Get Rid Of Water Bugs Infesting Your Bedroom Carpet

If you're worried about water bugs in your bedroom carpet, you may actually be dealing with carpet beetles. These small, oval-shaped insects can fly into your home and leave their larvae to feast on natural fibres in your carpet, clothing, bedding, and other surfaces. To get rid of carpet beetles, you'll need to identify the source of the infestation, then thoroughly clean and treat the affected areas.

First, look for signs of damage and beetles, which are most likely to be found in dark, secluded areas like basements and under carpets and rugs. Adult beetles are oval-shaped and can come in a range of colours, while larvae are slightly longer and often have tufts of hair.

Once you've identified the source of the infestation, it's time to start cleaning. Vacuum your entire home, paying special attention to the infested areas. Wash all clothing, towels, blankets, and linens in hot water with detergent. Dry clean any items that can't be washed.

Next, treat the affected areas with insecticide or a natural product like boric acid or diatomaceous earth. Finally, take steps to prevent future infestations by sealing gaps around doors and windows and regularly cleaning carpet beetle-prone areas.

Identify the source of the infestation

To identify the source of a carpet beetle infestation, you should first look for the primary source of the infestation, which will be the area with the most signs of damage and beetles. Check dark, secluded areas like basements and under carpets and rugs for signs such as:

• 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 colours 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.

Carpet beetles can enter the home through an open door or window or on an item that is already infested when it is brought inside – like an item of furniture, a plant, or fur. Taxidermy animals are also a popular hotspot for carpet beetles.

They can also get into your home through windows, cracks in doors, or sometimes up through drains.

They will lay their eggs where there is enough food for their young, so look for those hotspots. They also prefer areas out of direct sunlight, like along skirting boards or in shady corners.

If you are having an ongoing carpet beetle issue, you could be bringing them in without knowing it or they could be feeding and reproducing nearby. Adult carpet beetles live outside but will lay their eggs inside where there is ample food when the eggs hatch.

If you're not sure where your carpet beetle source is, look for a company that specializes in Integrated Pest Management. They will help you troubleshoot your carpet beetle issue.

Vacuum your whole home

Vacuuming is one of the best methods to get rid of water bugs in your home. A thorough vacuuming of your whole home will ensure that you remove all beetles and their larvae. Here are some tips to maximise the effectiveness of vacuuming:

• Focus on the infested areas, such as dark and secluded spots like basements and areas under carpets and rugs. However, don't forget to vacuum your entire home to make sure that you don't leave any bugs behind.
• Dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the vacuum canister outside straight after you finish vacuuming.
• For the first week, vacuum at least once a day. Depending on the severity of the infestation, you might need to vacuum multiple times a day during the first few days.
• Vacuum any fabric-covered areas and upholstered furniture 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.
• After the infestation is gone, continue to vacuum and clean your carpets regularly, using the crevice tool to get into low-traffic and dusty areas.

In addition to vacuuming, there are other methods to get rid of water bugs. These include:

• Washing all clothes and linens in hot water, even if they don't seem affected.
• Sealing gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
• Keeping dried food in sealed containers.
• Using insecticides or natural alternatives like boric acid, diatomaceous earth, or vinegar.
• Calling pest control for professional advice if the problem is out of control.

Wash all your clothes

If you have a bed bug problem, it's a good idea to wash all the clothes in the same area, such as the same closet, wardrobe, or chest of drawers. This is because bed bugs can live in furniture, under carpets, and in closets and wardrobes.

Bag Your Clothes

Use heavy-duty trash bags that can be tightly sealed. Put all the clothes you intend to wash at the same time into the bags. Remember, you want to avoid spreading any bed bugs throughout your home as you move the affected laundry to the washing machine. Seal the bags with tape or string, twisting the mouth of the bag shut first to ensure no bed bugs can escape.

Put the Bags Directly into the Washing Machine

Take your first bag of laundry and put it directly into the washing machine without opening it. With the bag safely inside the machine, cut or tear it open and deposit the clothing inside. Once the clothes are out of the bag, take the torn bag and place it into another sealable bag. Dispose of the bags in an outside bin to avoid any chance of releasing bed bugs back into your home.

Wash the Clothes

Once you have your laundry in the machine, add your detergent and set the machine to the hottest water temperature recommended for the fabrics. While water is enough to kill bed bugs, the added heat will maximise results.

Dry the Clothes

Once the wash cycle is complete, place your laundry in the dryer. Set the dryer to the highest temperature possible. Bed bugs will die at temperatures of 118°F (47.8°C) or greater, so a tumble dryer on a high setting will kill any potential stragglers.

Place Clean Clothes in Fresh Bags

When your laundry is fully dried, place the clean clothing in sealable bags. Again, twist and seal the bags with tape. They may have to stay in the bags while you clean and inspect your wardrobes and closets. Once your home is bed bug-free and your furniture passes inspection, you can unpack your laundry and put everything away.

Repeat as Necessary

Repeat all the above steps until you have washed and dried all infested laundry.

Use insecticide on hard-to-clean areas

Insecticide dust is a great way to kill carpet beetles in hard-to-reach areas. It is a slow-kill method, so it is recommended to use it in addition to other products.

Watch the video below to learn where to apply insecticide dust with a bellow hand duster.

Insecticide dust is particularly useful for treating areas where sprays cannot be applied. For example, you can use insecticide dust in hard-to-reach areas such as cracks and crevices, corners of closets, and around door and window frames.

Before using any insecticide, it is important to read the product label to understand the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. Additionally, in areas with poor ventilation, manufacturers may recommend wearing a mask or respirator.

Make sure to remove children and pets from the rooms you are treating. Wait until the product has dried (usually 1-2 hours) before allowing them back into the treated rooms.

Prevent re-infestation

To prevent carpet beetles from returning, you should take the following steps:

• Hang sticky flypaper strips near windows to prevent adult carpet beetles from entering your home.
• Place sticky pheromone-type traps on windowsills and in closets to keep carpet beetles from laying eggs.
• Keep dry foodstuffs like noodles and flour in airtight containers.
• Stick to a weekly dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming schedule so carpet beetles can’t get a comfortable footing in your home.
• Seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
• Keep your pantry clean and free of spilled grains and flour.
• Keep your eye out for any bird nests around your home or in your attic.
• Vacuum carpeting and wash your clothes and other fabrics frequently, at least once every 2 weeks, to prevent a carpet beetle infestation.
• Treat spills and stains immediately, as food and sweat stains on fabrics can attract carpet beetles.
• Keep hair, lint, and dust bunnies to a minimum, as carpet beetles like to feed on these.
• Seal unused fabric and clothes in plastic containers. Store off-season clothes, fabrics, and starches in sealed plastic bags or containers.
• Air them out in the sun and brush them at least once a year to check for an infestation.
• Choose synthetic materials over organic ones. Carpet beetles will only eat organic products, so choosing synthetic materials will lessen your chances of getting an infestation.

Frequently asked questions