[stu_thomson]

had a call today from an exsisting customer who says her carpet is slowly being eaten by something, symptons are small lines of bald patches near edges of carpet, she wants to try and sort the problem before it ruins the carpet completely, any ideas? i know craftex sell a sachet of insecticide if in fact is is a insect.
 comments welcome. cheers stu

[Len Gribble]

Moths

Care with insecticides, know nick dose one WHO approved used last week call centre, think a new one coming out but don’t hold me to this, the only neg to doing this type of work is this don’t leave keys in van and lock it!

Len

[stu_thomson]

sorry len but dont really understand your answer there

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Stu have you had the carpet up to look at the backing? or is there a leaky radiator near by? I've known radiators leak and the carpet start to rot a yard or so away mainly due to how the water has run.

Don't just think it's an infestation I once had a customer tell me that his dog used to lick the carpet in a certain place and it wore patchs in it that looked like rot (not rotweiller LOL) have you asked if it is number 2 from a pet or other :, perhaps the small holes are from when the carpet was laid, some fitters over do their spikes on the knee kickers and put excessive holes in the carpet not noticed until much later therefore stretching or scoring the backing leaving it to slowly erode, the list could be endless make sure you do loads of checking.

[stu_thomson]

havnt seen carpet yet as only had call today, i cleaned it 2 years ago and there were a few bald bits then, lady says these have got gradually worse, around room near edges. have looked at carpet beetle web site 2nite and it seems that is the likely cause. seems they love to eat wool in dark places, (under sofas etc) any more thoughts would be useful though. cheers stu

[Shaun_Ashmore]

with no pun intended there may be a pattern to where it is eroding, but without going insectoside mad I would still lift the carpet after you've done some checks first, ask to see her vacuum bag it may have a clue.

Shaun

[Dave Parry]

As far as I'm aware, with carpet beetle you get what look like small grains of rice lying about, which is the husks of the larvae. if not apparent ask her if she;s seen them, she may have vacced them up.
I have used stapro insecticide which contains pemethrine, needs care, (mask etc).
Solutions Nick has pemethrine free one, which I have but not used as yet.

[darrenlee]

poss fitted on long pin gripper

[woodman]

The old woolly bear problem (and I'm not talking about JB )

As mentioned check for any other potential problems such as rad leak but it does sound like a woolly bear infestation.

Wooly Bears are the larvae of the carpet beetle and they feed on natural fibres such as wool.They are found along the edges of the room, as people don't tend to vacuum right up to edges on a regular basis they can thrive here.Also look under heavy furniture you may also find bald patches here.

Also look for the beetle trail across the carpet, alot of people think they that a slug has got in but it is in fact the wooly bear.

The problem is easily transported by clothes,shoes,rugs brought in etc, so airing cupboards have to be checked as well.

You could try a product called Patriot C which is perfectly safe and  you will have to treat carpets front and back.

[Ken Wainwright]

That's a bit extreme isn't it Trevor? Them there yankkees used the Patriot Missiles during the Gulf War and they don't 'alf make a mess of your lounge

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[stu_thomson]

rang customer 2 nite explaining thats its prob carpet beetles and can deep clean carpet and spray insecticide under and over which would hopefully cure prob, only to be told that for a small sum the council are going in tomorrow to spray carpet.....thanks! she may have carpet cleaned later. cheers for replies guys...stu