Vinegar has numerous uses in and around our home but does vinegar kill carpet beetles? Let’s find out in this article!
Carpet beetles are a nuisance. These little bugs destroy household furniture, carpets, and more. Even food products are not exempted from their infestation. Therefore, a prolonged infestation can give you serious health risks. And in order to prevent such situations, one needs to exterminate carpet beetles as soon as they notice their presence. While you can always consult professional pest control services, these services are not always affordable. Vinegar has numerous use in and around our home, which makes it an effective ingredient. But does vinegar kill carpet beetles? Let’s find out!
What are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are also known as leather beetles, larder beetles, khapra beetles, or skin beetles. These insects are officially called Dermestidae, and they belong to the Coleoptera family. Generally, these insects grow anywhere from 1mm to 12mm. Their distinguishing feature is an oval-shaped body that has setae or scales all over it. There are three species of carpet beetles known to humankind:
- Black-carpet beetle
- Furniture-carpet beetle
- Varied-carpet beetle.
They all look the same and also tend to infest similar materials. Adult carpet beetles are generally small in size and are dark brown or black. You will be surprised to know that there are around 500-700 species of carpet beetles worldwide.
What Attracts Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles can damage clothes, food products, carpets, and other kinds of materials. These insects are generally found outdoors. Their diet consists of nectar and pollen. So it’s not much of a stretch to imagine that these animals can quickly come into your house by getting a ride on plants or flowers. Moreover, such insects are attracted easily to light or warmth that comes from it, and so they follow it. In such a journey, they might get inside your home. Also, since these beetles are small in size, they can fit in cracks, electrical conduits, chimneys, and other similar places. This makes them hard to detect and exterminate.
Why do carpet beetles need to be eliminated?
Carpet beetles are a menace. These little bugs infest everything from wool clothes to carpets. If you have animal-hide products, then the chances are that they will destroy that too. Even food products like dried dog food, flour, noodles, and such are not safe from them. Therefore, to keep your belongings safe, it is essential to find and eliminate these bugs that can harm your things and health.
Why is vinegar effective in killing these beetles?
Vinegar is a great cleaning agent and repellent for carpet bugs because vinegar is toxic to these insects. But it is safe for humans to use. To get rid of these insects, you need to mix Apple or White cider vinegar with water. Then, use a sprayer to spray the mixture on hangers, drawers, shelves, and other infested areas.
Apart from vinegar, here are some other easy ways to kill carpet beetles:
- Vacuuming: Try vacuuming the areas which are infested with carpet beetles. Carpets, rugs, furniture, and such are easy to clean.
- Laundering: Detergent and hot water is a great mix to wash the infested towels, pillows, linens, and clothes. It will get rid of the insects and their eggs.
- Steam cleaning: Vacuuming may not get rid of all the beetles. So to ensure complete extermination, use a powerful steam cleaner and go over the very same places. The moisture and heat will get rid of the insects as well as their eggs.
- Boric acid: If you sprinkle this acid on your furniture, rugs, and other such infested areas, then it will get rid of the beetles. After all, boric acid is toxic to these bugs.
So, now that you know all about the issues of beetle infestation eliminate them from your household today.
