Using carpet beetle sprays is an effective way to kill larvae carpet beetles on contact. Many of them can destroy carpet beetle eggs, too.
Unfortunately, most sprays out there contain questionable ingredients. Some of those ingredients can harm many other creatures than just carpet beetles, such as unsuspecting pets.
Are you currently looking for some tips on how to get rid of carpet beetles when you have pets? Then keep on reading. Below you will come across some sprays that won’t put your furry pals in danger.
Homemade and commercially available — these are the two types of sprays that you may choose from.
Fortunately, there are pet-safe options from both categories, and below we will talk about some of the best.
It’s completely up to you to decide which of them you will use for your DIY carpet beetle extermination.
DIY/Homemade Carpet Beetle Sprays
What’s really nice about making a carpet beetle spray with your own two hands is that you know exactly the things that go into making it.
So, in other words, you can be sure that it won’t put your pets at risk. An all-natural spray that you can make from scratch is nothing like a commercially available counterpart that may have toxic ingredients.
Most of the time, there is no need to get your hands on special ingredients.
The majority of the ingredients can be found in average homes, which means that it’s likely that you already have them around.
Because of this, you can get rid of carpet beetles without spending a lot of cash, and as soon as possible, too.
The following are some of the best DIY sprays that you might want to give a try.
Rubbing Alcohol and Water
It’s no secret that one of the best defenses against COVID-19 is rubbing alcohol.
Although washing your hands with soap and water for not less than 20 seconds is number one on the list provided by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), using rubbing alcohol is the best option if there is no access to a sink.
Other than deadly COVID-19 and other infection- and disease-causing microorganisms, rubbing alcohol can also kill larvae carpet beetles. It does so in a couple of ways:
- By dissolving the exoskeleton or outer protective skin of those hairy critters.
- By causing water in their bodies to evaporate, killing them due to dehydration.
Rubbing alcohol can also destroy carpet beetle eggs by dissolving their shells and causing the content to dry out.
So, in other words, it can exterminate carpet beetles residing in your home no matter the life cycle they’re in!
You can spray rubbing alcohol directly on larvae carpet beetles and the eggs to zap them.
Unfortunately, there are risks involved. This is especially true if the carpet beetle infestation is severe and you need to use lots of rubbing alcohol.
Everyone knows that rubbing alcohol is highly flammable. Spraying lots of it everywhere can put your home in grave danger — an open flame or a tiny spark is enough to burn down your home!
What’s more, inhaling large amounts of rubbing alcohol vapor, according to health experts, can irritate the nose and throat. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath due to coughing.
To keep your home as well as your airways out of harm’s way, dilute rubbing alcohol with water beforehand.
The recipe is simple: mix one part of rubbing alcohol with two parts of water. This will result in a carpet beetle spray that’s less likely to cause fires and airway issues.
Furthermore, it’s a DIY carpet beetle spray pet safe. Just refrain from spraying it directly to your furry pals as it may cause their fur to become rough and dry. It may also cause skin and airway irritation in them.
By the way, shake the spray bottle very well before using this homemade insecticide for carpet beetles.
Vodka With Vanilla Extract
It’s not just rubbing alcohol that you can use as a weapon against carpet beetles. You may also use vodka because, obviously, it contains high amounts of alcohol, too.
Commonly, the alcohol content of rubbing alcohol is 70%. The alcohol content of vodka, on the other hand, is 40% only.
Worry not because that’s still enough alcohol to kill larvae carpet beetles and destroy the eggs, too.
The only problem with this is that it’s not enough to kill harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses.
The recipe is simple:
- Combine equal parts of vodka and water.
- For every cup of the mixture, add two teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
- Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.
That’s it — you just made a DIY carpet beetle spray that works!
Are you wondering what the role of vanilla extract is?
Well, the role of vodka is quite clear. Vanilla extract is added to leave a residue that will keep larvae carpet beetles from coming back.
Yes, vanilla is a carpet beetle repellent.
The presence of vanilla extract also helps make your home smell delightful!
What’s really nice about this homemade insecticide for larvae carpet beetles is that you can also apply it to your skin and not just spray it on larvae carpet beetles and carpet beetle eggs.
So, in other words, it can double as an insect repellent that can keep you from getting bitten whether in an indoor or outdoor setting.
But the perks of vodka with a little vanilla extract do not end there. You can also dab it on insect bites to obtain relief from the redness, itchiness and burning sensation!
However, make sure that you throw a tablespoon of coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil into the mix. Doing so will keep your skin from ending up dry.
But if you are not planning on applying the vodka with vanilla extract spray topically, then it’s perfectly fine to skip adding a skin-moisturizing agent.
Diluted Peppermint Essential Oil
There are many essential oils that can help you in your quest to exterminate carpet beetles without sealing the deal with pest control experts, which doesn’t come cheap.
The cost of professionally exterminating carpet beetles can range anywhere from $100 to $300. It all depends on the problem’s severity and the number of rooms infested.
Some essential oils can kill larvae carpet beetles and destroy carpet beetle eggs on contact. This makes them comparable to most commercially available insecticides that can provide instant results.
But then there are also essential oils that work as repellents only — they cannot kill carpet beetles.
Fortunately, there are essential oils that work as insecticides and repellents.
One example is peppermint essential oil.
When you look for all-natural remedies for a carpet beetle infestation on the web, it’s for certain that you will come across peppermint essential oil many times. It doesn’t come as a surprise since it can impress.
Aside from being extremely effective, peppermint essential oil is easily accessible and pocket-friendly, too. Online, you can get your hands on a small 0.3-ounce bottle of it for $8 only.
But don’t use pure peppermint essential oil for ridding your home of carpet beetles. It needs to be diluted first. That’s okay because this essential oil is extremely potent.
Diluting peppermint essential oil beforehand also allows your stash of it to go a long way, making it even friendlier to your pocket.
It also makes it safe to use around pets, although it’s for certain that they will stay away from it because they are not particularly fond of its unmistakable minty smell.
Using too much water to dilute peppermint essential oil is not a good idea. That’s because it will keep it from doing its job properly.
Excessively diluted peppermint essential oil may still repel larvae carpet beetles alright. However, it’s likely that it’s no longer capable of killing those creepy crawlers as well as destroying the eggs.
To dilute peppermint essential oil without causing it to lose much of its potency, place 10 drops of it in an ounce of hot water. So, in other words, that’s 80 drops in a cup of hot water.
Make sure that you place peppermint essential oil drops in hot water for them to mix. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a spray bottle. Before using, shake the bottle very well.
Worry not if you are not a huge fan of the smell of peppermint essential oil.
That’s because you improve the smell of your DIY carpet beetle spray by adding a few drops of the essential oil that you love. Just a quick tip, though: go for something that’s scientifically proven to kill larvae carpet beetles and destroy carpet beetle eggs.
Some very good examples are lavender essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and clove essential oil.
Vinegar With Dish Soap
Here’s a cheaper alternative to a DIY carpet beetle spray pet safe with peppermint essential oil: a homemade spray that contains vinegar and a few drops of dish soap!
The active ingredient, which is vinegar, is an effective all-natural insecticide for larvae carpet beetles.
It works because it’s highly acidic, which is courtesy of its acetic acid content. Acetic acid kills larvae carpet beetles by disrupting the normal functioning of the nervous system of those tiny hairy creatures.
Because of this, their different vital organs will fail to work, causing them to breathe their last.
When making a homemade carpet beetle killer spray that won’t harm your pets, you only need three ingredients. They’re none other than water, dish soap, and of course vinegar. Here’s the simple recipe.
- In a bowl, combine one part vinegar and three parts water.
- Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle.
- Add a few drops of dish soap, which can suffocate larvae carpet beetles, killing them faster.
You may be wondering if white vinegar is better than apple cider vinegar for carpet beetles or the other way around.
Well, that’s the beauty of this DIY spray for carpet beetles — you can use any vinegar that’s in your kitchen. Due to this, you can keep the cost of trying to eliminate those bugs with your own two hands to a minimum.
Just like what’s mentioned earlier, acetic acid is what makes vinegar a powerful carpet beetle killer.
White vinegar is up to 7% acetic acid.
On the other hand, apple cider vinegar is up to 6% acetic acid. With an acetic acid content difference of just 1%, you can rest assured that both of them can eliminate larvae carpet beetles.
Either one of them can also destroy carpet beetle eggs before they hatch.
But if you are a budget-conscious person, stick with white vinegar. That’s because it’s the cheaper option.
By the way, you will be delighted to know that this DIY vinegar spray with dish soap is safe not only for pets. It’s also safe for plants! Needless to say, you may use it for ridding your garden of pests.
Dish Soap, Salt and Water
Are you on the hunt for the cheapest DIY carpet beetle spray pet safe? Nothing can be easier on the pocket than one that you can make by combining dish soap, salt and water.
This homemade insecticide works because of the two active ingredients: dish soap and salt.
Dish soap works because it damages the exoskeleton of larvae carpet beetles.
It’s this ability of soap to rupture things why it can kill bacteria and viruses.
Soap cannot kill microbes directly. However, particularly if it’s diluted with water, it can damage the protective outer covering of those microscopic organisms, causing them to die.
On the other hand, salt helps kill larvae carpet beetles by causing them to lose water. Salt is able to do this because of its dehydrating properties. This is why it’s commonly used for preserving meat.
The combination of dish soap and salt makes for a lethal spray for carpet beetles!
Here’s how you make this DIY insecticide:
- Dissolve a cup of salt in eight cups of hot water.
- Once cool, stir in two tablespoons of dish soap.
- Transfer to a large spray bottle.
Just be careful when using this homemade carpet beetle spray containing dish soap and salt. That’s because it may leave a slippery film on floors, which could cause someone to slip and fall.
Top 4 Pet Safe Commercial Carpet Beetle Sprays
Fret not if you don’t have the time to make an all-natural carpet beetle spray from scratch. That’s because you can simply buy a ready-to-use alternative.
You can easily get your hands on it by visiting the nearest hardware or local home improvement store. Or you may order it on the internet and wait for it to reach your doorstep.
By typing something like “carpet beetle insecticide” in the search bar of your trusted online retailer, there is no need to wonder what spray kills carpet beetles effectively.
However, you will have to look around to find something that won’t put your pets in danger as you attempt to exterminate carpet beetles with your own two hands.
Here are some of those that you might want to check out.
Eco Defense Pest Control Spray
It’s easy to see that Eco Defense Pest Control Spray does not contain any toxic substances that can put the safety of pets on the line.
The packaging proudly says that it’s certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Put simply, it’s an agency that implements policies and regulations on forestry, farming, food quality, and nutrition.
What made this product win the trust of the USDA is that all of its ingredients are obtained from plants. It’s also the reason why spraying it won’t fill the indoor air with headache- and dizziness-causing fumes.
Because it’s completely free of questionable chemicals, you can spray Eco Defense Pest Control Spray on nooks and crannies serving as hiding places for larvae carpet beetles and carpet beetle eggs.
It’s also safe to spray it on various surfaces, including those that your pets have easy access to.
Also, the product won’t leave nasty stains on carpets, rugs, curtains, drapes, and upholsteries. It also won’t cause wooden pieces of furniture to fade.
Other than larvae carpet beetles and the eggs, it’s effective against many other common household pests, too.
According to the maker, it can get rid of ants, cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, dust mites, moths, and centipedes. By the way, the maker adds that it can kill those creepy crawlers on contact.
The problem with larvae carpet beetles is that they eat not only natural fibers and animal products but also all kinds of pantry foods.
Fortunately, Eco Defense Pest Control Spray is non-toxic enough for use in an infested pantry. But just to be sure, refrain from spraying it directly on opened food packaging.
One of the nicest things about this pet-friendly carpet beetle spray is that it has residual effects. This means that it can keep on working for days. The repelling properties also help keep items off-limits to carpet beetles.
The product comes in a 16-ounce spray bottle.
Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control
The product’s name makes it quite clear why it works effectively against carpet beetles. Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control spray contains peppermint essential oil.
Earlier, we talked about making a DIY carpet beetle spray pet safe using peppermint essential oil diluted with water.
According to the maker, this non-toxic spray contains a high concentration of peppermint essential oil. Such is to make sure that it will be able to kill larvae carpet beetles on contact.
It’s also to ensure that any carpet beetle eggs that it’s doused with will be destroyed before they hatch and release baby carpet beetles into the world.
Because the product has high levels of peppermint essential oil, it comes with a powerful smell. A few sprays will fill any room in your home with peppermint’s unmistakable smell.
Fortunately, there is no need to use lots of Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control because a little goes a long way.
When you take a look at the list of ingredients on the packaging, the other ingredients aside from peppermint essential oil are water and non-toxic emulsifiers.
Emulsifiers make it possible for ingredients that normally don’t mix very well, such as essential oils and water, to mix.
As a general rule of thumb, the fewer the ingredients, the better!
It’s because of being devoid of questionable ingredients why you can use Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control spray in the kitchen area.
You can spray it in cabinets and on various surfaces without having to worry about someone you love requiring a trip to the ER without delay.
Similarly, you can spray the product in the pantry. Despite what they’re called, larvae carpet beetles consume many other things, including pantry foods, than just carpets.
These hairy critters love to eat anything from flour, grains, uncooked pasta, crackers, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and spices.
If Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control spray can be used in areas where food is around, then it’s for certain that it won’t harm any member of your family, including your furry pals that give you unconditional love!
This peppermint essential oil-based bed bug spray is also safe for use on garden plants.
Aside from larvae carpet beetles and the eggs, many other common household pests can be zapped by this non-toxic insecticide. Some of them are cockroaches, ants, silverfish, ticks, fleas, spiders, and moths.
For the carpet beetle infestation to come to an end via the DIY route as soon as possible, the product’s maker suggests spraying it on affected areas of your home two to three times a week.
When it comes to exterminating common household pets without the help of pest control experts, consistency is of utmost importance.
Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control is available in a spray bottle of 16 ounces.
MDX Concepts Magma Home Pest Spray
Cockroaches, spiders, ants, ticks, fleas, earwigs, stink bugs, dust mites, scorpion, silverfish — just about any common household pests can be eliminated by MDX Concepts Magma Home Pest Spray.
They include larvae carpet beetles and carpet beetle eggs, too.
What makes this all-natural insecticide work is that it’s composed of different essential oils, each one capable of killing carpet beetles on contact.
They’re none other than peppermint essential oil, spearmint essential oil, and rosemary essential oil. These aromatic oils are obtained from herbs belonging to the mint family of plants.
The combination of these essential oils gives the product a pleasing smell rather than a strong minty odor that some homeowners, especially those with sensitive noses, find unpleasant.
All of the essential oils used can kill larvae carpet beetles on contact. They can destroy carpet beetle eggs, too.
One of the nicest things about this product as well as others that rely on essential oils to work is that they tend to have residual effects. This means that they tend to keep on working a few days after applying them.
By the way, aside from being an insecticide, it’s also a repellent.
MDX Concepts Magma Home Pest Spray has made it on this list because it’s safe for use in homes where there are pets.
You can spray it where it’s needed without worrying about the wellbeing of your whiskered buddies.
It’s not just your pets that are out of harm’s way, but also you and the rest of the family. In fact, this essential oil-based insecticide is safe enough for use where there’s food, such as the kitchen and pantry.
Both areas tend to attract many pests aside from larvae carpet beetles. You name it, and this pest spray can deal with it.
Here’s something that will give you an idea on how effective this non-toxic carpet beetle spray is: if you are not fully happy with the product within 60 days, the maker will return your money.
Wondercide Indoor Pest Control
To keep everyone inside the home from being exposed to toxic compounds, Wondercide Indoor Pest Control contains nothing but high-quality essential oils as well as other plant-based ingredients only.
Because of this, it’s mild enough for use around the home and several times a week. However, it’s tough on carpet beetles.
According to the maker, it’s a great idea to apply the product two to three times a week. This helps ensure that you won’t miss any larvae carpet beetles that tend to move from one hiding and feeding area to the next.
When it comes to DIY pest extermination using all-natural solutions, consistency is the key to reaping success.
By the way, it seems like Wondercide Indoor Pest Control is the only all-natural carpet beetle spray that’s available in different fragrances, each one just as delightful as the other.
They are peppermint, cedar, lemongrass, and rosemary. Due to this, your DIY carpet beetle infestation can go very well not only with your budget but also your nose.
It’s not just carpet beetles that the product can kill but also many other species of beetles. Its formulation makes it effective against flies, mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, ticks, fleas, moths, wasps, gnats, and scorpions, too.
The maker says that it can kill 98% to 100% of common household pests ravaging your home.
Are you living where carpet beetles are quite common?
Then make sure that you regularly spray the product on hotspots — its plant-based formulation has residual effects, which allows it to discourage carpet beetles from pestering you. You can think of using it as a preventive measure that’s completely natural.
Just Before You Pick a Carpet Beetle Spray
When dealing with carpet beetles the DIY way, there are many steps that you may take.
One of those is spraying larvae carpet beetles and the eggs with insecticide. You can choose from two carpet beetle spray types: something that you can make from scratch using common ingredients and something that you can buy online or offline.
It’s really easy to make your own carpet beetle spray that’s safe for pets. The majority of the ingredients that you will need may already be in your kitchen or elsewhere in your home.
What’s really nice about the DIY sprays discussed above is that they are free of questionable chemicals such as boric acid and bleach, both of which can harm pets in more ways than one.
So, if you want to end the infestation using nothing but a carpet beetle spray pet safe, give any one of the homemade sprays above a try!
On the other hand, refrain from assuming that all commercially available insecticides for carpet beetles are the same. While some of them contain toxic ingredients alright, others are completely free of those.
Many of them are for people who need to deal with carpet beetles and at the same time keep their pets out of harm’s way.
When shopping for a ready-made carpet beetle spray, check that it’s pet-friendly. Don’t forget to read customer reviews before placing an item in your shopping cart to ensure that it’s safe and effective, too.
And if you want my honest opinion, I think you won’t go wrong with Eco Defense Pest Control Spray.
