First: is it actually carpet beetles?
People often panic and assume bed bugs. Here's how to tell them apart:
Carpet beetles vs bed bugs
If you're seeing fabric damage and shed larval skins rather than bites, it's carpet beetles — and that's good news, because cleaning solves it.
How to get rid of carpet beetles
Find and remove the source
Larvae feed on natural fibres and debris. Check for the buffet: an old wool rug or sweater, dried flowers, taxidermy, pet hair build-up, lint in vents, or a dead insect or bird/rodent nest in a duct. Remove or seal the source and you cut off the infestation at the root.
Vacuum thoroughly — and repeatedly
Vacuum all carpet, rugs, upholstery, along baseboards, under furniture and in closet corners. This physically removes larvae, eggs and their food. Empty the vacuum (or bin the bag) outside afterward. Repeat every few days for several weeks — eggs hatch in waves, so one pass won't do it.
Steam-clean carpets and upholstery
Heat kills eggs and larvae that vacuuming misses. Steam or hot-water-extract the carpet and any affected soft furnishings, then dry thoroughly.
Hot-wash affected fabrics
Wash infested clothing, bedding and linens in hot water (60°C/140°F where the care label allows), or dry-clean delicates. Freezing items for several days is an alternative for things that can't be washed hot.
How to get rid of dust mites
Dust mites are microscopic relatives that live in the same places — carpet, upholstery, mattresses and bedding — feeding on the dead skin flakes we shed. You won't see them, but their waste is a leading household allergen behind sneezing, congestion and asthma flare-ups. You can't eliminate them entirely, but you can cut their numbers dramatically:
- Vacuum with a HEPA filter — carpets, rugs and upholstery, regularly. A HEPA filter stops fine allergens blowing back out.
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water — heat is what actually kills mites; warm isn't enough.
- Steam-clean carpets and mattresses — the heat reaches mites living below the surface. (See our guide on how to clean a mattress.)
- Keep humidity below ~50% — dust mites need moisture in the air to survive; a dehumidifier in damp rooms makes the environment hostile to them.
Cleaning reduces dust mites and their allergens — it doesn't make a home allergen-free. Anyone with significant allergy or asthma symptoms should treat thorough cleaning as one part of a plan alongside medical advice, not a cure. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Keeping both from coming back
Prevention for carpet beetles and dust mites is the same housekeeping: vacuum regularly (especially low-traffic corners and under furniture), store wool and natural-fibre clothing clean and sealed, deal with pet hair and lint build-up, keep humidity down, and have carpets and upholstery deep-cleaned periodically. In high-traffic commercial settings — offices, hotels, clinics — a scheduled professional carpet and upholstery program keeps both populations from ever establishing.
When to bring in help
Most carpet beetle cases clear with diligent cleaning. Call in a professional carpet and upholstery cleaner for heavy or recurring infestations, large areas, or commercial spaces — and a licensed pest-control professional if an infestation genuinely survives thorough, repeated cleaning and source removal.
Frequently asked questions
What kills carpet beetles?
Repeated thorough vacuuming is the most effective step — it removes larvae, eggs and the debris they feed on. Steam cleaning kills eggs and larvae with heat, and hot-washing affected fabrics finishes the job. Vacuum every few days for several weeks to break the hatching cycle.
How do I know if I have carpet beetles or bed bugs?
Carpet beetle larvae are small, fuzzy, tan-brown and damage carpet, wool and clothing, leaving holes and shed skins. Bed bugs are flat, reddish, live near the bed and bite people in lines. Fabric damage and shed skins mean carpet beetles; bites mean bed bugs.
How do you get rid of dust mites in carpet and bedding?
Remove their food and moisture: HEPA-vacuum carpets and upholstery, wash bedding weekly in hot water, steam-clean carpets and mattresses, and keep humidity below about 50%. You can sharply reduce them but not remove them completely.
Can you get rid of carpet beetles without an exterminator?
Usually yes — they're more a cleaning problem than a pesticide one. Thorough vacuuming, steam cleaning, hot-washing fabrics and removing the source clears most infestations. Professional carpet cleaning helps with heavy cases; only persistent infestations that survive thorough cleaning need a licensed pest pro.
Heavy or recurring infestation? Let us deep-clean it out.
Professional vacuuming and hot-water extraction reach the larvae, eggs and allergens that household vacuums leave behind — for carpets, rugs and upholstery across GTA homes and facilities. $5M insured, WSIB compliant, no long-term contracts.