Carpet Beetle Management Guide

Carpet beetles can be a year-round pest in homes. When these bugs enter homes, they are looking for a food source for their larvae. Their feeding can cause damage to carpet, rugs, furniture, and other fabric items. Implementing preventative techniques and using the right pest control products can help to keep carpet beetles away. We’ve gathered information to help you kick these pests out of your house.  

Carpet beetle infestations occur when these bugs sneak indoors and lay eggs in your home. One carpet beetle can lay up to 100 eggs in its lifetime. Adult carpet beetles lay eggs on and under carpet, rugs, and upholstered furniture. The larvae prefer dark and secluded areas, including closets, attics, and basements. They are attracted to the natural fibers found in fabrics. Wool, leather, and silk can become a tasty treat for these pests. They may also feed on pet fur, hair, and lint. Some carpet beetle species will eat pantry items too. To avoid an infestation, you’ll want to minimize potential attractants and ensure these pests can’t get into your home. 

Seal Entry Points: Carpet beetles will head indoors through cracks and gaps around your house. Check for and seal potential entry points. Cracks in door and window frames, damaged siding, and openings where utility and cable lines enter your home can allow these pests to enter your house. Make sure screens on your doors and windows aren’t torn. If you don’t have screens, avoid leaving doors and windows open.

Check Plants & Items for Bugs: These pests may also enter your home on items you carry inside. Adult carpet beetles feed on plant nectar, so they are often spotted on plants. Check flowers or potted plants for carpet beetles before taking them indoors. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for these pests anytime you bring furniture, such as upholstered chairs or sofas, into your home.

Properly Store Your Items: To protect your items from carpet beetle damage, you’ll want to make sure you store them correctly. Place your linen and clothes in a storage bin that has a lid that fits tightly. This will ensure that these pests can’t snack on your things. Because pantries can also become infested, you’ll want to store your ingredients in containers or jars with a secure lid.

Vacuum: Vacuuming regularly can help to prevent and control an infestation. Vacuuming works to physically remove any carpet beetles or their eggs. Take the time to vacuum under pieces of furniture where these pests like to hide. When you’re finished, empty the contents into a sealed bag and place it in an outdoor trash bin. Steam cleaning can also help to get rid of these pests.

Wash & Dry Your Items: Washing your clothes or linen can help to get rid of carpet beetles too. You’ll want to use hot water when washing and a high heating setting when running your items through the dryer. The heat will help to kill these pests. 

Insecticide dusts are an effective solution that provide long-lasting control of pests. Maggie’s Farm offers two dusts that can help to get rid of carpet beetles. Our Spider & Insect Dust and our Bed Bug Killer dust are both labeled to control these beetles. Our Spider & Insect Dust is formulated using plant oils as the active ingredients. It kills and repels carpet beetles and other common household pests. When left undisturbed, it will provide control for up to six months. Our Bed Bug Killer dust is formulated with silicon dioxide as amorphous silica. It is a desiccant dust that works by clinging to a bug’s exoskeleton and absorbing the waxy coating, causing rapid dehydration and death. It will keep working for up to ten years when left undisturbed. 

Application Tips
Before applications, you’ll need to unscrew the lid and take out the foam liner on the bottle. After replacing the lid, remove the cap and cut 1/8" off the tip to create a hole for dusting. The dust may be applied using the puffer bottle. You can also use a craft brush or paintbrush to push the dust into cracks and crevices. To treat for carpet beetles, apply the dust under rugs and along the edges of carpet and baseboards. The dust may also be applied to other infested areas. You’ll want to apply a light, visible film to the areas being treated.  

No one wants to share their home with carpet beetles. Implementing preventative measures and using pest control products can help to get rid of these pests.