Does Baking Soda Kill Carpet Beetles? 5 Important Things to Know Before Using It

Carpet beetles can be terrible pests in your home. Causing damage to carpets and other fabrics, they incite more destruction than clothes moths. Carpet beetles are attracted to cloths such as wool, fur, felt, and silk. But they can also feed on feathers, an insect collection, or leather, which is a big problem for museums and antique shops. There are many ways to prevent and control carpet beetle infestations, but baking soda is a cheap and natural way to kill them. Here are five important things to know before applying it.

#1 Identifying Carpet Beetles

Adult carpet beetles are about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in size. They have long, oval-shaped bodies with short, clubbed antennas. Carpet beetles range in color from black or brownish to a mottled pattern of white, brown, and yellowish-orange.

When carpet beetles are out in nature, adult beetles sustain on pollen and nectar. A female may choose animal nests or dead animals to lay her eggs. However, when female beetles are indoors, they seek out anything with plant or animal material.

Female beetles lay around 50-100 eggs on a suitable breeding site. When they are indoors, these may be sweaters stacked in a closet or stored coats. When the larvae hatch, they look like tiny caterpillars, densely covered in bristles. The larvae are brown to tan in color and will cause the most damage to fabrics. The larvae eat large, irregular holes in the fabric, whereas moths leave tiny holes all over the garment.

#2 Where to Look for Infestations in Your Home

A big sign that carpet beetles have invaded your home is finding adult beetles collecting on your windowsills. They are attracted to light, so you may find these beetles dead or alive on your windowsills and light fixtures. And, if they are inside your house, you can be sure a deposit of eggs was left somewhere.

The females often find a dark, secluded space to lay their eggs. This could be winter clothes that are boxed up, comforters or blankets shelved away, or even air ducts with accumulated pet hair. Basically, fabric items that are stored for extended periods of time are carpet beetle targets.

As the larvae develop, you will find molted skins left behind. Some people are highly sensitive to this shed skin and will have dermatitis or another form of allergic reaction. You may also spot deposits of small dark fecal pellets left behind by the beetles. These pellets will be the size of a grain of salt.

Finally, finding irregular holes in your carpets or clothing is the biggest sign that you’ve been infested.

#3 How Baking Soda Kills Carpet Beetles

Because of its alkaline quality, the baking powder absorbs the moisture on the carpet beetle as it comes into contact with the powder. Coated in the baking soda, the carpet beetle becomes dehydrated and dies. This works on both adult and larvae carpet beetles. The smell of baking soda can also deter carpet beetles from settling in certain areas.

#4 How to Safely Apply Baking Soda

One option is to sprinkle baking soda where you’ve seen carpet beetles congregating. This could be on your carpet, furniture, or affected clothing. Wait for about 24-48 hours, then vacuum the powder and dead carpet bugs left behind.

Another option is to make a liquid solution of baking soda and water. Pour it into a spray bottle and then spritz the mixture into the crevices of your furnishings or carpet corners. Leave it for at least a day before wiping up the dried baking powder.

Alternatively, you can mix a paste of baking soda and water (it should be as thick as honey) and spread it on affected areas. Though messy, it creates a powerful barrier, which will stick to beetles that move across it or kill larvae that ingest it.

#5 How Long It Takes for Baking Soda to Kill Carpet Beetles

Baking soda will not instantly kill carpet beetles. It takes about a day or two for baking soda to dehydrate the beetles thoroughly. The process is quicker for larvae who ingest it.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Tomasz Klejdysz/Shutterstock.com