How to get rid of carpet beetles

What are carpet beetles?

Carpet beetles are a type of beetle. They grow to be around 5 millimeters in length, and the most common type is black in color, although there are also brown carpet beetles. Carpet beetles can enter your home in various ways, for example, by hitching a ride on your cat or dog through their fur.

Can carpet beetles bite humans?

Carpet beetles are not harmful to humans; neither the adult beetles nor the larvae bite us. So, you don't need to worry about getting bitten by carpet beetles. However, some people may experience skin irritation or other allergic reactions if they have carpet beetles at home.

Places where carpet beetles are found

You might be wondering how common carpet beetles are, and unfortunately, they are not too uncommon. These pests feed on everything from fabrics to fur and can potentially damage furniture and clothing. Since they are attracted to textiles and dark, hidden corners, there is a significant risk that they will find their way into places like closets once they have entered your home.

Carpets are another place where carpet beetles thrive. They easily collect dust and impurities, making carpets particularly inviting for these pests. In our house cleaning service, we offer help with shaking out carpets in your home, which can help prevent carpet beetle problems.

They enjoy consuming hair, fur, or scales from both animals and humans. Their favorite food is textiles of animal origin, particularly fur. It's also not uncommon for carpet beetle larvae to feed on feathers and down. Since many of us have down comforters or feather pillows, you might also get carpet beetles in your bed.

How carpet beetles spread

These pests prefer to lay their eggs in carpets, among clothes, or other textiles. This is because they want to place their eggs where the larvae will easily have access to food. Carpet beetles can lay as many as 100 eggs at once. This means that if you have carpet beetles at home, they can quickly multiply.

The time it takes for the eggs to hatch can vary, depending on the type of carpet beetle. Typically, it takes between one and three weeks for carpet beetle eggs to hatch. A carpet beetle larva remains in the larval stage for varying periods, ranging from three months to three years. This largely depends on the optimal climate and environment in which the larva lives.

Preventing carpet beetle problems

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent carpet beetles from thriving in your home. Carpet beetles live in unclean environments. Therefore, thorough house cleaning is the best investment to prevent carpet beetle problems.

Tips to avoid carpet beetle problems:

Perform regular home cleaning. Make sure your home is cleaned regularly and thoroughly to prevent dust, hair, and fur from accumulating and creating a favorable environment for carpet beetles.

Don't forget to clean window sills and areas around windows. It's easy for dust to collect there, along with soil from potted plants and other impurities. Therefore, make sure to do a proper window cleaning and clean the window sills regularly.

To prevent carpet beetles from entering through open windows, you can install insect screens on your windows and balcony doors.

Use a lint roller in your washing machine. A lint roller reduces the amount of hair and fur on your clothes and in your wardrobe.

Get a carpet beetle trap. Such traps not only catch carpet beetles but also serve as a useful tool for checking if you have any carpet beetles in your home.

How to get rid of carpet beetles in your home

If you've had the misfortune of introducing carpet beetles into your home, it's always a good idea to take action as soon as possible. It's a significant advantage if you can get rid of the beetles before they have a chance to lay their eggs. Just like when you want to prevent carpet beetle problems, thorough cleaning is essential if these pests have already made themselves at home.

All surfaces in your home should be dusted and cleaned. Particularly, places with textiles should be thoroughly cleaned. A thorough home cleaning will remove the impurities that carpet beetles need to survive.