Brown, bristly, shell-like shed skins from the larvae Brown fecal pellets, about the size of a grain of salt Adult beetles, which are oval-shaped, can come in a range of colors and are just larger than the head of a pin. They can fly and typically live outside, but will lay eggs indoors in dark, secluded areas. Larvae, which are slightly longer than adults, often with tufts of hair, although some varieties can be shiny and smooth. They can be brown, red, white, or striped.
Continue vacuuming your home at least once a day for a week. Depending on how bad the infestation is, you may need to vacuum multiple times a day for the first few days. Vacuum any upholstered furniture or fabric-covered areas that can’t be put in the washing machine. Check the labels on your rugs to see how they should be cleaned, and hire a steam cleaner if necessary.
Toss out the clothing even if you don’t see any carpet beetles or larvae left on the material.
Dry clean any clothing items that can’t be washed.
Limit your sprays to the places that collect lint, like under or around the edges of carpets or rugs, closet walls, shelving where fabrics are stored, and cracks and crevices. Don’t spray clothing or bedding. Remember to wear gloves and protective clothing when applying insecticide. Leave the area while the insecticide disperses in the air and wash your hands afterwards.
Boric acid has a bleaching effect, so avoid using it on dark materials.
Hormone- or pheromone-based traps are specific to the kind of carpet beetle species you have. You can also use sticky traps without a hormone to catch beetles, particularly ones flying through the windows. Check the traps 1-2 times a week. You can buy traps from pest control or pesticide supply stores, or online.
You should also examine any flowers or plants that you bring inside for signs of carpet beetles or larvae. If you see any, leave the plant outside. For a particularly stubborn or recurring infestation, you can spray liquid insecticide around the lower outside portion of your home and near entry points. Insecticide can affect other, non-harmful bugs, though, so only apply it outside as a last resort.
Make sure to keep hair, lint and dust bunnies to a minimum, as carpet beetles like to feed on these.
For extra protection, layer your stored fabrics with resin strips filled with insecticide. You can also use moth balls, flakes, or crystals. If you do find an infestation, wash or dry clean the items before storing them again.
Synthetic materials typically used for rugs and carpeting include nylon, polyester, triexta, and olefin. For furniture, synthetic options include acrylic, acetate, nylon, and polyester.
