Identifying the larva first
A carpet beetle larva is short, bristly and slightly tapered, sometimes described as a tiny hairy carrot, and it moves far less than a carpet moth larva. The adult beetle is small, rounded and patterned, and is often noticed on a windowsill trying to get back outside.
Under fitted carpets and between floorboards
In the borough's older townhouses, the larvae commonly live in the fluff that collects under fitted carpets and between original floorboards, where they are easy to mistake for carpet moth damage until you find the larva itself.
Old nests in stucco terrace eaves
An inactive bird's nest or old wasp nest sitting under the eaves of a stucco terrace is a common source: carpet beetles feed on the feathers, fur and insect debris left behind, and once that runs out they move down into the house looking for a new food source in the carpets and stored textiles below.
Where else to check
It's not just the carpet, stored woollens, feather cushions, and the dusty underside of rarely-moved furniture are worth a look too, whether that's near Earl's Court, where large mansion blocks and converted terraces, or elsewhere in the borough. Skirting boards near an exterior wall, close to where an old nest might sit in the eaves above, are worth checking closely.
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 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 Kensington and Chelsea
Carpet beetle treatment in Kensington and Chelsea is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Earl's Court, where large mansion blocks and converted terraces, 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 Kensington and Chelsea carpet beetle treatment page.
