Moths and Worms in Your Rugs?

Yes, you read that right! If you see little white worm like creatures, they are actually moth larvae! Carpet moths can wreak absolute havoc on your gorgeous fine rugs. Moths have an affinity for the materials used to create Oriental rugs. (Wool, in particular!) The damage can be irreversible, so it is vital to take preventative measures. Using safe and effective moth repellents, our team can help keep the moths away, preventing (further) damage.

Did you know most of the damage is done when the moth is in the larvae stage? The larvae feed on the proteins found in wool, silk and animal hair and then each adult female can lay 100-150 eggs? They hatch in about 5 days, causing a nonstop cycle.

The lifespan of moths can depend on the availability of food, such as the wool from your carpet. They love to be in dark, quiet rooms and any area that you cannot easily reach to vacuum, such as under beds, chairs, sofas and the back of rugs that are not turned over or are hung on the wall. Preventing insect manifestation by routine household cleaning is necessary. Moths like to eat soiled and stained rugs.

Here at The Specialists, we highly recommend that if you even suspect a moth problem, you call us right away. We can clean and protect the rug with a special product to denature it, that makes the wool less appetizing to the larvae by changing the taste of it. It will help protect it from moths until the next cleaning. Be sure to let us know you suspect an infestation so we can treat the rug right away.

Did you know that it is estimated that 1 in 5 houses across the USA are affected by moths? If left untreated, they can do a lot of permanent damage quickly. They will damage not only your Oriental rugs, but your wall to wall carpet as well as your furniture. Thankfully, with the more modern use of synthetic materials for the later items, it has dramatically lessened the moth damage, however, it doesn’t mean it is gone. They will still eat soiled synthetic fibers as well.

What to look for:

• A sticky-spiderweb like substance on the back of the rug. This is a sure sign of larvae.
• Little cocoons.  They will match the carpet color and approximately a half an inch long.
• Holes or loose carpet fibers laying onto of the rug.
• Bare spots on the rug.  You will see this on the front, the back or both.  They love to eat where the backing meets the where the yarns are attached.
• Flying adult moths.  This is a definite sign that an infestation is considerable.

You can see the damage the larvae has caused in the above picture.

We recommend that you have your fine rugs professionally cleaned every 2-3 years. Of course, if you have a spill or suspect a moth infestation, you should call us immediately.

From Davis to El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Granite Bay, Lincoln and all points in between. We are here to keep you informed and keep all your Oriental rugs looking their best! Be sure to check out our before and after gallery to see our work.