Gardening Ideas Plant Problems Garden Pests What Are Carpet Beetles? And How To Get Rid Of Them For Good Don’t let these uninvited guests take over your home. By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough Sadik is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 11, 2024 Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest. brand's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article What Are Carpet Beetles? How Do Carpet Beetles Get Into Your Home? Where Can You Find Carpet Beetles? How To Know If You Have A Carpet Beetle Infestation How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles Naturally How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles Using Chemicals How To Keep Carpet Beetles From Coming Back Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous? Close Photo: Getty Images/Andrea Ferro No one likes an unexpected house guest, whether that’s your dear Aunt Sally or unwanted outdoor pests. While we’ve shared how to prevent fruit flies, how to ward off stink bugs, and even how to get rid of crickets in your home, there’s yet another common household bug you might not realize could be causing major damage: carpet beetles. Make sure a singular runaway insect doesn’t become an infestation with these tips on how to keep carpet beetles away for good. What Are Carpet Beetles? As their name suggests, these bugs often inhabit carpets and other fabric-based areas. According to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that vary in color depending on the type, which can, in turn, depend on your region. Many common carpet beetles might appear in a speckled brown color, but you can also find carpet beetles in red, orange, black, and other hues. Therefore, it is always recommended to research your location to determine which carpet beetles to look out for. Carpet beetles also reproduce at a high rate, making them hard to spot at times in the egg and larva stages. Additionally, the damage done by carpet beetles can sometimes be mistaken for moths. How Do Carpet Beetles Get Into Your Home? Adult carpet beetles tend to enter the home by flying through open windows and doors, particularly during spring and summer. They also can come into the home via potted plants, since adult carpet beetles feed on flower pollen. Where Can You Find Carpet Beetles? Typically, carpet beetles lay eggs on carpet and rugs, particularly in darker areas. As a result, young larvae are the culprits behind eating away at your carpets, rugs, and upholstery. Alternatively, adult carpet beetles (which do not wreak as much havoc on fabric) can be found on windowsills, in plants, or sometimes perched on curtains near windows. How To Know If You Have A Carpet Beetle Infestation The rule of thumb is that if you see a carpet beetle, be prepared and check for signs of eggs and larvae in your carpet and upholstery. If you see multiple adult carpet beetles, it is to be assumed that, due to the high reproduction rate, there are most likely others hiding out elsewhere. How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles Naturally It’s important to note that carpet beetles will not just go away eventually on their own. The longer the carpet beetles are left in the home, the more they populate. Avoid an infestation by using a natural method to get rid of the eggs, larvae, and adult carpet beetles without risking harm to children or pets. Vinegar Mix equal parts white vinegar with water for a naturally effective solution against carpet beetles, thanks to the acidity. Use a spray bottle to lightly coat your carpets and other fabric-based areas. Vacuuming Regularly vacuuming is one of the most efficient ways to prevent and get rid of carpet beetles. Make sure to vacuum all carpets and rugs, including hard-to-reach nooks by using your vacuum crevice tool. Additionally, use the crevice tool to vacuum any upholstered furniture. Steam Cleaning Similarly to vacuuming, steam cleaning can help suck up any eggs or larvae, but with the added bonus that the heat will help exterminate them in the process. Move thoroughly over all infested or suspected areas. This can also be used regularly as a preventative measure in the spring and summer. How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles Using Chemicals Alternatively, for child-free and pet-free homes with serious infestations, a chemical product can be used to get rid of carpet beetles. Boric Acid This household powder can be found in many supermarkets. It can be sprinkled on infested carpet to quickly exterminate any present carpet beetles. However, boric acid is poisonous to humans if ingested in large quantities, and it is not advisable to be used as a method if there are children or pets in the house. Insecticides The following ingredients are recommended as chemical measures against carpet beetles: bifenthrin, deltamethrin, or cyfluthrin. Look for products with one or more of those ingredients, and always test first on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure your carpet won’t be damaged or stained. How To Keep Carpet Beetles From Coming Back Regular vacuuming is an easy way to prevent carpet beetles from reproducing in your home. To keep adult carpet beetles from entering your home altogether, consider keeping doors and windows closed, or investing in screen covers. You can also seal off any crevices between the outdoors and indoors of the home with a sprinkling of boric acid. Additionally, check any potted plants for signs of carpet beetles before bringing them inside. Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous? In short, no. Carpet beetles aren't venomous and don't have stingers, however, they can cause noticeable damage to your home when left to develop into a full-on infestation. It’s best to keep these uninvited guests out of your home. Etiquette be darned! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology. Carpet beetles.