How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetle Larvae

How to Paint Indoor and Outdoor Carpet
Written By
Brenda Barron
Brenda Barron
Published: Jan 2, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

If you find carpet beetle larvae in your carpet, rugs, clothing, blankets, bedding, slippers or other soft materials, you'll likely want to get rid of them quickly. Thankfully, that's possible with just a bit of patience and elbow grease.

  1. Pick up everything from off your floors that the bugs may have also infested and wash them in warm soapy water. Vacuum the carpet completely, making sure to go over all surfaces at least twice. Vacuum any furniture and curtains that have come in contact with the floor.

  2. Rent a professional grade steam cleaner from your local market or hardware store. Clean the carpet completely with the steam cleaner. Treat the carpet once, allowing it to completely dry out. Clean the carpet once again in the same manner.

  3. Spread boric acid onto the carpet and fabric furniture. This will kill any living beetle larvae as well as prevent new ones from infesting again. Don't allow the boric acid to sit too long, as it will bleach the flooring. Vacuum the boric acid within two hours of application.

Photo Credits

Background carpet image by fotolia © 2happy from Fotolia.com

Background carpet image by fotolia © 2happy from Fotolia.com

Brenda Barron

Brenda Barron is a writer, editor and researcher based in Southern California. She has worked as a writer since 2004, with work appearing in online and print publications such as BabyZone, "Cat Fancy" and "ePregnancy." She holds a Bachelor…

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