Carpet beetles are small pests that can damage clothing, furniture, carpets, and other items made from natural animal fibers in your home if left untreated. Fortunately, it is fairly easy to eliminate a carpet beetle infestation with the right products and treatment plan. Read below to learn more about carpet beetle treatment.
Prepare Your Home for Treatment
Vacuum Daily
It may seem simple, but vacuuming your home daily will greatly impact your carpet beetle infestation as the vacuum can suck up carpet beetles and their larvae. Once you vacuum, empty the vacuum into a garbage bag, seal the bag tightly, and place the garbage bag in an outdoor trash can. Vacuum every day while you are treating for carpet beetles.
Don't forget to vacuum dark areas (like closets) and fabric that can't go in a washing machine, such as curtains, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
Clean Fabrics with High Heat
Wash all of the fabrics in your home that you possibly can and dry them on high heat (over 120 degrees F) to kill any carpet beetle insects, larvae, or eggs. The high heat of the dryer is important as that is what will kill the carpet beetles. Don't forget clothing, bedding, towels, and other linens.
You can dry clean any items that are unable to be washed, such as those made of silk, or place items directly into the dryer. Dry cleaning will also kill any insects, larvae, or eggs that are hiding in these fabrics.
Steam Carpets and Furniture (Optional)
Carpet beetles, larvae, and eggs will die upon direct contact with steam. Use a steamer on furniture and curtains in your home. You can also steam your carpets and rugs or have a professional carpet cleaning company steam-clean your carpets and rugs.
Products needed for Step 1C
Treat with Insecticide and IGR
DoMyOwn has created a Carpet Beetle Treatment kit with the products you will need to contain a carpet beetle infestation. Read below to learn how to use each product in the kit.
Products needed for Step 2
Select an Insecticide
Choose an insecticide labeled for carpet beetles, like Nyguard Plus. Nyguard Plus is a great option because the insecticide is in an aerosol can and does not require mixing or the use of a separate sprayer.
Nyguard Plus also contains an insect growth regulator, or IGR. The IGR will ensure that any carpet beetle eggs treated will not hatch, reducing the carpet beetle population in the home and containing the infestation.
Pro Tip
If you choose to use an insecticide that does not include an IGR, add an IGR like Gentrol to your insecticide.
If you are using a liquid insecticide, mix the insecticide and IGR in a sprayer with water. Read the product labels to determine the amount of water and product you will need. After filling, replace the cap on the sprayer and shake the sprayer to mix your insecticide, IGR, and water together. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, long-sleeves, and gloves while working with insecticide.
Products needed for Step 2A
Treat Your Home
Using the insecticide labeled for carpet beetles of your choice, treat the following areas of your home:
- Carpets and rugs. Read the label of your insecticide to see if your product can be broadcast sprayed across the carpet or if only spot treatments can be used. We recommend treating an inconspicuous area first, and consulting with an expert before treating any high-end, oriental rugs.
- Under furniture
- Around door and window frames
- In shelving
- In the corners of closets
- In cracks and crevices
Remove children and pets from the rooms you are treating. Wait until the product has dried (1-2 hours) before allowing them back into treated rooms.
Use an Insecticide Dust for Hard to Reach Areas
Insecticide dust, like CimeXa Insecticide Dust, is a great way to kill carpet beetles in hard to treat areas or in areas where sprays cannot be applied. Because insecticide dust is a slow kill, we recommend using it in addition to the products in Step 2.
Watch the video below to learn where to apply insecticide dust with a bellow hand duster.
Products needed for Step 3
Monitor Your Infestation with Glue Traps
Place glue board traps in your closets, pantries, and other dark areas to catch adult carpet beetles. Glue traps are also a great way to monitor your infestation. In the weeks that follow your treatment, you should see less and less carpet beetles on your traps. If you continue seeing activity after 21 days, retreat.
