If you’ve found tiny beetles or larvae in your bed, you’re probably feeling a bit grossed out—and rightfully so. Carpet beetles might not bite, but they’re still a nuisance. Their larvae shed hairs and skin as they move around, and that can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritation. Getting rid of them means understanding how they got there, what they’re feeding on, and how to stop them from coming back.
Let’s go step-by-step. You’re going to learn how to get rid of carpet beetles in your bed properly, not just cover up the issue for a few days.
What Are Carpet Beetles and Why Are They in Your Bed?
Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects. The adults are usually black with specks of white, yellow, or brown. The larvae, which do most of the damage, look a bit like hairy worms. You might not notice the adults much—they don’t feed on fabric. But their larvae do, and that’s when the trouble starts.
They end up in your bed mainly because they’re looking for a food source. They don’t eat crumbs like ants or sugar like flies. Instead, they feed on natural fibres—wool, feathers, hair, and even the keratin in skin flakes. Your bedding, mattress, and pillows make the perfect spot if they’re not cleaned often or contain natural materials.
How Can You Tell If Carpet Beetles Are in Your Bed?
It’s not always obvious straight away. You might not see the actual beetles at first, but there are a few signs that usually give it away.
Look out for:
- Tiny, oval insects crawling around the mattress or sheets
- Brown, shell-like skins or bristly shed hairs
- Small holes in your sheets or pillowcases
- Itchy or irritated skin (from contact, not bites)
You might also notice small bits of dust or debris in the corners of your mattress or near the seams. That could be a mix of shed skin, faecal pellets, or larval hairs. If it’s not just regular dust, that’s a clue something’s living there that shouldn’t be.
Where Do Carpet Beetles Come From?
They often get in through open windows or doors, especially in warmer months. They’re drawn to flowers, so if you’ve got a garden or window boxes, that’s a common route inside. Once in, they head for places where there’s food—your bed being one of them.
Sometimes they arrive on second-hand furniture, rugs, or clothing. If you’ve bought anything vintage lately, especially with wool or fur, it’s worth checking.
They’ll also crawl in from nearby carpets, curtains, or wardrobes if those already have an infestation.
Why Do Carpet Beetles Prefer Natural Fibres?
Carpet beetle larvae feed on keratin, a protein found in natural animal-based fibres. That includes wool, feathers, fur, silk, and even dead skin cells. If you’ve got a duvet filled with feathers or woollen blankets, that’s pretty much a buffet for them.
Synthetic fibres don’t usually interest them, unless they’re blended with something natural or soiled with food or sweat.
Can Carpet Beetles Harm You?
They don’t bite like bed bugs, and they don’t carry diseases. But they can still affect you. The tiny hairs from the larvae can irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction in some people. You might notice red bumps or a rash—especially if you’ve been in direct contact with infested bedding.
For people with asthma or other allergies, it’s even more of an issue. The hairs can get airborne and aggravate symptoms, especially in rooms with poor ventilation.
What Should You Do First?
Don’t just change the sheets and hope for the best. You’ve got to clean deep and get rid of anything they could be living in or feeding on.
Here’s where to start:
- Strip the bed completely. Take off everything—sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, mattress protectors. Put them straight into a sealed bag if you’re not washing right away.
- Wash on high heat. Use the hottest setting that your bedding allows. That kills both the larvae and the eggs.
- Vacuum the mattress thoroughly. Focus on seams, edges, and any tufts or buttons. If you’ve got a vacuum with a HEPA filter, that’s even better.
- Steam clean if you can. The heat from a handheld steamer will kill anything hiding deeper in the mattress.
- Clean around the bed. Vacuum the carpet, mop the floor, and wipe down nearby furniture. Don’t forget under the bed and behind the headboard.
How Do You Treat the Mattress?
Vacuuming isn’t always enough. You want to kill off any eggs or larvae deep inside. After vacuuming, use a mattress-safe insect spray designed for carpet beetles or fabric pests. Always check the label to make sure it’s safe for bedding and follow the instructions exactly.
Let the mattress air out after spraying. If possible, leave it in a sunny spot with windows open. Carpet beetles hate strong light and dry conditions.
If you’ve got a mattress protector or encasement, wash that too. If not, now might be a good time to get one. It’ll help prevent another infestation.
Do You Need to Wash Your Clothes?
Yes—especially anything that’s been on the bed or nearby. Carpet beetle larvae will also go for clothing made from wool, cashmere, silk, or anything with feathers or fur. If your wardrobe is close to the bed or open, it’s worth checking.
Wash what you can, and vacuum wardrobes and drawers. If you’ve got clothes you can’t wash, freeze them for 48 hours. That’ll kill any eggs or larvae hiding inside.
What About Your Bedroom Carpet?
Even if the beetles are in your bed now, they probably started in the carpet. Larvae can live and feed there for months before they wander off to find new food. So, cleaning the carpet is just as important.
Vacuum slowly and thoroughly, especially along the edges where the carpet meets the wall. If you can, use a steam cleaner or hire one. The heat will kill what the vacuum misses.
You can also use a targeted carpet insecticide. Spray lightly, let it sit, then vacuum again after a few hours.
Can You Stop Carpet Beetles Coming Back?
Once you’ve cleaned and treated everything, the next step is prevention. You want to make your bed—and your bedroom—less inviting.
Here’s how to keep them out:
- Wash bedding regularly, especially if it’s natural fibre
- Store clothes in sealed containers or garment bags
- Hoover the bedroom often, including under the bed
- Keep windows closed or use screens in summer
- Don’t leave fresh flowers near your bed (they attract adult beetles)
- Check any second-hand items before bringing them inside
If you’ve got feather pillows or a down duvet, consider switching to synthetic versions. They’re less appealing to carpet beetles and easier to clean.
Do You Need a Pest Control Professional?
If the problem keeps coming back or seems to be spreading through the house, it’s probably time to call someone in. A professional will know where to look, what to use, and how to stop the infestation for good.
They might also check loft insulation, skirting boards, or wall cavities—places where beetles sometimes hide and breed.
It’s not always necessary, but if you’ve tried cleaning and it hasn’t worked, you don’t want to let it drag on.
Can You Use Natural Methods to Remove Carpet Beetles?
You can, but they’re usually better for prevention than getting rid of an infestation. If you’re dealing with live beetles or larvae in your bed, you’ll probably need something stronger.
Still, here are a few things that help:
- Boric acid (light dusting on carpets or skirting boards—keep away from pets)
- Cedar oil (used in a spray bottle—it repels beetles but doesn’t kill them)
- Diatomaceous earth (sprinkled in cracks or under furniture—it dehydrates larvae)
None of these will work on their own if you’ve still got dirty bedding or hidden eggs, but they can help once the main cleanup is done.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles?
If you clean thoroughly and treat the area properly, you should start seeing a difference within a few days. But to be safe, keep up the routine for at least a few weeks. Eggs can hatch later, and larvae can survive longer than you think.
Keep vacuuming regularly, wash anything that touches the bed, and check for signs weekly. If nothing comes back after about a month, you’ve probably got it under control.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with carpet beetles in your bed can feel overwhelming at first—but once you know what’s going on and you take the right steps, you can sort it out. It’s mostly about deep cleaning, removing what they feed on, and keeping things fresh and sealed afterwards.
It’s not just about killing what you see—it’s about making sure they’ve got nowhere to hide and nothing to eat.
Pest Control Wingfield – Pest Control Warwickshire – Pest Control Newnham
