Yes, bed bugs can live in carpets! It’s a good hiding place if they find their way inside your home. However, it may seem like an unlikely place for them to hide, considering that it’s on the floor. But carpets can make the perfect cover for bed bugs to hide out while waiting for a blood meal.
If you are dealing with an ongoing bed bug issue and have carpets, then there may be a bug to two there. We will review tips and preventive measures for handling bed bugs in carpets.
Learn more about the differences between a carpet beetle vs bed bug here. Especially if you are unsure which one you have.
They usually stay close to the edges where the fabric meets the wall or baseboards. Plus, you’ll most likely spot them traveling up walls as well.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs in Your Carpet
Bed bug infestations can be difficult to find, especially in thick or shaggy carpets. To prevent a carpet-based bed bug problem from occurring, take these steps:
Vacuum
First, vacuum regularly (including under beds and furniture). If you wonder, “can bed bugs live in the carpet?” the first step is to vacuum.
The act of vacuuming will help give you peace of mind that you are removing any potential bugs or eggs from your carpet. Check out our article on the best vacuum for bed bugs. We cover the ins and outs of safely using a vacuum to eliminate bed bugs.
Remove All Throw Rugs
If you have an active bed bug infestation, you’ll want to remove all throw rugs. You can wash them or send them out for deep cleaning. Doing this will not only reduce potential hiding spots, but it will also expedite the process of treatment so that you can get better faster.
Mattress Protectors
Next, use mattress protectors on all mattresses to minimize seams and creases. A mattress and box spring cover for bed bugs will prevent bed bugs from infesting your mattresses and help with dust mites, carpet beetle larvae, and bird mites. You are making it easier to spot evidence.
No Second-Hand Furniture
Lastly, only pick up second-hand furniture (mainly second-hand rugs). Furthermore, decluttering your home could help make it harder for bed bugs to hide since minimal homes don’t give bed bugs many hiding spots!
Signs of Bed Bugs On Your Carpet
Seeing a Bug
If you see a bug crawling through your carpet, catch it for an ID. There are plenty of other bugs that look like bed bugs.
So the most important thing you can do is to capture the bug and email a photo to an entomologist or pest professional. If you have a local pest person you deal with in your area, show the bug to them.
Learn more about how to use glue traps for bed bugs here; you may be able to catch a bed bug on your carpet.
Fecal Matter
If the carpet is a light color, you’ll be able to see bed bug droppings. However, if your carpet is dark, you’ll need to look along the edges of where the carpet meets the wall.
Look for black ink-like stains on the wall since these are signs of a bed bug infestation. Bed bug stains will smear, so you can take a wet cotton swab to test it.
Bed Bug Eggs (Do Bed Bugs Lay Eggs in Carpet?)
Bed bugs can lay eggs anywhere they walk. Therefore, if bed bugs are crawling on your carpets, then chances are they are dropping eggs. Bed bugs eggs are visible; however, they are only about 1mm. Therefore you’ll need a good eye and a magnifying glass to see them.
Most mobile phones have a magnifying app, so you can easily zoom in on whatever you find. Learn what bed bug eggs look like before thinking every crumb or seed is a bed bug egg.
Overall if you think you may have found signs of a potential infestation in your carpeting, such as dark fecal spots on the fibers or small white pearly eggs, call an exterminator right away to come to inspect things further. If they find a bed bug infestation, they can pivot and start treating it immediately!
How To Kill Bed Bugs in a Carpet
Killing bed bugs in a carpet will require using a comprehensive approach and first killing them in your bed, walls, and furniture. To kill bed bugs in a rug, vacuum them up and properly dispose of the vacuum bag.
So does vacuuming kill bed bugs? Yes, by continuously sucking up bed bugs, you will be helping to reduce the bed bug population in your carpets. You’ll need to seal the vacuum contents in an air-tight bag so bed bugs do not escape.
Next, you can steam your carpets because the bed bugs will die when they reach a temperature of 120°F. Furthermore, you’ll need to enlist the help of a bed bug specialist; they can use chemicals, Aprehend, cryonite, or heat to kill any remaining bugs.
Will Carpet Fresh Kill Bed Bugs?
No, Carpet Fresh is not labeled for killing bed bugs. Therefore, it may help mask some of the odors associated with a bed bug infestation, but it will not do anything to kill them.
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Can Bed Bugs Live inside of a Carpet Cleaner?
If you are using a carpet cleaner to handle an enormous bed bug infestation, then there is always a chance that a live bed bug survives. You’ll want to run the machine on the hottest setting to kill off any bed bugs that may have been sucked up.
You can dismantle the carpet cleaning machine and use a hand steamer to shoot hot steam into the nooks and crannies.
How To Clean Bed Bug-Infested Carpets/Throw Rugs
If you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation in carpets and throw rugs, there are several important steps you can take to get rid of them. Vacuuming is the first line of defense – it removes not only live bugs but also eggs and shed skins.
Washing and drying carpets and rugs will help, as heated temperatures can kill pests. Steaming carpets with a steamer like the Dupray Neat steamer can also help. The steamer will also kill dust mites, carpet beetle larvae, or flea larvae lurking around in your rugs.
The Bed Bug Oven Thermal Strike is an effective option to eliminate bed bugs on throw rugs. This high-temperature device features a heated chamber that will kill pests at temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
More importantly, use the Bed Bug Oven Thermal Strike in combination with other methods of pest control and prevention. By doing this, you’ll be confident that your carpets and throw rugs are totally free of bed bugs.
As a last resort, hiring a professional carpet cleaning service specializing in pest control can be effective, though costly. By taking these steps, you can restore cleanliness to your carpets or throw rugs and eliminate any bed bug infestations.
Other Bugs That Can Live in Carpets Besides Bed Bugs
Dust mites
Carpets and throw rugs can be home to more than just bed bugs; dust mites are another common household pest. Dust mites are microscopic arachnids; they feed on organic debris – such as skin cells, pet dander, and other types of dust – in carpets and other fabrics.
Although they’re mostly harmless, their presence can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. Regular vacuuming is the best way to reduce dust mites in carpets or rugs, but steam cleaning is also an effective way of eliminating them.
Check out our complete guide on how to get rid of dust mites.
Carpet beetles
Carpet beetles are common pests that can infest carpets and other fabrics, including beds. These small, oval-shaped insects breed and lay eggs in carpets for their larvae to feed on, causing extensive damage as they feast on wool and other fabric fibers.
Further, carpet beetle larvae are often mistaken for bed bugs due to the tendency to find them in your bed. These pests are one of the common types of bugs in your bed.
To get rid of carpet beetles, it is essential to identify the source of the infestation and vacuum all affected areas. It would be best if you also took measures such as laundering any valuable clothes or rugs exposed to the insects.
Fleas
Fleas are a common household and yard pest that can live in carpets and other fabrics. These tiny, wingless parasites feed on blood from their host animals and reproduce rapidly, leaving behind larvae to survive in carpets and furniture.
While fleas are often associated with cats and dogs, they can infest human homes if left untreated. It’s the flea larvae that tend to plague carpets. To get rid of fleas, it is necessary to identify the source of the infestation and repeatedly vacuum all affected areas.
Additionally, you’ll need to launder any clothes or rugs nearby. Finally, consider contacting a pest management professional to ensure the complete eradication of these pesky pests.
Final Thoughts on “Do Bed Bugs Live in Carpets?”
All in all, it’s essential to understand the risks of bed bugs living in carpets. People should remain vigilant and inspect their carpets and rugs regularly to confirm the presence or absence of any suspicious activity.
Even if you don’t see anything, you should still take proper precautions, such as vacuuming your rugs often and conducting regular inspections. Additionally, we recommend that people use a hot steam cleaner every once in a while to eradicate any existing bed bugs properly.
If you believe bed bugs are in your carpets, contact an approved professional pest control company for assistance. Proper monitoring and prevention practices can significantly reduce the risk of bringing harmful pests into your home.