Five simple reasons you might have maggots in your carpet.

Someone in my Facebook group recently asked why they had maggots in their carpet. This is an interesting question, and I decided to investigate it. There could be a couple of reasons why you might have a maggot infestation inside your house. Flies lay eggs on various surfaces, including carpets, and maggots are the larval form of these eggs. flies may lay their eggs on:

• Spilled food or drink.
• Food that has been left in waste bins and trash cans.
• Pet feces or urine.
• Plates and cups left in rooms.
• Dead rodents or birds.

Detecting the reasons for a fly infestation can be challenging. Some reasons, such as unemptied wastepaper bins, are easy to identify, while others, like a dead rodent in the loft, can be more difficult to locate. The size of the infestation will depend on how long the food source has been available to the flies.

How maggots get in carpets.

Maggots will hatch from the eggs that the fly has laid on the food source and will hatch into maggots, which will, in turn, continue to feed on the original food source before turning into flies. Maggots can survive untreated in carpets if there is a food source for them to feast upon.

Maggots don’t breed in the carpet, but they may turn into flies, which then lay more eggs on the food source, turning into larvae and maggots to start the whole cycle again.

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How to get rid of maggots | Six easy methods

Finding the source of the maggot infestation.

To remove maggots from carpets, the first step is to inspect the infestation. Determine if the maggots have come from an overflowing bin or if they may have fallen from somewhere, such as an open window or a loft opening.

Before you start.

• Always test on an inconspicuous place on the carpet.
• Remove as many live maggots as you can.
• Try not to oversoak the carpet as it may not dry, and mold will form in the fibers.
• Try these methods at your own risk.
• After treating the infestation, always empty the contents of your vacuum cleaner into a plastic bag, seal it, and put it straight into the bin. Get rid of anything in contact with the maggots or larvae. Disinfect your vacuum cleaner to prevent recontamination.
• Follow this by steam cleaning your carpet using a steam cleaner to remove all remaining maggots and larvae. Steam cleaning sanitizes your carpet and removes any residue that may harm pets.
• You could also have your carpet professionally cleaned after treating the infestation.
• It usually takes about 6 hours to kill the larvae, so you must be patient if using the more natural methods.

Salt and lime

Salt can dehydrate maggots, while lime or lemon juice can kill them. Combining salt and citrus juice is particularly effective against eggs and fly larvae.

1. Sprinkle salt onto the infested area.
2. Spray some lime (or lemon) juice over the top.
3. Leave to dry.
4. Vacuum the area thoroughly.

Diatomaceous Earth Powder

Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder and an excellent method to remove maggots from carpets.

1. Sprinkle the diatomaceous powder over the maggots and the affected area.
2. The diatomaceous powder will stick to the maggot’s bodies and dehydrate them similarly to salt.
3. Vacuum up the powder once all the maggots are dead.

Boric acid powder

Boric acid powder is a natural insecticide that can be used to kill maggots almost immediately. It is available for purchase at hardware and department stores but may be more difficult to source in the UK.

1. Sprinkle some Boric Acid Powder onto and around the infested area.
2. Work the Boric Acid Powder into the carpet fibers to reach the maggots and any unhatched eggs.
3. Leave the powder to work for about 10 minutes.
4. Check for any living maggots.
5. Repeat if necessary.
6. Vacuum up all the powder, empty it, and clean your vacuum immediately to prevent recontamination.
7. Follow by steam or professional carpet cleaning.

Hydrogen Peroxide

When using hydrogen peroxide on carpets, even in a diluted solution, care must be taken as it is a natural bleach.

1. Dilute 1 1/2 cups hydrogen peroxide into half a bucket of hot water.
2. Pour the solution over the affected area of the carpet to kill both the maggots and the larvae.
3. After a few minutes, remove the dead maggots.
4. Clean with soapy water.
5. Rinse the area with fresh water.
6. Follow by steam or a professional carpet clean.

Vinegar

White vinegar is a cheap and easy way to eliminate maggots in carpets.

1. Use one part of vinegar and three parts of boiling water.
2. Pour on top of your maggot-covered carpet, taking care not to oversoak the carpet.
3. Leave the solution to work for a few minutes.
4. Remove as many of the maggots as possible.
5. Clean the area with a soapy water solution.
6. Rinse with clean water.
7. Follow by steam or professional carpet cleaning.

Insecticide

You can use an insecticide like Permethrin, but I would steer clear as it is poisonous to pets.

How to remove maggots under a carpet

Sometimes maggots can infest beneath your carpet. To remove them, find and clean the infested area thoroughly.

1. Turn the carpet upside down to expose the maggots and the larvae.
2. Sprinkle Boric Acid on the infestation and the floor where the carpet has been.
3. Allow the Boric Acid to work for a few minutes.
4. Vacuum the underside side of the carpet and the floor.
5. Dispose of the vacuum bag or canister in the outside bin.
6. Steam the floor and underneath the carpet.

How to keep maggots out of your home and away from your carpets.

• Keep your home clean.
• Keep food out of the bedrooms, especially kid’s and teens’ rooms.
• Wipe up food spills immediately and thoroughly.
• Empty and clean bins daily. Sprinkle them with baking soda to deodorize.
• Cover all food, including pet food.
• Clean up food and drinks spilled on the carpet immediately.
• Sweep and vacuum floors regularly.
• Steam clean the carpet regularly.
• Keep a check on chimneys, lofts, and guttering for dead animals and birds.
• Chimneys and gutters are often places where animals and birds go to die, and the maggots can transfer through open windows or down chimneys.
• Lofts are often home to bats, squirrels, mice, wasps, birds, and even rats. Check your loft for any bird or animal carcasses.

Getting Rid Of Maggots From Car Carpets.

The method used on a car carpet is the same as for household carpets.

1. Take care not to overwet the carpet, as it may be more difficult to dry, especially in cold, damp weather.
2. Use a hand-held steamer to eliminate all the maggots and larvae in the car carpet.
3. Do not eat in the car as it is difficult to contain spillages and food waste.
4. Wipe up any spillages immediately, especially sugary and milky drinks.
5. Keep windows up when you are not using the car.

When to call a professional exterminator to treat maggots

If you have any doubts about the size of the infestation or the safety of your children and pets, please contact pest control.

Read more about pest control around the home!

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How to get rid of rats in and around the home.

How To Get Rid Of Maggots In The Bin.

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