Identifying the larva first
A carpet beetle larva is small, covered in bristles and tapered in shape, often compared to a tiny hairy carrot, and it's far less mobile than a carpet moth larva, as anyone near Forest Hill will recognise, where steep residential streets of Victorian terraces near Horniman Museum and the railway. Fully grown, it's a tiny rounded beetle with a mottled pattern on its back, and it typically turns up on a windowsill looking for a way outside, much as it does near Catford, where victorian terraces and postwar estates spreading out from the town centre and shopping area.
New-build and older flats near Deptford Creek
Both new-build flats and older conversions near Deptford Creek see carpet beetle larvae in fitted carpets and stored fabric, whatever the age of the building, since the larvae are more concerned with food and undisturbed spells than with when a flat was built.
Where else to check
Besides carpets, look at stored woollens, feather-filled cushions and pillows, and the dusty undersides of furniture that rarely gets moved. It's worth checking skirting boards near an exterior wall closely, especially close to where a nest might sit above, as anyone near Forest Hill will recognise, where steep residential streets of Victorian terraces near Horniman Museum and the railway.
Tracing the source
If an old nest above is still active, treating just the carpet rarely fixes a problem that keeps recurring, much as it does near Sydenham, where hillside Victorian terraces climbing towards the ridge. If cleaning doesn't stop the damage returning, it's worth checking the loft and eaves as well as the rooms below, much as it does near Catford, where victorian terraces and postwar estates spreading out from the town centre and shopping area.
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 Lewisham
Carpet beetle treatment in Lewisham is priced at £180 for the first room and £60 for each additional room, and given that around Deptford, where converted dockland warehouses and new-build flats close to Deptford Creek, 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 Lewisham carpet beetle treatment page.
