4 Ways To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles in NJ
Carpet beetles are pests that dine on household textiles. They can be several different species of beetle, but what they have in common is a voracious appetite for your carpeting, household fabrics and cloth materials. They are difficult to eliminate, and they can cause a great deal of damage in your New Jersey home. However, there are a few ways you can eliminate this pest yourself.
Proper Storage
Never store dirty clothing, draperies or other textiles. When you rearrange at the change of seasons and put items in storage, make sure they are clean first. Otherwise, you could wind up storing beetles along with your textiles and providing them with a free meal. As items go into storage bags or bins, make sure they are airtight. Use sealed garment bags or bins with tight fitting lids. You may also want to consider adding pest repellers like moth balls to keep these insects away from your seasonal items.
Pest Treatments
There are also powdered treatments you can use around the home to address problems. These pesticides can be applied in cracks and crevices where the beetles are likely to hide. They should not be used on any textiles that will touch human skin, and they should never be used in areas where food is prepared. However, they can be spread along baseboards and in other areas to bring an infestation under control. Follow manufacturer’s directions for safe and effective use of any pesticides. You can also dust boric acid over the carpet to kill beetle eggs and remove the pests.
Vacuum Frequently
The easiest solution is actually to vacuum the area frequently. While vacuuming will not kill the insects and their eggs, you will pull them out of the carpet and get them out of the home. Vacuum thoroughly, and pay particular attention to the edges of the carpet, your upholstery and even the drapes. Once you are done vacuuming, toss the bag in the outside trash can to keep the beetles out. Run the vacuum cleaner every other day, and use the attachments to clean other textiles.
Wash with Hot Soapy Water
If possible, wash all infested materials with hot, soapy water. This includes your clothing, draperies and other textiles. While you cannot wash your carpet in a machine, you can still treat for beetles by steam cleaning the carpeting. Take care not to accidentally bleach the color out of our carpet by using too much boric acid. You should also use a little boric acid on an inconspicuous area to ensure that it is color safe.
There are times when professional assistance is necessary to handle a carpet beetle infestation. However, you can probably address the problem on your own by following these steps. The biggest challenge is vacuuming the carpet and upholstery several times a week. You may not have the time to handle a chore of this size, but you can call on High Quality Carpet to assist you. With our services, you can have the carpets and other textiles vacuumed daily to help overcome a carpet beetle infestation.