My carpet is turning to dust? What the...

millyaulait

aliasojo wrote: »

You sure this is down to the carpet itself rather than a carpet beetle issue?

I'm not sure - I haven't seen any insects about. It's only in one little patch, so I guess it could be possible. Can carpet beetles break down fibres like that? The surrounding carpet really turns to dust when you touch it.

macman

Underlay is a separate layer underneath, as the name suggests, usually rubberised. Google for images of it if unsure.

Swipe

millyaulait wrote: »

Even if it's happened while I've been here? I can understand if it started before I moved in, but I'm not really that clued up on what the landlord takes care of & what I do. I feel like it's my fault (since I'm living here) & therefore it's my issue. I don't exactly have a lot of money, so I'd be pretty relieved if this was definitely the case!

I'd call the landlord and tell him/her what's happened. Do not offer to pay though, leave the onus on them to replace it at their expense. Why should you pay? It's not like you caused the damage, they obviously used cheap rubber backed carpet in the first place.

joop

It sounds just like what happened to my carpet. Are there bits that look like grains of rice around?

Its not actually the moth that eats the carpet but the grubs. They are an absolute bu33er to get rid of.

They like natural fibres which is why they've eaten my carpet but left the leather sofa alone except to attach their pupae to.

Edwardia

Just to add that sunlight on wool carpets can do more than fade them. My mother came home from work to find that the wool Wilton carpet in her south facing bedroom was actually hot and smouldering.

Becles

I inherited a cheap foam backed carpet with no underlay in the spare bedroom of my old house. It had been a teenage girls room and had various spills all over it and was absolutely filthy. It just crumbled to dust when I tried to take it up, so I ended up sweeping it up instead!

27col

When I used to do house wiring I found many times that foam backed carpets had virtually turned into dust. The backs used to disintegrate when we tried to lift them.
At that point we informed the house holder of the risk that they would have no carpet when the job was finished.