Insects and Carpet - Tips For Buying Carpets

Damage from insects in your carpet is not really that common because of the synthetic fibers used these days. This is because the man-made fibers such as polyester, olefin, and nylon cannot be consumed as food by the insects.

In the old days before World War II, most carpets were made of untreated wool which insects loved to eat when the carpet was soiled. Carpets then had to be cleaned quite often and treated with chemicals made especially to protect against the insects. The disadvantage of this treatment was that it had to be reapplied after each washing.

Today, advances in synthetic fibers for carpets help to keep the bugs out but it is still possible to have problems with them. For example, if a food or beverages are spilled on the carpet and not cleaned properly, it will draw the insects. Here are some insects that can be found in today’s carpets:

Beetles and moths can still be found in today’s carpets even though one made of wool has treated fibers and the synthetic carpets have no food value. They like to eat the keratin in wool and hair, furs, feathers, food items, and other organic materials.

The common clothes moth likes to feed on wool too. It is usually only about ½ of an inch in length but begins to grow very large when it feeds on wool. What’s worse is that the moth can lay more than 90 eggs at one time causing a lot of damage if those eggs hatch. You have to keep wool rugs very clean. Not only keep them clean but beware of parts of the wool carpet that are in dark areas because this is where the insects love to hide out.

Then there are the carpet beetles. They vary in size and are shaped much like a lady bug. They like hair, wool, feathers, fabric, hair, and even furniture padding. The carpet beetle has scales down its back of bright red and its larvae are golden brown and long. This beetle is capable of laying more than 100 eggs that will eventually hatch in anywhere from 8 to 15 days.

So how do you prevent insects like carpet beetles? Not enough can be said about good housekeeping. You need to get a vacuum cleaner that has plenty of suction to it. Throw away old things such as old clothing, rags, and animal skins. Naphthalene flakes, balls, or paradichlorobenzine crystals spread per 100 feet of closet space provides some protection but not enough can be said of cleanliness. Brushing blankets, furs, and other items where they could hide helps too. Do this outdoors so as not to brush any back into the carpet.

One thing people do in their homes that may not be popular with the children is avoid eating anything in the back rooms of the house. Some go so far as to forbid eating anywhere but the kitchen and dining room. This might seem extreme but it sure reduces the risk of insects.

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