Ever heard of carpet beetles? There may already be dermestid beetles living in your home. Carpet beetles can enter your home on flowers or pets, or through an open window. These insects lay eggs in carpets, clothes, and other textiles after they've entered your home. Here's what you need to know about them to get rid of them.

Carpet Beetle 101

The adult carpet beetle is either entirely black or has a black and white pattern. The most common signs of these pests are usually around windows and doorways. Adult carpet beetles aren't a threat to carpets and other fibers, but their larvae might be hiding in your home.

Beetle larvae can cause damage to carpets, clothes, curtains, and other surfaces if they are not kept under control. Carpet beetles are especially fond of eating pantry staples like pasta and rice, therefore, keep an eye out for them in these areas.

Carpet beetle larvae are small and hard to see, but you can tell there's an infestation by the damage they cause. If you see bald spots, strange bumps on your carpet, or small holes in your clothes or curtains, it means you have them.

What to Do About Carpet Beetles

There are different methods that can be effective in getting rid of them. You can kill bugs by using insecticide. You should test an inconspicuous area of the carpet with deltamethrin, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin to make sure the insecticide won't stain it.

You can use diatomaceous earth to help with your problem. Diatomaceous earth is a safer alternative to chemical insecticides. The product works by dehydrating larva, killing them in the process. The only safety measure you need to take when using this product is to wear a mask.

Boric acid can also help get rid of carpet beetles. Boric acid is deadly to these insects, but only harmful to humans if ingested. This ingredient can be found in the laundry section of local stores.

To clean your carpets, simply sprinkle the desired amount of baking soda over the surface and vacuum it up the next day. You can assess the damage that the beetles left behind once you have eradicated them. If there are large bald spots on the carpet because of something happening, you should call Elite Carpet Cleaning and their services. We can fix the problems they caused.