How To Get Carpet Beetles Out Of Your Home (& Prevent Them From Coming Back)

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Think your home is warm and cozy? Well, guess what? So do carpet beetles — so much so that they'll invite themselves over and overstay the welcome they were never given. Not only can these tiny brown beetles wreak havoc on your carpet, but they can also damage your clothes — and on occasion, may feast inside your grain and spice containers. So, what causes carpet beetles to enter your home? Carpet beetles are often present in landscaping flowers and can fly right into your home through an open window or door. Their mission is to find food, and they do so by feeding on animal-based products such as wool, pet hair, and even leather — materials that are often in abundance in many homes. The resulting damage is thinning patches in rugs and carpets, noticeable small black specks on carpets, and holes in fabrics such as clothes, curtains, or bed blankets. Carpet beetles can also cause dermatitis through the shedding of their skin on various textiles around your home. 

Getting rid of and preventing them requires a comprehensive extermination strategy and effective preventive measures. The good news is that there are several ways to banish these hairy creatures from your home, including the use of chemicals and insecticides, diatomaceous earth, boric acid, and distilled white vinegar. You can prevent carpet beetles from coming back to your home by initiating various home maintenance and cleaning routines to deprive them of their food sources.

Boric acid, such as Florida Laboratories boric acid, is an effective substance that can spell disaster for carpet beetles. To apply it, simply sprinkle it on your carpet and then go over it with a broom to ensure adequate distribution. Next, wait about 3 to 4 hours for the boric acid to kill the beetles and their larvae. Then, vacuum the area to remove the acid. Note that this powdery substance can be toxic if ingested; it's helpful to take precautions such as wearing masks and securing pets. 

Additionally, you can create a boric acid liquid solution for more precise targeting. To do this, add two cups of hot water and one tablespoon of boric acid to a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to dissolve the acid, then spray directly on your carpet, upholstery, or in hard-to-reach areas.

The application of diatomaceous earth also presents a reliable way to kill carpet beetle larvae, leading to efficient eradication. This fine fossil-based powder works as a desiccant, quickly killing larvae with which it makes contact, and it's also a commonly used pest-fighting agent in gardens. For this method, you'll need to treat areas by spraying the powder, such as Natures Wisdom diatomaceous earth, where larvae are present, including the rugs, wall corners, and the bottoms of cabinets. You can easily find it at your local garden store or online for about $14. As a safety measure, it's best to wear a ventilation mask and protective gloves when distributing this powder, especially when applying it indoors.

Using everyday distilled or apple cider vinegar can help make carpet bugs a thing of the past, and carpet beetles fall into this category. Note that the vinegar doesn't kill the beetles, but it will repel them instead. An all-natural pest solution can be made by filling a spray bottle with 2 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of water. Next, spray your carpet with the solution, lightly coating the infested areas. In addition to this, spray the solution on any clothes or upholstery showing signs of infestation. You can also use popular scents to keep carpet beetles out of the house, such as peppermint and clove oil.

If natural solutions don't seem to work, or if there is a substantial infestation, insecticides (such as those containing silicon dioxide) and chemical treatments may be necessary. And in some cases, a professional pest control expert may need to take the helm. However, the first line of defense is prevention. The key to keeping out carpet beetles is making your home an inhospitable environment. For example, you can utilize the high temperatures and deep penetrating action of carpet steam cleaners to zap both adult carpet beetles and their larvae. This also works on fabrics and upholstery. Also, you can prevent them by vacuuming and dusting regularly, and washing clothes that will be stored for several months or years. It's also best to store these items in containers or plastic bags that are packed tightly.