Last summer I noticed quite a few black beetles In my car. Some were as tiny as pin heads, others up to a 1/4 in long. After researching the actual bug online I determined this was a carpet beetle. All I could figure was that earlier that spring I had helped someone move some boxes and they must have transferred from those boxes to my car. I have not noticed anything like it in my house however. So last summer I researched how to get rid of them and basically just kept my car and carpets/upholstery very clean, vacuuming regularly. I would hit the car wash vacuums several times a week. I pulled up the back covers of the floor of my SUV and discovered hundreds of what looked like "eggs" and larvae. Some live, some just skins, so again, I vacuumed so many times the guy at the car wash must assume I have some sort of OCD. I pulled out seats, vacuumed every square inch of that car. Then fall/winter came and I never saw anymore. We had a particularly harsh winter here with sometimes up to 14 days in a row at sub zero temps and my car stays outside. So of course I think the problem is solved. Wrong. First of June rolls around, and there they are again. The little black beetles that let me know they are back. So I am back to vacuuming ALL the time. Pulled up the back boards and found the eggs and larvae again! Vacuumed and vacuumed, sometimes 4 or 5 times a week. I'm seeing less of the adult bugs, but, they are still there. Mostly in the afternoon. I leave my windows down a bit so they can get out. I haven't tried any pesticides or "at home remedies" because it IS my car and my children ride in it everyday. Someone suggested boric acid powder so I did recently lightly dust that in the areas I was finding the eggs and larvae. That has been about a week ago. Still seeing adult beetles everyday. Can't tell if the quantity has decreased or not and STILL vacuuming like a mad woman. Keeping my car spotless, nothing is working. Is it just time to get rid of the car? Or pay a professional to make his attempt to get rid of them? I wouldn't feel right trading in my car without mentioning the bugs. So I'm kind of at a loss here. I don't want them to eventually end up in my house and I'm tired of kids screaming every time they see a bug. Any help or information or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for reading.

Vacuuming is going to be problematic in a vehicle because the carpeting is so often overlaid by the plastic cab elements such as the covers for the doorframes and consoles. Black Carpet Beetles prefer to lay their eggs along the edges of carpeting for that very reason. There are pesticide sprays that are safe for use in areas with a heavy usage by children. There are even pesticides safe to use ON children.

My suggestions would be, in order:


Have the car upholstery professionally steam cleaned. It will take all day but they will get under the plastics.



Look into the "essential oil" pesticides that use cedar oil or eucalyptus oil as an active ingredient. Check to see if they're labeled for carpet beetles.



Check pet sprays. If it will stop fleas, carpet beetles should be child's play.



Ask local exterminators if they will consider treating a car. Many won't.