Tiny bristly larvae in the bedroom or small beetles on the window sill point to fabric damage somewhere nearby. We track down where they are feeding and treat it.
Carpet beetles are small oval insects, usually only a few millimetres long, and the adults are often found on window sills in spring and summer. They are mostly harmless on their own and feed on pollen outdoors. The trouble comes from the larvae, which are brown, bristly and sometimes called woolly bears, and which feed on natural fibres indoors. Many people only realise what they are looking at when they notice the larvae's cast skins in a corner.
Larvae favour quiet, dusty places. They turn up in carpets along skirtings, under heavy furniture, inside wool rugs, in upholstery and in air vents or lofts where old bird nests or dead insects provide food. Signs include small round holes in fabric, shed larval skins, and sometimes an itchy rash on a sleeper, though that cause can be hard to prove. Dead flies and spiders collecting on window sills or in light fittings can sustain a small population for months.
Control begins by finding the source, which is not always in the room where the beetles are seen. We inspect carpets, soft furnishings, wardrobes and voids, then treat the areas where larvae are active. We also explain vacuuming, laundering and storage habits that limit a repeat. We work in homes, rented flats, offices, shops and any premises holding textiles or natural-fibre stock. We cover everything from a single bedroom problem to storage areas holding natural-fibre stock.
We check carpets, rugs, soft furnishings, wardrobes and edges for larvae and skins.
We look in lofts, vents and voids where dead insects or old nests may sit.
We treat the active areas using products that suit the fabrics and rooms.
We explain washing, vacuuming and storage steps to reduce food sources.
We recommend a follow-up where larvae may remain hidden.
They do not bite or spread disease. Their larvae damage fabrics, and the shed hairs can irritate skin or cause rashes in some people. Finding the source and treating it is mainly about protecting carpets, clothes and stored items.
Adults often come in from outdoors or emerge from a hidden source. Larvae can feed for a long time in a loft, void or the underside of a rug before showing damage. An inspection looks for where the larvae are actually living.
Regular vacuuming along edges and under furniture removes food and some larvae, which helps a great deal. If a hidden source remains, such as a nest in a void or a heavily infested rug, treatment is normally needed as well.
The price depends on the size of the property, how many rooms and voids are affected and how long the larvae have been feeding. The number of visits matters too. We offer a free quote, so call 0113 347 0014.
A general walk-through of how a household carpet beetle treatment tends to go, shown beside an illustrative image.
Read the walk-through →Six guides, from identification to what it costs.
Carpet beetles are small and easy to overlook, but the larvae leave clear clues. Here is how to recognise the adults, the bristly young and the damage they cause.
Read the advice →Carpet beetles are rarely cleared by one quick spray. This guide sets out what works in order, from tracing the source to treating the areas the larvae use.
Read the advice →There is no single price for carpet beetle treatment, because no two infestations are alike. These are the factors that move a quote up or down.
Read the advice →Carpet beetles feed quietly out of sight, so the damage is often found late. These are the signs to watch for and the risks that come with leaving them.
Read the advice →Once carpet beetles have been cleared, a few habits keep them away. Prevention is mostly about removing food, shutting the door and checking regularly.
Read the advice →Some carpet beetle problems can be handled at home, and some cannot. This guide helps you decide, and explains what to look for in a contractor.
Read the advice →Choose your town for local information.
Fantastic service. Great communication and immediate response.Alison14 September 2020
Thanks to everyone involved from initial phone call to job completion. Prompt service, polite and job completed within 1/2 hour. Would definitely use you again if ever needed. Thanks once again Bev GreenwoodBev Greenwood11 September 2018
Prompt,pleasant and knowledgeable staff member carried out the removal of 3 wasp infestation in 3 adjoining properties. He explained every step of the process. Very good value compaired to other quotes. JanetJanet Walsh11 September 2018
Tell us what you have seen and where, and we will come back to you. There are no call-out charges and surveys are free for homes and businesses.
