Ever heard of the carpet moth Tinea Pellionella? Nope? Then consider yourself lucky, as they’ve probably not invaded your home and carpet.

However, if you’ve noticed small bald patches in the corners or the edges of your carpets, then we’re afraid to say you may be a victim of these dreaded and extremely destructive creatures, meaning your carpet needs immediate attention and treatment.

We always recommend that if you do have a carpet moth problem, to treat all areas of your home and not just the room where the problem is. Manufacturers insist on this as part of the carpet warranty.

The grim reality of a carpet moth problem

Carpet moths can eat their way through thick wool carpets and even manmade fibre carpets at incredible speed, leaving your flooring with unattractive patches. Carpet moths are mostly attracted to natural fibres and can destroy carpets all around your home. If you can count around 5+ moths in one room, it’s considered a serious moth infestation.

Carpet moths typically live outdoors in bird nests or on animals, but there are increasing cases of Tinea Pellionella being found in UK homes. Their larvae are most likely to be found munching away underneath some of your bigger and heavier furniture that you rarely move to vacuum.

Remember: Regularly check under sofas and behind curtains and along the edges of skirting boards.

When the moth forms it lays between 30-300 eggs – back onto your carpet! This then starts the cycle all over again, which is why it’s really important to treat quickly and effectively, or better still, prevent a moth problem before they attack.

7 ways to prevent & get rid of carpet moths

1. Regular vacuuming is the best way to prevent carpet moths. As with everything, prevention is far better than cure and with the stubborn nature of carpet moths to get rid of. We recommend through and regular vacuuming, even in the areas you haven’t been, such as dark corners, underneath furniture and unfrequently used rooms.
2. Purchase moth papers, to trap the adults and stop them laying more eggs if they are present in your home already.
3. Install a moth trap so that you can keep an eye out and monitor for any future activity. The aim is to break the breeding cycle of the moth layingmore eggs and starting the process all over again.
4. Insecticide sprays, repeated treatment will help get rid of the moth infestation.
5. Thorough treatment routine – we would always advise on getting a professional in to treat the area (they should offer a warranty too!). There are also many DIY products available on the market such as spray and smoke bombs. From natural moth killing options to chemical options for severe infestations. Make sure you read the instructions carefully and refer to your own carpets warranty. These treatment products will generally involve you moving furniture and evacuating your home for a couple of hours to let the treatment do its thing undisturbed.
6. Opt for man-made fibre carpets to reduce the chances of carpet moths visiting your home. However, nearly all manufacturers are mothproofing carpets now. The best mothproofed wool carpets on the market are Penthouse and Telenzo. By default, any manmade fibre carpet is moth proof but most of the wool manufacturers are treating there carpets against moth infestation now.
7. After identifying the affected areas, vacuum thoroughly all around your home, paying special attention to the areas that were affected. We recommend vacuuming in areas such as skirting boards, not forgetting to vacuum both sides of a rug for example. When finished, empty your cleaner outside of your home and ensure that the bag or container you have used is sealed so that the moths and larvae can’t escape.

Caution: Before cleaning your carpet, whether carpet moth infested or not, always take time to read your carpet cleaning guide.

If in doubt, contact us at Kennington Flooring – our staff are always on hand to answer an questions you have about carpets…or moths!