How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles Once and for All

Homeownership can be a truly rewarding experience—especially when you can decorate and design a space you love. One thing that's not rewarding? Unwanted pests making their way into your lovely abode. Especially during the warmer months, you’re likely to see ants, fruit flies, and house spiders. And then there are carpet beetles.

Carpet beetles are one of the more common house insects and can cause quite a bit of damage—so it’s important to know what to do if you see these insects around your space. We spoke to pest control professionals to find out how to handle carpet beetles in your home—and how to keep them away for good.

What Are Carpet Beetles? 

Carpet beetles are a fairly common pest found in homes. They tend to be attracted to residences, museums, warehouses, and other structures where food sources are readily available. Carpet beetles feed on fabrics and furs, materials commonly found amongst furnishings around the home, and sometimes grains like spilled rice. Larval-stage carpet beetles are tan or brown and densely covered with hair, and this stage of carpet beetle tends to be a problem for home furnishings.

"They feed on the fibrous animal protein called keratin found in wool, fur, silk, feathers, skins, pet hair, and leather," says Iavor (Jay) Dihonov, technical service manager and associate certified entomologist at Terminix. "Often, carpet beetle damage will remain undetected until items are physically inspected, and sometimes it can be mistaken for that of clothes moths."

Adult carpet beetles are small with rounded bodies and come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, yellow, and orange. They feed on pollen and typically don’t cause any sort of household damage, but if you happen to spot them on your window sills, there may be a breeding site nearby.

Signs You Have a Carpet Beetle Infestation 

There are a couple of signs of an infestation. Ian Williams, a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager with Orkin, agrees that you often won't notice until there's clear damage to your furnishings or clothing. Look out for these tell-tale signs, which Williams says indicate that carpet beetles have invaded your home.

• Brown, shell-like skins on the carpet, along with holes and loose threads
• Bald spots and holes in carpets, clothing, bedding, or upholstery
• Adult carpet beetles flying toward light or gathering near windows

How to Check for Carpet Beetles

To check for carpet beetles, you’ll need to begin with darkened areas like the basement, closets, air vents, attics, cabinets, and storage chests. In these spots, Dihonov says to check the floor-wall junction as well as areas behind and under baseboards because pet hair and food debris can accumulate there, attracting the beetles.

Don't forget to inspect your clothing as well. "When going through clothing or other linens, pay attention to seams, folds, and creases where larvae will often find a hiding place," says Dihonov. Another area of concern? Your upholstered furniture. "Upholstered furniture can be a source of an infestation, make sure that you include those pieces in your inspection," he says.

Dihonov also recommends checking boxes stored in your pantry like cereal and pet food.

How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles 

Once you have inspected your home and found the source of the carpet beetles, the next step is to remove them—and keep them out. If you suspect that you have an infestation, below are a few methods that will guide you in safely exterminating the bugs.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles 

There are a handful of ways to exterminate carpet beetles using more natural methods. First, you’ll want to eliminate their food source. Dispose of the infested items in plastic garbage bags and seal them tightly. Smaller pieces like clothing, blankets, or tiny rugs can go through a hot wash that will remove any pests and their eggs.

Next, you’ll want to vacuum, making sure to thoroughly reach all carpet edges, baseboards, underneath furniture, and inside closets.

"You can also break the carpet beetle life cycle by exposing items to freezing temperatures," says Dihonov. "Freezers capable of reaching -20 degrees Fahrenheit will accomplish that in 72 hours. Take precautions to prevent frost or ice from damaging your objects by placing them in sealed plastic bags before freezing."

Dihonov also suggests using mothballs, crystals, or flakes, but be cautious since they tend to contain perilous ingredients. Just make sure not to use them in open areas that children or pets can reach, and keep them in airtight containers.

Chemical Treatments to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles 

According to Dihonov, a combination of thorough cleaning and exclusion will likely keep carpet beetles out of your home, making any sort of chemical treatment unnecessary. But, if you're having a really tough time using natural methods of expelling them from your home, you can try using boric acid or specific insecticides (like bifenthrin, deltamethrin, or cyfluthrin). These methods should only be used if you don't have pets or small children at home. Boric acid, specifically, is toxic to humans if ingested in large quantities.

Of course, if you're having trouble getting rid of carpet beetles on your own, it might be time to call in the pros. "In cases where these methods are unsuccessful, a professional pest management company should be contacted," Dihonov says. "There are risks for the untrained DIY-ers that can cause property damage and self-harm when using chemical formulations."

Tips for Keeping Carpet Beetles Out of Your Home 

Yes, it's possible to keep these common house pests out of your home. Here are a few tips for keeping them away.

• Make sure all doors have tightly fitted weather stripping and window screens that fit snuggly
• Inspect any flowers you bring inside
• Promptly clean up pet hair
• Discard old, natural fiber clothing that's past its prime
• Vacuum regularly to eliminate food sources like lint, hair, and other dead insects
• Seal any gaps in your home that carpet beetles could use to make their way in