Carpet moths affect many homes across the world. While the moth itself won’t damage your carpets, it’s the larvae you need to watch out for. The moth will lay eggs in your carpet for the larvae to eat when it hatches. They will also target clothing, fur, upholstery, and other natural fibers.
Fortunately, there are ways to eradicate the infestation and restore your carpets. Here is how you can identify and eradicate carpet moths, and then 4 tips to getting your carpets back to as good as new.
Identify the problem
The first step with any pest infestation is to identify the problem. It is important to know the extent to which the infestation has occurred, which rooms it is in, and the amount of damage that has been sustained. We have done an extensive article outlining the 8 steps to identifying and eradicating carpet moths here.
A rundown on how to identify carpet moths is to look for moths attaching themselves near carpets or clothing. Carpet moths will be between 14 and 18 millimeters and will have their own distinct markings. Generally, they will be in dark locations, which are dusty, and rarely disturbed. For example, under beds or furniture. Look for any damage to carpets in these areas.
Eradicate the problem
There are many solutions to eradicating carpet moths. You can read greater details on this phase in the above-mentioned article. The first step is laying out moth traps. These will target the males, taking them out of the breeding cycle, removing the moths’ abilities to reproduce, and make damaging larvae.
Next, you will need to vacuum your carpets, eliminating as much of the larvae as possible. Of course, this won’t necessarily get all the eggs and larvae, so you will need to apply a spray or powder to your carpets.
The easiest solution when you identify carpet moths is to get a professional pest control service to clear out your carpets. They will apply a special solution to your carpets which removes both eggs and larvae, while preventing them from coming back for up to 2 weeks, putting a halt to their lifecycle.
Restoration
Now that you have eliminated the carpet moth infestation, I bet you are ready to get your carpets looking spick and span again. There are many different methods you can use to have your carpets looking great again. Each has a varying degree of success and effort required.
1. Vacuuming
Start with a good vacuum. If you can, use a high-powered vacuum cleaner. Empty it before you start so you can get maximum suction. Thoroughly vacuum all carpeted areas and crevices. The aim is to remove any expired larvae, moths, and eggs, as well as debris that may be in your carpets.
To have the most effective clean here, you want to be as thorough as possible. This means moving furniture so you can clean under it and access the spaces between your carpets and walls. If there are any points where your carpets have become unstuck, vacuum under these as far as you can to remove debris that may have fallen underneath.
When you are finished It is important that you empty the vacuum cleaner outside. This is because it will likely contain eggs and larvae from the carpet moth infestation.
2. Baking soda and vinegar
A great little home remedy that could help to restore your carpets, depending on the level of damage, is baking soda mixed with vinegar. This method can also remove stains from carpets. You can purchase both baking soda and white vinegar from a grocery store.
The first step is to sprinkle baking soda across the surface of the carpet. Then work it into the carpet with a stiff brush. Baking soda is great for removing odours due to its natural anti-bacterial properties. Once you have covered your carpets and worked in the baking soda, leave it there overnight to allow it to get to work. The next day, you can vacuum it up.
The second step is to add vinegar to your carpets. The best way to do this is by mixing it into a spray bottle with an equal amount of water. Spray this over the areas you covered with baking soda. It is important that you hear a slight fizzing as this is the vinegar and baking soda reacting, treating your carpets. Use the brush to raise the pile of the carpet as you go along to help it dry.
3. Damp cloth and iron
Another home remedy is using a wet cloth and clothes iron to clean your carpets. This method requires a good vacuuming beforehand as it does not remove debris from the carpet. The benefit of this method is that it is super simple, albeit a little more time-consuming.
Fill a bucket with water and dampen the cloth in the water. You will need to do this a lot as you go, which is why a bucket is handy. Lay the damp cloth over the targeted carpet area. Then, place a preheated iron on the damp cloth until you see steam rising. Make sure no part of the iron touches the carpet directly as this could cause damage to the carpet due to the intense heat.
4. A professional carpet clean
The easiest option, which also provides the highest quality restoration of your carpets, is hiring a professional carpet cleaner. They will be able to complete a steam clean on your carpets, restoring them to as good as new condition. With a professional carpet cleaner you can also restore upholstery. Processes used by a professional carpet cleaner ensure that your carpet and upholstery will be preserved into the future, keeping them in great condition for a longer period of time.
Conclusion
Carpet moths can be a pain to deal with. Fortunately, there is some great help available from professional pest control services who will deal with the problem for you. Plus, most of the time the damage carpet moths have caused to your carpets can be easily restored with the right methods. To get on top of your carpet moth infestation reach out to Pest Gone Pest Control. We also have a relationship with a carpet cleaner who we can organise to quote for carpet cleaning and who will work around our visits.