Identifying the larva first
The carpet beetle larva is a stubby, bristly little grub, tapering at one end, and much slower-moving than a carpet moth larva; people often compare it to a tiny hairy carrot, whether that's near Harringay, where the famous Victorian ladder streets between Green Lanes and the railway, or elsewhere in the borough. A small, rounded beetle with a patterned back is the adult stage, and it's most commonly found on a windowsill, drawn toward the light, as anyone near Harringay will recognise, where the famous Victorian ladder streets between Green Lanes and the railway.
Floorboard gaps in older conversions
Haringey has a lot of Victorian terraces split into flats over the years, and the larvae live happily in the gaps between original floorboards and under fitted carpets in these older conversions, where fluff, hair and old fibres build up out of sight.
Old bird and wasp nests in the roof
In houses closer to Muswell Hill and Highgate that still have their own loft space, an old bird's nest or an inactive wasp nest under the eaves is a common source. Carpet beetles thrive on the feathers, fur and insect remains found in a nest, then once that runs out they drift into the house looking for carpet to feed on instead, much as it does near Crouch End, where victorian terraces and larger houses around the clock tower and Broadway.
Tracing the source
If an old nest in the roof, or a build-up of fibre under the floorboards, is still active, treating just the carpet won't stop new beetles turning up, just as near Highgate, where georgian and Victorian houses around the village and Highgate Wood. If cleaning doesn't stop the damage returning, it's worth checking the loft and eaves as well as the rooms below, just as near Highgate, where georgian and Victorian houses around the village and Highgate Wood.
What to do before treatment
- Vacuum thoroughly, including carpet edges, skirting boards and under furniture
- Wash or dry-clean any affected woollens and feather-filled items
- Remove dried flowers or old nests you can safely reach and dispose of them
- Keep a note of which rooms and items are affected
Booking carpet beetle treatment in Haringey
Carpet beetle treatment in Haringey is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Crouch End, where victorian terraces and larger houses around the clock tower and Broadway, it is worth checking older rooms first before you book carpet beetle treatment and tell us which rooms show damage, with the rest on the Haringey carpet beetle treatment page.
