How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles Naturally
Carpet beetles are harmless to humans, but can cause damage to items in your home such as fabrics, furniture, and carpets. See how you get easily get rid of carpet beetles in your home naturally below.
Carpet beetles are small, multi-coloured beetles that feed on fibres of certain materials often found in homes, such as wool, leather, and silk. As their name suggests, carpet beetles are often found indoors living within carpets, and can cause infestations if they are left long enough. Because they are so small, some homeowners don't notice them until they have an infestation.
Here are a few different methods for getting rid of carpet beetles naturally:
1. Vinegar: White or apple cider vinegar works to kill carpet beetle larvae and eggs.
2. Steam Cleaning:
Regularly vacuuming and steam cleaning can help kill and permanently remove beetles and offspring.
3. Food-Grade
Diatomaceous Earth:
This substance dehydrates carpet beetle larvae and is safe to use around children and pets.
4. Peppermint Oil:
Peppermint essential oil as well as clove essential oil is a known deterrent for carpet beetles.
To learn more about the methods above, continue reading below.
Method #1: Use a Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is often the first choice for homeowners to try as it is completely naturally and safe to use in households with children and pets. Not only that, but most homeowners have vinegar on hand, so you can try it out as soon as you notice carpet beetles in your home! White vinegar can typically be used on most fabrics, including furniture upholsteries, without causing damage.
Vinegar is a natural deterrent for carpet beetles as they do not like the scent and the solution can kill eggs and larvae. Straight vinegar poured into a spray bottle and applied to problem areas works well. You may also choose to dilute the vinegar with some water if you would like to try that first, as the smell of straight vinegar may be strong for some homeowners.
Method #2: Regular Vacuuming
If you have recently discovered that you have carpet beetles and you believe that the infestation is still generally contained, you may be able to get rid of the problem before it really begins by regularly vacuuming and steam cleaning until you do not notice any more beetles. The heat from a steam cleaner is powerful enough to kill beetle eggs, and once dead, your vacuum can lift them up as well as any living beetles.
Regular carpet vacuuming and steam cleaning is also a great way to help prevent a re-infestation after you have removed carpet beetles and definitely do not want them coming back for round two! As carpet beetles are so small (and their eggs are even tinier) it is possible that a few are missed during your initial extermination phase. Vacuuming and frequent cleaning can help get any stray beetles that were missed and prevent future issues.
You may also want to vacuum and clean furniture that you noticed beetles on, as they can damage fabrics and upholstery too. Check out the video above to learn more about vacuuming and other preventative measures.
Method #3: Apply Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is actually a very interesting substance! It is ground up fossilized remains of a certain type of phytoplankton, and it has a lot of handy uses. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is considered safe to use around children or pets (though you should avoid eating it or getting it in your eyes or skin, as it can irritate! However, it is chemical-free!) You can buy diatomaceous earth from many hardware stores or farming supply stores.
Diatomaceous earth kills a wide variety of pests, including roaches, fleas, and of course, carpet beetles. The substance looks like a fine powder, but it actually has tiny rough edges - it's quite scratchy, and that's why it can cause skin irritation in people. While it is just a bit annoying if you get some on you, it is fatal to many types of bugs. As the bugs crawl over it, the scratchy substance damages their exoskeleton and leads to dehydration.
To use diatomaceous earth to get rid of carpet beetles, you will first want to clean up your carpets and any furniture fabrics that may be infested. Cleaning will help get rid of some of the beetles, eggs, and larvae in the process.
If you recently steam cleaned, you'll want to wait until your carpets are completely dry before applying the earth substance. Once your areas are clean and dry, dust the earth into places that you have most noticed the beetles. Remember, the surface must be dry because wet diatomaceous earth will not kill insects.
Note: When applying diatomaceous earth, wear a respirator mask and safety goggles. This will help prevent you from inhaling the irritating dust particles or getting any into your eyes.
Method #4: Apply Essential Oils
If you have some essential oils around your home, you may want to try using them to help remove carpet beetles, especially if you have only noticed a few and the infestation is still contained. It is said that peppermint essential oil and clove essential oils can act as a natural bug repellent for some types of insects, including carpet beetles.
While this method may not be very effective at killing beetles if you have an infestation, it can help to prevent them from coming back and help repel them in the first place. Sometimes, carpet beetles simply get indoors by hitching a ride on your shoes on clothes when you are coming in from the outdoors! If this is the case, spraying some essential oils may help naturally prevent one or two beetles from turning your home into their home.
In the video above, you can see how to make a simply water and peppermint oil spray solution. While this video is specifically talking about garden pests, you can use the same solution indoors as well.
Need To Replace Damaged Furniture?
If you have recently dealt with a carpet beetle infestation that damaged your furniture, you may be wondering if it is worth fixing or if you should simply replace it. If you need to replace couches or chairs in a small space or are looking for a more cost-effective furniture solution, consider a high-quality futon.
When it comes time to replace your furniture, that's an excellent time to consider choosing something new for your space. Futons are perfect for multi-purpose rooms, for small spaces, for dorm rooms, and for guest bedrooms. Take a look at some options today, or contact The Futon Shop to learn more.
