Have you ever noticed any bald patches on your carpet - or somebody else's? like the picture above, areas of missing fibres. Have you ever wondered why the fibres are missing? Or noticed little bits of what look like shreds of wood or paper near the bald patches?
Well it's not your carpet disintegrating! It's actually an infestation of carpet moth / carpet beetle. Don't worry, your not a dirty person, far from it, and can it happen to well, anyone.
Why Do They Like Carpets?
Well, it's not just carpets, it can be clothes and curtains too and they are attracted to natural fibres i.e. Wool and silk. The moths/beetles have the ability to digest keratin protein in these natural fibres, so if you have a silk or pure wool carpet, or a wool rich carpet, then you certainly could become victim to them. They also like areas that hold some moisture within the natural fibre - even sweat and dirt (in clothes etc) as they feed off this too. But in carpets they enjoy dark corners and spaces under units etc. The adults lay eggs in these areas and when the larvae hatch in to adults themselves - this is when they leave behind there larvae casings on the carpet.
Larvae casings left behind on the carpet
How Can You deal With Them?
If you have a case of moth/beetle infestation, then there is help at hand. By using a professional carpet cleaning company quickly, then it is not a major issue at all. First of all a thorough vacuum of all areas will get rid of them, but also a good dose of a safe, natural agent can be used effectively to help eradicate them. Failing that then an insecticide can also be used, to guarantee that they will be eliminated altogether. You will obviously be wondering about what to do about the bald areas on the carpet, and this could be repaired so long as you have an off cut of the same carpet available - but only if its in similar condition in terms of wear and colour.
How Can You Prevent Them?
A good way to prevent them from setting up snuggly home in your carpet is to essentially employ the services of the biggest spider you can find - no I'm joking!! The best way of course is to vacuum regularly - not just the main areas, but in corners and under units where they have legs. It can be a pain, but using your crevice tool on your vacuum all around the edges will really keep them at bay.
Author: Kevin Loomes
