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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Cannot get rid of carpet beatle!!!

11 replies

AnnaW12 · 15/08/2020 10:19

Hi all, so for about 15 years I have been mentally PLAGUED by carpet beatles. By that I mean I keep seeing the odd one here and there and even though I hoover every week and use insecticide regularly, I still cant get rid of them. I am posting this because I got upset at seeing 2 grubs and an adult this week. What I am really paranoid about is giving them to other people when anyone comes round or even when I stay over. I have laminate flooring, few furniture and live in the city. I dont know where they are coming from. It is seriously affecting my mental health and it is always on my mind when people come over. I cant afford a professional service. Does anyone have a success story to share or anything to help?

OP posts:
Cynderella · 15/08/2020 10:52

We have an issue with clothes moths that have eaten patches of our carpets upstairs. The worst damage was revealed when we moved beds and chests of drawers.

In a bid to get rid of them, I have been vacuuming EVERYWHERE twice a week. On other days, I vacuum the rooms including under beds but don't move furniture. I tend to be less thorough about the edges too, but the rooms are still vacuumed more thoroughly than ever before.

We have two sticky traps in every room that are replaced every Monday - we still see moths but there are fewer every week. I am hoping that in vacuuming eggs and larvae and killing the adult males in the traps, I can get rid of them.

If someone had said that I need to do that amount of vacuuming before, I'd have said I wouldn't have had the time, but somehow, I've managed it most days.

I imagine it's the same with the beetles - if you are not seeing damage to fabrics and carpets, it would seem either that they are not carpet beetles or that you have the problem under control. I would be less confident about the latter because generally with lice, fleas, moths and beetles, the ones you see are only a small percentage of the population.

I've been quite pragmatic about the little bastards in my home - the damage is done, but most of it can't be see unless you look under beds etc. The vacuuming is a chore, but it is a positive thing - we're living in a cleaner home and I can see improvements. I will be glad when it's a weekly rather than daily task though.

Jessie2345678 · 15/08/2020 17:41

Acclaim spray was brilliant for getting rid of fleas. I wonder whether it would also work on carpet beetles?

pinky987 · 16/08/2020 12:56

We had carpet beetles in our old house. Nothing ever got rid of them even after we had the carpets sprayed by a professional.

I just made sure I hoovered often especially the places you don’t hoover as often like under beds etc and this kept them at bay but never removed them.

pinky987 · 16/08/2020 12:57

Also please try not to let them effect you. A lot of people do have these in their home without realising what they are or have other types of bugs.

Fuckityfucksake · 16/08/2020 13:48

I sympathise!
I'd not ever seen one in my whole 42 years until back in April - little stripy bastards had been coming through my bedroom window and making their way to my laundry/ironing room.
By the time I got annoyed enough by removing the little gits from my bedroom windowsill and had seen them in the other room, then googling to see what they were - there was LOADS!
Luckily I seem to have contained them. I used peppermint oil galore my whole house smelled like the bloody fry's peppermint creme factory for weeks. Manic hoovering and spraying around all edges and holes with Dethlac insecticide - I haven't seen one since probably the end of may/early june.
I think that I may have some leaves built up in the guttering on the front of the house and they were up there, above my bedroom window and they came in from nesting there.
I used to have my back windows open and didn't see even 1 come from that way.
My gutters are getting a clean out before spring comes again.

AnnaW12 · 28/08/2020 21:56

Thanks for the replies everyone. Glad to hear im not the only one. Saw yet another grub in my bedroom (which is the worst place to see them). It was in the same place as another grub last week - right next to the skirting board which i hoovered and sprayed insecticide all over last week so i have no idea how this grub has survived all that. I started dating a new guy who comes over sometimes and he thinks i am obsessed with cleanliness because i keep hoovering and tell him not to put anything on the floor. Really its because im really worried he might "catch" the dreaded pest too and it will be my fault :( shall just have to keep hoovering and spraying insecticide

OP posts:
percheron67 · 28/08/2020 21:57

Is it Ringo?

areallthenamesusedup · 29/08/2020 23:23

If you go into my local Lakeland....there were 4 facings ie 2 x 2 double shelves of carpet beetle spray stuff.....apparently there has been a pandemic this summer....you are not alone.

areallthenamesusedup · 29/08/2020 23:24

@percheron67

Is it Ringo?
No, George.....but good guess. Smile
SpringFan · 29/08/2020 23:30

Any bird's nests in your eaves/roof? THey seem to breed in nests, we have an issue when the birds get into the waves.

Keysunshine · 29/08/2020 23:44

I think the problem is more your mental health than the actual bugs OP. I’ve been there too, it’s awful. Have you been to the GP? You don’t have to live like this. Flowers

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