How To Get Rid of Carpet Beetles ( Latest Update 2026)
As one of the smallest pests in Australia, carpet beetle infestations can pose a major threat to the comfort and safety of our homes and workspaces. These critters often infest domestic and commercial properties, with everywhere from retail stores to apartment units not being immune to carpet beetle infestations.
Alongside being a general nuisance, carpet beetles have also garnered quite a reputation for destruction, chewing through household items like bedsheets, carpets and curtains. Shed carpet beetle skins, or moult, can also cause carpet beetle dermatitis. This condition involves skin irritation, itchiness and redness.
If you’re currently facing an infestation and are wondering how to get rid of carpet beetles, this guide was written for you. Keep reading to discover some tips on how to clear your home of carpet beetles and protect your health and furniture.
how to get rid of carpet beetle – home
How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles
Did you know that a single female carpet beetle can lay up to 90 eggs? This is precisely what makes early detection and extermination paramount to keeping a carpet beetle infestation in check. Thankfully at Pestline, we have plenty of experience performing both domestic and commercial carpet beetle extermination, which has allowed us to come up with some time-tested tips on how to get rid of carpet beetles in your home or office.
Here are some tips on how to deal with a carpet beetle infestation:
1. Vacuum regularly
As soon as you detect some of the signs of a carpet beetle infestation, you should vacuum every room in your property – especially those with carpet floors. Vacuuming allows you to get rid of carpet beetles, their eggs and their moult, which is the primary cause of carpet beetle dermatitis.
Don’t forget to vacuum under your bed and other furniture either. Cool, damp places are prime egg-laying spots for carpet beetles, so it’s essential to ensure that every centimetre of your property is clean. Vacuuming regularly also helps you get rid of other common pests, including carpet mites and ants.
how to get rid of carpet beetle – Pestline is the best
2. Wash and store your clothes properly
Carpet beetles love natural fabrics, which means that they can often be found in your clothes. When dealing with carpet beetles in the home, it’s essential to machine wash your clothes in hot water to get rid of the eggs and carpet beetles that might have lodged there. If you don’t plan to use certain clothes for a while, consider storing them in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent them becoming a home for carpet beetles.
how to get rid of carpet beetle – washing
3. Minimise outdoor lighting
Carpet beetles, like many other insects, are attracted to bright lights. Installing outdoor lighting carries the risk of attracting hordes of carpet beetles and other unwanted critters like moths to your property. If your home or commercial property is prone to carpet beetle infestations, consider minimising outdoor lights to avoid attracting these insects to your home.
4. Use a specialised insecticide
Once you’ve identified a carpet beetle infestation, immediately spray all affected areas with carpet beetle insecticide. You want to spray carpets, bedsheets and fabric curtains. To kill carpet beetle eggs, you may need to use an insecticide that was formulated specifically for this purpose. Take care not to let insecticide come in direct contact with food, and make sure to keep bottles of carpet beetle insecticide away from pets and small children.
5. Inspect new plants for carpet beetles
Carpet beetles feed on pollen and nectar, and can often be found attached to flowers and other plants. When bringing plants indoors, it’s vital to inspect them for carpet beetles and other pests that might have hitched a ride. Stopping a carpet beetle infestation at the source prevents the problem from getting out of hand and keeps you from having to pay for expensive carpet beetle extermination measures.
how to get rid of carpet beetle – plants at home
6. Clean secondhand furniture thoroughly
Secondhand furniture sometimes comes with carpet beetles or other unwanted guests. When buying pre-owned furniture like beds, couches and mattresses, it’s essential to inspect and clean them thoroughly to eliminate the risk of a carpet beetle outbreak. Machine wash all fabrics in hot water to kill carpet beetles and their eggs and spray secondhand furniture with disinfectant.
7. Install an insect screen
If you’ve had a carpet beetle infestation in the past, you want to prevent the problem from recurring. This can be done by installing insect screens in front of your door and windows to prevent carpet beetles from coming in. This tip is especially important if you have a garden or live near a forest or a park.
how to get rid of carpet beetle
8. Enlist professional help
When all else fails, enlist professionals to handle your domestic or commercial carpet beetle problem. Make sure to choose an exterminator with experience getting rid of carpet beetles and any other pests infesting your property, and who has access to the latest carpet beetle extermination tools.
At Pestline, we have been offering different pest management services for years, including keeping homes and businesses free of carpet beetles and other annoying pests. We service properties across Melbourne, including Kingston, Cranbourne and the CBD.
To request a free quote on carpet beetle extermination, contact Pestline today.
FAQs
How do I get rid of carpet beetles?
Vacuum every room, especially carpeted floors and under beds and furniture, to remove beetles, eggs and shed skins. Machine wash clothes in hot water and store unused clothes in vacuum-sealed bags. Spray affected carpets, bedsheets and curtains with a carpet beetle insecticide. If the problem continues, call a professional.
What causes a carpet beetle infestation?
Carpet beetles can arrive on plants and flowers (they feed on pollen and nectar) or on secondhand furniture. Bright outdoor lights also attract them. Once inside, they settle in cool, damp spots such as under beds and furniture, and they love natural fabrics.
What kills carpet beetles immediately?
There’s no single instant fix, but a carpet beetle insecticide sprayed on affected carpets, bedsheets and curtains is the fastest way to kill them. Machine washing fabrics in hot water kills beetles and eggs, and vacuuming removes beetles, eggs and shed skins. Eggs may need an insecticide formulated for them.
What insecticide is good for carpet beetles?
Use a carpet beetle insecticide, and choose one formulated to kill eggs as well as beetles. Spray carpets, bedsheets and fabric curtains. Keep it away from food, pets and small children.
Are carpet beetles harmful?
They’re mainly a nuisance and a threat to fabrics. They chew through bedsheets, carpets and curtains. Their shed skins can also cause carpet beetle dermatitis, which brings skin irritation, itchiness and redness.
How many eggs do carpet beetles lay?
A single female carpet beetle can lay up to 90 eggs, which is why early detection and treatment matter.
How do I stop carpet beetles coming back?
Vacuum regularly and wash clothes in hot water. Install insect screens on doors and windows, and minimise outdoor lighting. Inspect new plants before bringing them indoors, and thoroughly clean secondhand furniture and wash its fabrics in hot water.
When should I call pest control for carpet beetles?
Call when DIY methods haven’t cleared the infestation. Choose an exterminator with carpet beetle experience and the latest extermination tools. Pestline treats homes and businesses across Melbourne and offers free quotes.
Do carpet beetles bite?
No. Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen and nectar and don’t bite people or pets, and the larvae don’t bite either. The itchy red rash people blame on bites comes from contact with the larvae’s tiny hairs and shed skins, and it’s often mistaken for bed bug bites. Washing bedding and clothing in hot water and vacuuming removes the cause. If the rash persists, see your doctor or pharmacist.
What do carpet beetles look like?
Adult carpet beetles are tiny, about 2–4 mm long, with rounded, oval bodies. The Australian carpet beetle is very dark with small patches of white hairs. The varied carpet beetle is patterned with dark brown and white blotched bands. The larvae are the stage you’re more likely to find (see below).
What do carpet beetle larvae look like?
Carpet beetle larvae are small, hairy, brown grubs with dark bands of hair, growing from about 0.5 mm when hatched to roughly 5 mm. They’re active and quick-moving, hide in dark, undisturbed places, and shed their skins as they grow. The larvae cause the damage, feeding on natural fibres such as wool, fur, feathers and silk. Their hairs can trigger skin irritation in some people.
Can carpet beetles fly?
Yes, adult carpet beetles can fly. They live mostly outdoors, feed on flower pollen and nectar, and fly into homes, often drawn to windows and lights, to lay eggs. That’s why insect screens and less outdoor lighting help. Because beetles can re-enter, treat the whole home and block entry points instead of relying on indoor treatment alone.
The Final Word On How To Get Rid Of Carpet Beetles
If you live in Australia, chances are you’ll have to deal with a carpet beetle infestation at some point. To prevent property damage or skin allergies from carpet beetles, it’s vital to work with an experienced exterminator. Whether you need to get rid of carpet mites in your home, office or are even looking for pest control services for your restaurant or cafe, our specialist at Pestline can help.
Contact us today to learn more about our carpet mite extermination services.
Looking for tips on how to deal with other common Australian pests? Check out our other guides:
- How To Get Rid Of Fleas
- How To Get Rid Of Spiders
- How To Get Rid Of German Cockroaches
- How To Get Rid Of Dust Carpet Mites
- How To Get Rid Of Ants
- How To Get Rid Of Silverfish
Written by Matthew Behman
Matthew Behman is a certified pest control expert in Melbourne with over a decade of experience managing pests in homes, gardens, and commercial properties. Solving common types of problems including spider nests, cockroaches, bed bugs, termites etc. Matthew is committed to delivering affordable and comprehensive pest management services tailored to meet the unique needs of residential and commercial clients.
