11 Natural Ways to Get rid of Carpet Moths [Carpet Moths Natural Treatment]
Carpet moths are commonly found on carpets and rugs inside the house. The carpet moth larvae can wreak havoc on your wool and silk rugs because they feed on keratin, a protein found on natural animal fibers.
If left untreated, these insects can destroy your carpets and rugs completely, so it’s very important to get rid of them.
Moreover, no one likes to have flying insects inside the home. In this article, we will talk about some of the best natural ways to get rid of carpet moths from your home.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Moths Naturally?
Below are11 effective natural ways to get rid of carpet moths. These methods include homemade carpet moths spray, homemade carpet moth killer and several other home remedies to kill carpet moths naturally.
1. Vinegar solution
White vinegar is very acidic in nature, so it is a great way to kill carpet moth larvae and eggs from your rugs and carpets.
A white vinegar solution can easily kill carpet moth larvae and eggs on contact, so it is extremely effective. The vinegar solution can also ward off any adult carpet moths from your rugs.
Required Material
- White vinegar
- Water
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process:
- In a spray bottle, add 1 cup of white vinegar with ½ cup of water. Mix the solution thoroughly.
- Identify the spots that have been affected by carpet moths, and spray the solution directly on those areas.
- Leave the carpet to soak for ten to twenty minutes before soaking up the excess liquid with a paper towel.
- If it’s one or two spots, you can simply dust off the killed larvae and eggs after the rug dries. However, if you soaked a significant portion of the rug, you should wash it thoroughly before use.
Precautions:
Vinegar can often damage the color of your rugs, so don’t leave the solution on the rug for more than 30 minutes.
2. Soap and water solution as carpet moth natural remedy
Soapy water is toxic to various insects including carpet moth larvae. Therefore, it is a very effective method of getting rid of carpet moths from your home.
The soap water method usually works best on smaller infestations; however, you can also use it in conjunction with other methods to get better results.
Required Material
- Dish soap
- Water
Step by Step Process:
- In a bowl, add 2 teaspoons of dish soap and a cup of water and mix them thoroughly.
- Pour the soapy water solution on the affected area of the rug and let it soak. The eggs and larvae will die within a few minutes.
- After 30 minutes or so, wash and dry the rug thoroughly before using it again.
Precautions:
This method can kill carpet moth larvae but it will not prevent them from coming back, so you must use a preventative method after this method.
3. Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder derived from a type of rock. It has a lot of microscopic shards that can easily pierce the skin of a soft-bodied insect.
Once the shards pierce the insect, they will slowly dehydrate and die. This is an extremely useful method for getting rid of carpet moth larvae from your carpets.
Required Material
- Diatomaceous earth
- Vacuum cleaner
Step by Step Process:
- Start by identifying all the affected spots around your house including your rugs and carpets.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of diatomaceous earth powder on the affected areas. You can also add some extra powder around the edges of the carpet since those areas are most commonly affected by carpet moths.
- Leave the powder on the carpet for three to four days or until you notice that all the larvae are dead.
- Vacuum up the dead larvae, eggs, and excess diatomaceous earth and discard the dust outside.
Precautions:
You must keep the diatomaceous earth on the carpet for at least 3 days before vacuuming it up to ensure that all the larvae are dead.
4. Boric acid
Boric acid is a compound commonly used in various pharmaceutical products. It is also used as a natural insecticide to kill various insects including carpet moths.
Boric acid is toxic to the moths and their larvae, so when they consume it or come in contact with it, they will die. Boric acid is a very effective method for getting rid of carpet moths from your home.
Required Material
- Boric acid powder
- Applicator
- Vacuum cleaner
Step by Step Process:
- Start by identifying all the areas that have been affected by the carpet moths. Even if you don’t see any adult moths, you may still see eggs and larvae.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of boric acid powder using an applicator in the affected spots and leave it to work.
- Within three to four days, all the larvae will die, and any remaining moths will also go away.
- Use a vacuum to remove any remaining larvae, eggs, and boric acid. Discard the contents of the vacuum cleaner far away to prevent contamination.
Precautions:
Boric acid is toxic to pets and humans, so keep your pets and children away from the room until the treatment is complete.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda is commonly used in the kitchen for baking, but it is also great for getting rid of insects including carpet moths.
Baking soda is dry and rough, so it can kill carpet moth larvae by drying them out. It is also poisonous to the eggs. This method is extremely effective against small and large infestations.
Required Material
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Water
- Brush
Step by Step Process:
- Sprinkle baking soda directly on the infested areas of the rug and use a brush to distribute it evenly.
- Leave the baking soda to work for 24 hours or so.
- Make a mixture with equal parts of vinegar and water. Spread the liquid on the affected spots to neutralize the baking soda.
- Wash the rug thoroughly before using it again.
Precautions:
Make sure to wash the rug after using this method to ensure that all the eggs and dead larvae are gone.
6. Homemade Carpet Moths Spray using Essential Oils
Male carpet moths find female moths by using pheromone trails. If these trails are broken by using strong essential oil scents, you can easily get rid of these insects from your home in no time.
This method is most effective against small infestations since it’s quite difficult to get rid of carpet moth larvae using this method.
Required Material
- Peppermint and eucalyptus essential oil
- 90% Isopropyl alcohol
- Water
- Spray bottle
Step by Step Process:
- In a spray bottle, add 1 part water with 1 part isopropyl alcohol. Add 5 drops of eucalyptus oil and 10 drops of peppermint oil.
- Close the bottle and shake it vigorously to mix everything together.
- Spray the mixture directly on all the affected spots. The alcohol in the spray will kill any larvae and eggs, while the essential oils will ward off any moths.
- Leave the mixture to work for a day then vacuum the rug thoroughly.
- You can spray the mixture every 2 weeks to prevent future infestations.
Precautions:
This method is only good for smaller infestations. For bigger infestations, it’s best to use this method along with other methods.
7. Sunlight
Carpet moths like to live and breed in dark areas of the house. They dislike sunlight and warm areas, so you will typically find them in darker and colder rooms.
If you want to get rid of carpet moths from your rugs, you can take them out in the sunlight, which will kill all the moth larvae and eggs.
Required Material
- Vacuum cleaner
- Drying rack (optional)
Step by Step Process:
- For this method, you will need to remove any affected rugs, clothes and other items outside into a sunny area.
- Hang them up on a clothesline or a laundry drying rack, exposing them to direct sunlight.
- Leave them out in the sun for one or two days. The bright sunlight will kill any carpet moth larvae and eggs. It will also repel other carpet moths.
- After two days in the sun, you can bring the items inside and vacuum them thoroughly to remove the dead larvae and eggs. Discard the vacuum bag far away from your home.
Precautions:
Sunlight can easily discolor your rugs, so don’t leave them outside for more than two or three days.
8. Carpet Moth Traps
Moth traps use a certain pheromone to attract the male moths towards the trap. Once trapped, the moths cannot reproduce anymore, thus eliminating the risk of an infestation.
This method cannot kill any moth larvae or eggs, so it’s not suitable for getting rid of carpet moths from carpets. It’s best used in closets and kitchens, which are often attacked by carpet moths.
Required Material
Step by Step Process:
- Follow the instructions on the moth trap and open it up carefully.
- Place the pheromone tablet inside, if required. Fold it in the correct shape and place it in the affected spots.
- It’s always best to place moth traps at a height of 3 to 4 feet, as they usually fly at that height.
- You can place multiple moth traps around the house to maximize the effectiveness.
- Check on the traps after a week or so; if they are full of moths, you can discard them. If they don’t have as many moths, you can use the traps for up to 60 days.
Precautions:
This method is only effective against adult moths, but it cannot get rid of moth larvae or eggs. If there are larvae and eggs present, you must use another method along with this one to get the best results.
9. Mothballs
Mothballs are one of the most common ways to get rid of carpet moths because they are very effective. Mothballs release a chemical called naphthalene which is toxic for insects including carpet moths.
The fumes from the mothballs can kill the moths and their larvae. They are also great for preventing carpet moths from coming back.
Required Material
Step by Step Process:
- Start by identifying all the affected spots in your home. Carpet moths are usually more common in cold, dark humid areas like the closet, kitchen, and behind furniture.
- In each spot place two to three mothballs, with an inch of space between them.
- Within a few days any moths, larvae, and eggs will die. You can vacuum up the area thoroughly to clean the dead insects.
- Once the mothballs evaporate completely, you can place new ones to prevent any further infestations.
Precautions:
Mothballs are quite toxic if ingested, so you should keep your children and pets away from them.
10. Kill Carpet Moths Naturally using Steam Cleaner
Heat can easily kill any insect including carpet moths and their larvae. Moreover, carpet moths are extremely sensitive to heat, so they will usually die at a temperature over 50 degrees.
This is why using a steam cleaner is a great way to kill and get rid of carpet moth larvae from your rugs.
Required Material
- Steam Cleaner
- Water
- Vacuum
Step by Step Process:
- Fill your steam cleaner with the appropriate amount of water, and turn it on.
- Use the steam cleaner to go over all the infested areas in your home including any rugs, clothes, floors, etc. Use it for at least 2 minutes in each spot to ensure that all the larvae are dead.
- The heat of the steam cleaner will kill any moth larvae and eggs. You can sweep or vacuum those areas afterwards to ensure that there are no carpet moths left.
Precautions:
Not all carpets are safe for steam cleaning, so make sure your carpet can withstand the high temperature before you use a steam cleaner on it.
11. Dry Ice
Dry ice or solid carbon-di-oxide is typically used for shipping cold food and beverages, but you can also use it to get rid of carpet moths.
It is commonly available in many grocery stores and is relatively cheap. Dry ice will vaporize into gaseous CO2, which can fumigate the moths and their larvae. This method is effective against smaller and bigger infestations.
Required Material
- Dry ice
- Plastic bin
- Old rags
Step by Step Process:
- Take all the infested items such as carpets, curtains, and clothes and put them inside a plastic bin.
- Wrap two pounds of dry ice in some old rags and place it inside the bin.
- Close the lid of the bin but leave a small gap to let the carbon-di-oxide escape slowly.
- Within about 24 hours, the dry ice should be completely gone. If it is, you must close the bin lid completely and let the items sit inside for a few days.
- Take out the items after three to four days and clean them thoroughly before use.
Precautions:
Dry ice is extremely cold, so you should always use industrial gloves to handle the blocks.
Natural Ways to Prevent Carpet Moths
Below are 5 natural ways to keep carpet moths away. These carpet moths natural treatments work effectively to avoid carpet moths.
1. Vacuum regularly
The carpet moth larvae can feed on any type of animal fibers including pet hair and human hair. They may also feed on food scraps and dead skin cells.
If you don’t clean up your floors regularly, these hairs, fibers, and food scraps can build up and make it a perfect breeding ground for carpet moths.
Therefore, it’s very important to vacuum your whole room very frequently. Doing so will prevent carpet moths effectively.
2. Expose Carpet Moths to lots of Sunlight
Carpet moths prefer a cool, dark, and humid area to live in. Therefore, most carpet moth infestations are seen in darker areas and closed rooms such as the back of your sofa and closet.
If you open the windows to expose the room to lots of sunshine, carpet moths will not breed in those areas anymore. Regular sunlight exposure can effectively prevent carpet moth infestations.
3. Use herbs
Carpet moths, especially male moths are sensitive to smells. So, you can use herbs with a strong smell to effectively repel the carpet moths.
Herbs such as cloves, lavender, cinnamon, and rosemary are great for repelling carpet moths from your home. You can put the herbs into a mesh pouch and put it in all the dark corners of your room such as behind the sofa and under the bed.
4. Reduce the humidity in your home
Carpet moths like to live in areas that have a lot of humidity. If your home is very humid, carpet moths will be attracted to your home, and they will start breeding.
Installing a dehumidifier in your home can effectively remove excess moisture from your home, making it less vulnerable to carpet moths.
5. Switch to synthetic rugs
If you have a consistent problem with carpet moths, you may switch out your natural fiber rugs with synthetic ones for a permanent solution.
Carpet moth larvae only attack natural fiber rugs, so replacing your natural fiber rug with a synthetic one is a great way to prevent any further infestations.
Best Natural Carpet Moth Repellents
If you are looking for readily available natural repellents to get rid of carpet moths, check below listed best Natural and Organic repellents.
Final Words:
The female carpet moths can lay over 200 eggs in a single day, which means they can spread throughout your home in no time.
Moreover, carpet moths can easily affect your wool and silk garments, if they spread to your closet. Therefore, it’s very important to get rid of these moths as soon as possible.
Thankfully, there are many natural yet effective ways to kill and prevent carpet moths. If you use these natural methods, you can get rid of these pesky insects from your home easily and quickly.
