Carpet beetles and borax

elsien · 3 August 2008 at 1:30PM

I hoovered under my blanket chest today ( first time in a while:o ) and there's lots of little white oval case type things (empty, about 1-2mm wide, 6-7mm long), along with a lovely hole in my carpet. My first thought was moths, but I've tipped out everything that was in the blanket box ( including a wool bedspread) and I can't see any sign that any of it has been munched.

So is it moths, or is there anything else it could be? If it's something else, other than hoovering and essential oils, is there anything else I can do?

I've read the moth threads, and have started washing things just in case, but wasn't sure if I needed to wash the cotton stuff as well? (Paranoia has started to set in with a vengeance.)

Icemaiden · 3 August 2008 at 1:41PM

Might be carpet beetles

Ice
x

elsien · 3 August 2008 at 3:00PM

How do I tell?

Olliebeak · 3 August 2008 at 3:01PM

Sounds like carpet beetles to me too. I've often found these when checking out empty accommodation (part of my job). They frequently flourish where there are heavy items of furniture that aren't moved very often.

Sunnyday · 3 August 2008 at 3:06PM

I just googled carpet beetle and found allsorts it certainly sounds like them.

I found out what was eating my carpet - it was the dog :eek:

Good luck!
SD

Iguana · 3 August 2008 at 3:08PM

Some info here, with pictures:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/pests/e301w.htm

Biggles · 3 August 2008 at 3:31PM

They are the casemaking clothes moth.
http://www.andrewgreenpestcontrol.co.uk/Casemaking%20Clothes%20Moth.htm

We've got a wool carpet and found them and their damage under various pieces of furniture last year.

They like these dark places, and the main defence is to move the furniture and vacuum under it very regularly and very efficiently. There are pesticides designed for them but, as I understand it, the one that was really effective against these was banned by the EU two or three years ago, so what with that and climate change they are becoming more widespread. You could try these: http://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/acatalog/Pest_Control_Direct_Moth__housemoth__clothes_moth__case_bearing_moth__39.html

elsien · 3 August 2008 at 4:30PM

That means I'm going to have to empty and move the wardrobes then. And lift the edges of the carpets. Oh joy!
That'll teach me to only vacuum once a month.
Biggles - did you use a spray or was just the vacuuming sufficient?

Pink. · 3 August 2008 at 5:29PM

Hi elsien,

There are some links and advice on this earlier thread that may help:

Carpet beetles and borax

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep all the suggestions together.

Pink

Biggles · 3 August 2008 at 7:42PM

Elsien, I haven't resorted to a spray yet. General advice seems to be that regular vacuuming should be adequate. I reckon once a month would easily be enough, as long as you do under the furniture (and only bother where the carpet is wool, obviously!).

But, when I have found them, I've given them a blast of steam to make sure there are no live ones left (a steam cleaner would be ideal but we used the steam from a generator iron).

I haven't lifted the edges of the carpets (so far). All the damage seems to be on top, as that's where the 'food' is, ie the pile of the carpet.

Obviously, you need to check clothes in cupboards/wardrobes as well, though, like mine, yours only seem interested in the carpet. It may well be that the case-making clothes moth doesn't bother with clothes.

The other thing we now do is kill any clothes-type moth on sight, as it is them that lay the eggs.....

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Carpet beetles and borax

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free