatments aren’t always the best option when insects are in your home. If you have curious young children or pets, store-bought sprays and poisons could make them ill.
For a small-scale infestation, we have some tips to remove carpet beetles quickly. Here is our advice on how to get rid of carpet beetles naturally!
This powdery substance often strikes fear in the hearts of all bugs! When you’re having insect issues inside, diatomaceous earth can help in a pinch.
There are two types of diatomaceous earth on the market, so be mindful when perusing the store shelves or researching online. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe for human consumption and is even used in animal feed to boost coat or fur appearance.
Pool-grade diatomaceous earth is primarily used for pool filtration and will not accurately work as an insecticide. This powder can be toxic when consumed or inhaled, so always double-check the brand and version of the product.
Diatomaceous earth has tiny crushed diatoms that can eliminate an insect when consumed. The particles cut away at a bug’s exoskeleton, effectively removing its ability to retain water. Carpet beetles dehydrate without sufficient moisture and die within a few days.
While this is how to get rid of carpet beetles naturally, diatomaceous earth still has its shortcomings. The powder is an irritant, causing coughing and breathing difficulties.
Always use proper protection when attempting a DIY pest control method! Handle the materials with gloves and wear a protective mask and eyewear to stay safe.
If you’re looking for a quick solution, search no further! One of the easiest ways to eliminate carpet beetles is by removing them with a vacuum cleaner.
Adult carpet beetles flock toward the sunlight or other well-lit areas. If you notice hoards of carpet beetles around your doors or windows, run a vacuum over your floors or suck them up with a vacuum hose.
Carpet beetle larvae are difficult to see because of their small size, but you can also utilize this method to remove any eggs or larvae you see in your carpets, rugs, or clothing! Check underneath rugs or inside boxes with fabric to locate the fuzzy larvae.
Oils can do more than make your house smell divine. Many pests refuse to linger near certain smells. For example, mice tend to shy away from areas ripe with a strong peppermint or clove scent.
These essential oils can also help keep carpet beetles at bay! If you have an essential oil diffuser, add a few drops to your machine and let the scent spread around your home. You can even mix the oils with water in a spray bottle and directly spray items affected by the beetles!
This is how you can get rid of carpet beetles naturally and still keep your house smelling clean! Because you primarily distribute the oils in the air, you won’t have to worry about tidying a messy pest control method after.
Whether you use it to clean your teeth or bake the perfect cake, baking soda can also help with your pest control needs.
Similar to diatomaceous earth, you can spread baking soda around areas you’ve spotted adult beetles or larvae. You could also mix baking soda with water to create a paste. Place this in a bowl or plate around carpet beetle hotspots.
If you have spare or unused fabric objects, you can cover them in the baking soda solution. As the adult carpet beetles attempt to lay eggs, they will become coated in the mixture and potentially perish. The remaining larvae will die after consuming the baking soda.
Check out this article for more information about how to get rid of carpet beetles naturally with baking soda!
While this option won’t directly eliminate carpet beetles, packing your clothing away will remove a vital food source for larvae.
Instead of leaving your woolen winter coat in your hallway closet, place it in a plastic container or vacuum-sealed bag. The insects can’t reach your precious items when out of reach!
While natural solutions prevent harmful chemicals from entering your home, they aren’t always the best option. Carpet beetles can lay their eggs in unseen areas, allowing the larvae to chew up your belongings unabated.
Thankfully, Zunex offers environmentally friendly and safe products, so you’ll never have to worry about a pest control treatment impacting your loved ones!
Don’t suffer through a pest invasion. Let Zunex help you out! Contact us today for a free quote on our services.
By Allison Clayton
.png)
