Insect pests in the home are not always related to poor hygiene, nor can they be considered a thing of the past. Nowadays, there are also houses that are affected by different insects. And one of them is the carpet beetle, which is characterized by living in carpets, as its name suggests, but which is also found in furniture or in articles or objects that have been made of leather. These “bugs”, which are recognized by their oval shape and their size of about five millimeters long in adulthood, it is important to eliminate them because they cause significant damage in the home. Killing them, as with any plague, is not easy, but it is not an impossible mission either. From a HOWTO, we are going to explain how to remove carpet beetle so you know what you can do if you have this problem.
Carpet beetle: characteristics and why it is harmful
Before talking about what can be done to kill the carpet beetleIt is important to know well the characteristics of this insect, which may be part of one of the lesser known pests, although it is no less important for that. These are the main characteristics of the carpet beetle that will help you identify it in your home:
- They are oval in shape.
- They are about five millimeters long when adults, but larvae are about two millimeters long until they reach adulthood.
- The larvae are hairy maggots, which are stinging. In the image below you can see a carpet beetle larva.
- They live in carpets, in furniture and objects made of leather.
- They lay their eggs in dark places and near domestic objects of animal origin –they are scavengers-, or vegetables.
Initially, many people think that these beetles do not pose any health problem and that they only damage carpets or clothes, among other objects. However, this is not the case because carpet beetles cause health problems. For example, in people it is common for them to produce:
- Allergic reactions on the skin, producing a dermatitis.
- Itching in the body.
- Skin rash.
Added to all this is the damage they cause in the home, especially in the carpet itself, as well as in clothing and other articles and objects that are kept at home that have fabric or leather.
How to remove the carpet beetle: the most effective methods
For remove carpet beetleThere are several methods that you can use, although, in general, it is recommended that you do not put just one of them into practice, but combine the three that we tell you to completely eliminate these insects. It is also a process that should be done in three steps in a row:
- Aspire: To eliminate the carpet beetle, the vacuum cleaner becomes an excellent ally, since it is capable of catching insects, as well as larvae, no matter how small, and the eggs that have been laid. It is thus important to carry out a good cleaning of the carpet by vacuuming, but also of the rest of the furniture and objects that you have at home with fabric or leather, including the mattress and bedding. It does not matter that they are in another room where you have not detected the carpet beetle, it is key to act there as well because it is an insect that spreads easily in the home and, at first, you do not notice that it is there. In addition, this process must be repeated once a day, at least, for two weeks in a row. However, the periodicity depends on the number of carpet beetles you have. In addition, in the case of carpets or upholstery, it is also helpful to also apply very hot steam so that no trace remains.
- Throw away old clothes: If you have old clothes at home, it is essential that you throw them away. The reason is none other than the attraction that the carpet beetle feels for this type of garment. And this advice is key to follow, especially in the event that the action of the insect is noticed in the garment.
- Laundry: The measures to eliminate the carpet beetle should also focus on washing clothes in hot water. This includes all the clothes you have at home, as well as towels, sheets, pillows and curtains, among other household clothes. In addition, some clothes will have to be thrown away because they are more affected, if you do not throw away the one that is, you will never be able to end this plague, and it is only advisable that you wash the one that you are not sure of whether it is affected or not or the one that you see that it is. very little. It is essential that you wash your clothes with very hot water because cold is not effective. Detergent is a useful product that will help you kill the carpet beetle along with the high temperature of the water.
How to use insecticides to kill the carpet beetle
Chemicals or insecticides are widely used to kill pests in the home. However, in the case of the carpet beetle, it is not enough to just use this system. It can be used, but in combination with the previous remedies that we have told you about.
And there are areas of the house and clothes that you cannot spray with the insecticide because it is toxic to people. On the contrary, there are other areas where it is very useful, such as all those corners, cracks or dark areas where they tend to hide and lay their eggs and which, likewise, should be vacuumed.
If you are going to use the insecticide, it is important that you know that not all of them are valid and that they have to be specific for this type of beetle. Among the most effective insecticides for the carpet beetle there are those that contain components such as chlorpyrifos, allethrin, or bendiocarbos.
However, it is also possible to use boric acid, which is also effective in eliminating the carpet beetle, although it cannot be used on all surfaces or on fabrics that are dark because it bleaches.
With these tips on how to eliminate the carpet beetle, you can now design your action plan to eliminate this pest. From unCOMO, we recommend that you always consult with experts and specialists to solve the problem in the most effective and quick way so that the condition is as small as possible.
