How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles

Finding small holes in your favorite sweater or noticing bare patches on a rug can be frustrating. In many cases, the culprit is not wear and tear, it’s carpet beetles.

These tiny insects don’t bite people, but their larvae feed on natural fabrics like wool, silk, and leather, as well as pet hair and other organic materials around the house.

Over time, that feeding leaves behind visible damage to carpets, clothing, and upholstered furniture. In Philadelphia homes, carpet beetle infestations often start quietly.

They can come inside through open windows, ride in on fresh flowers, or hide in secondhand furniture. By the time you spot adult beetles near a window or notice damaged fabrics, the problem may already be spreading.

You can get rid of them with a mix of thorough cleaning, smart prevention, and when necessary professional help.
Follow our step by step guide below to get rid of carpet beetles and stop them from coming back in your home.

Step by Step Guide: How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles

Follow below steps for Getting Carpet Beetles Out of Your House.

Vacuum Regularly

Carpet beetle larvae love dark, quiet spots where lint, pet hair, and crumbs collect. That makes regular vacuuming one of your best defenses.

Don’t just do the middle of the room, make sure to get under furniture, along baseboards, inside closets, under area rugs, and even under couch cushions.
If you’ve already noticed signs of an infestation, vacuum daily for a month to cut down on larvae, eggs, and shed skins, because their larvae are extremely resilient.

They can survive for several days without eating, especially in cooler, darker environments. Also, remember to empty the vacuum bag or canister outside of the home.

Leaving it inside the house can undo your hard work, since eggs and larvae can crawl right back out.

Clean Carpets and Upholstery

Carpet beetles don’t just linger in closets, they love to burrow into carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.

The fibers, crumbs, and even pet hair that settle into these areas make the perfect food source for larvae.

Start with a regular deep vacuuming, but don’t stop at the surface.

Go over high, traffic areas slowly, use the hose attachment to get along baseboards, under couches, and in corners, and remember to empty the vacuum bag or canister outside right away.

For added protection, consider a professional carpet cleaning or upholstery cleaning twice a year to make sure you’re in safe zone.

Hot water extraction or steam cleaning not only refreshes fabrics but also eliminates hidden larvae and eggs that regular vacuuming may miss.

Wash and Store Clothes Properly

Carpet beetle larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, and cotton. That means your favorite sweater or that box of blankets in the attic could be an easy meal for carpet beetles.

To stop them in their tracks, wash any clothing, bedding, or fabrics you suspect might be affected.

Use hot water and high heat in the dryer whenever possible , the combination kills larvae and eggs.

For items you don’t use often, like seasonal clothes or extra linens, store them in airtight containers or vacuum sealed bags.

This keeps beetles from finding their way in. Even a simple plastic bin with a tight lid works better than cardboard boxes, which pests can easily chew through.

Minimize Outdoor Lighting

Adult carpet beetles are drawn to light sources, especially at night. That’s why you’ll often see them near windows, doors, or lamps.

If your home is well-lit on the outside, it can unintentionally act like a beacon for beetles. To cut down the attraction, try switching to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs, which are less appealing to insects.

Keep outdoor lights limited when possible, and make sure windows and doors are fitted with proper screens so beetles can’t slip inside.

This minor adjustment makes a big difference in reducing the chances of new beetles entering your home and laying eggs in hidden areas.

Use a Specialized Insecticide

When regular cleaning isn’t enough, a targeted insecticide can help control carpet beetle populations.

Focus treatments on baseboards, edges of carpets, under furniture, closets, and other undisturbed areas where beetle larvae tend to hide.

Give a try to products designed specifically for carpet beetles or fabric pests, such as boric acid powders or diatomaceous earth, and apply them in light layers along cracks, crevices, and carpet edges.

These are effective at disrupting the larvae without leaving heavy chemical residues, as per my experience.

Always follow label directions carefully, keep pets and children away until treated areas are dry, and avoid spraying directly on clothing or bedding.

If you’re unsure which product to use, or if the infestation seems widespread, it’s best to contact a professional pest control company, because they have tested different treatments and experience to apply them safely.

Inspect New Plants Before Bringing Them Inside

Carpet beetles aren’t just random indoor pests, they thrive outdoors too, feeding on pollen, nectar, and organic materials.

Adult beetles can easily hitch a ride on fresh flowers, potted plants, or garden cuttings brought into your home.

Take a minute to inspect leaves, soil, and stems for signs of beetles or larvae before placing new plants indoors.

Even a quick shake outside can help dislodge unwanted pests. If possible, rinse plants gently with water to clear away insects before setting them inside.

This simple step can stop entering beetle eggs, larvae, or even adult carpet beetles into your living space , stopping an infestation before it begins.

Clean Secondhand Furniture 

Carpet beetles are notorious for hiding in upholstered furniture, rugs, and mattresses. While that old sofa or area rug might look like a bargain, it could also carry larvae, eggs, or adult carpet beetles tucked into seams and fibers.

Before bringing any secondhand furniture into your home:

• Vacuum professionally, paying attention to creases, folds, and under cushions.
• Steam clean upholstery and rugs, heat helps kill beetle larvae and eggs lodged deep in the fabric.
• Wipe down hard surfaces like wood or metal frames with mild soap and water.

A little extra effort up front protects your home from a potential beetle infestation and saves you the headache of dealing with damage to carpets, clothes, and natural fabrics later.

Install Insect Screens

Adult carpet beetles can still find their way indoors, even if your home is spotless. They’re naturally drawn to light and flowers, so leaving windows open without protection is like rolling out a welcome mat.

Installing tight, fitting insect screens on windows, vents, and doors helps block beetles before they ever get inside. Check existing screens for tears or gaps, since even a small opening can be an entry point.

This step is more important if your home is near a garden, park, or wooded area. By combining screens with regular cleaning and vacuuming, you’ll drastically reduce the chance of another beetle infestation starting.

What Are Carpet Beetles?

Small insects from the Dermestidae family are called Carpet beetles. Regardless of their size, they can cause significant damage in homes.

Unlike some pests that target food or wood, carpet beetles have a preference for natural fibers such as wool, silk, leather, and even pet hair.

There are several common species you may encounter:

• Varied Carpet Beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) They are known for their patchy black, white, and brown coloring.
• Black Carpet Beetles (Attagenus megatoma) are usually solid black or dark brown and one of the most destructive species.
• Furniture Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus flavipes) It often found in upholstered furniture, rugs, and drapes.

These pests go through a complete life cycle, from egg to larva, pupa, and finally adult beetle.

The larval stage is most destructive, as this is when they feed heavily on organic materials inside your home.

Adult beetles, on the other hand, are attracted to flowers, pollen, and light sources, which is often how they end up indoors in the first place.

What Do Carpet Beetles Look Like?

Carpet beetles look like tiny, oval shaped insects that usually measure between 2–4 mm long.

As you know, adult carpet beetles are small, they’re easy to spot around windowsills, lamps, and light fixtures, because they’re attracted to light.

However, if it’s not the adults you need to worry about most, it’s the larvae that cause fabric damage.

What Do Carpet Beetle Eggs and Larvae Look Like?

Carpet beetle eggs are tiny, white to cream, colored, and measure less than a millimeter in length.

A single female can lay 50–100 eggs at a time, often tucked away in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, baseboards, or underneath furniture.

These eggs typically hatch within 10–20 days, depending on temperature and humidity.

The larvae, sometimes called “woolly bears” are the real troublemakers. They’re elongated, covered in bristly hairs, and usually brown or banded with lighter stripes.

These hairs can sometimes irritate human skin, leading people to mistake the reaction for insect bites.

Larvae are relentless feeders, chewing through wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, and even pet hair.

Unlike the short lived adults, the larval stage can last several months, giving them plenty of time to damage carpets, clothes, and upholstered furniture before pupating into adults.

Where Do Carpet Beetles Come From?

Despite their name, carpet beetles don’t start indoors. Most infestations begin outside. Adult beetles live on pollen and nectar, so they’re often found in gardens, flowerbeds, and trees.

When doors or windows are left open, they fly inside searching for places to lay eggs.
They also hitch rides. Common ways from where carpet beetles come:

• Fresh cut flowers brought indoors
• Second-hand furniture or rugs carrying hidden eggs or larvae
• Pet hair or animal nests near the home
• Air vents, chimneys, or cracks that allow easy entry

Once they enter inside, they seek out dark, quiet spaces with plenty of natural fibers, closets, storage boxes, or the edges of wall to wall carpet are prime locations for them.

What Is the Cause of Carpet Beetles?

Carpet beetles thrive in spaces where food sources and shelter overlap. The root causes of infestations usually include a combination of the following:

• Abundant natural fibers, Wool, silk, leather, and fur provide the protein rich diet larvae need.
• Pet hair and dead insects are both common food sources often neglected during routine cleaning.
• Stored fabrics and clothing items tucked away in basements, attics, or closets become prime targets, especially if they’re not cleaned before storage.
• Access points from outdoors, gaps in windows, vents, or doors allow adult beetles to enter and lay eggs inside the house.
• Limited cleaning in hidden areas like under heavy furniture, behind baseboards, under area rugs or inside air ducts.

In short, carpet beetle infestations don’t happen because a home is “dirty”. They happen when natural fibers, organic materials, and quiet hiding spots align with easy access indoors.

How Serious Are Carpet Beetles?

Carpet beetles might not chew through wood or wiring like termites, but the damage they cause to fabrics and furnishings can still be costly.

Understanding the risks helps homeowners decide when it’s time to step up from simple cleaning to more thorough control measures.

Carpets, Clothes, and Upholstery Damage

The larval stage is the most destructive. These tiny feeders target wool and silk rugs, leaving bare patches and irregular holes, clothing and blankets (especially items made from natural fibers), upholstered furniture, where larvae burrow into seams and hidden folds and stored items, including heirloom fabrics, furs, and even stuffed animals.

Over several months, an infestation can result in significant damage to textiles that may be difficult or impossible to repair.

Can Carpet Beetles Cause Skin Irritation?

Yes, carpet beetles cause skin irritation, while carpet beetles don’t bite humans, their bristly larval hairs can irritate skin. Some people mistake this for insect bites, but it’s actually an allergic reaction.

Symptoms include mild redness, itching, or rash, like irritation, especially if infested fabrics are used regularly.

The combination of property damage and skin irritation makes it important to address carpet beetles instantly before the problem escalates.

Signs of a Carpet Beetle Infestation

Catching carpet beetles early can save you from replacing expensive rugs or clothes. They’re sneaky pests, often hiding in quiet corners, so knowing what to look for is the first step to getting rid of carpet beetles.

Common Areas Where Carpet Beetles Hide in the Home

Carpet beetle larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas where food sources are plentiful. Some of the most common hiding spots include:

• Along baseboards and under edges of carpets and area rugs.
• Inside closets and dresser drawers.
• Beneath sofas, chairs, and beds.
• Around air vents, attics, and basements.
• In pet bedding, where fur and dander collect.

Adult carpet beetles, on the other hand, are attracted to light. You may see them near windows, light fixtures, or lampshades.

Where Do Carpet Beetles Lay Their Eggs?

Female beetles lay eggs where their young will have immediate access to food.

Usually carpet beetles lay their eggs beneath wool rugs, clothing, fur-lined coats, leather goods, stored blankets and fabrics, and in the seams of upholstered furniture.

Each female can lay dozens of eggs, which hatch within weeks. This rapid cycle is why infestations can escalate quickly if not spotted early.

Stop Carpet Beetles From Coming Back

Once you’ve cleared an infestation, the real goal is to stop them from returning. Prevention takes consistency, but it’s much easier than dealing with another outbreak.

• Consistently follow a monthly vacuuming schedule, especially along carpet edges, under beds, under area rugs, and behind furniture.

• Wash throw blankets, bedding, and other natural fabrics regularly in hot water to destroy any hidden larvae.

• Don’t forget upholstered furniture, a professional deep clean once or twice a year helps keep hidden pests in check.

• Always clean clothes before storing them long-term. Carpet beetles are drawn to organic materials like sweat, food stains, and pet hair.

• Use airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags for wool, silk, or other natural fabrics.

• Cedar blocks or sachets can also help deter pests from closets and storage bins.

• Inspect windows, doors, and baseboards for tiny gaps where adult beetles can slip inside.

• Seal cracks with caulk and repair torn window screens.

• Attics, chimneys, and crawl spaces should also be checked, since beetles often enter through hidden openings.

Taking these steps effectively reduces the chance of carpet beetles coming back, even in homes with pets or lots of fabric items.