Before embarking on a lot of expense and trouble you will surely want to know what this report has to say and whether it should be regarded as reliable. A new web page discusses this and contains links to the original article and accompanying comment in the Journal. Silverfish and firebrats eat carbohydrates-based glues while termite consume cellulosic material present in the backings and yarns. Treatment The best treatment for insect attack on carpets is prevention. The carpet must be kept clean of stains and spills that may attract insects and soils that may hide them.
Professional treatments are available for curing insect infestation.
It is important to use a neutral shampoo on wool carpets - certainly not one that is alkaline. Never use house hold detergents, and don't use shampoos which smell of ammonia. To check proprietary carpet shampoos, leave a bit in a saucer overnight, pour off excess and allow to dry to see if it leaves a sticky residue to which house dust could cling. After vacuuming, the powder is sprinkled liberally on the carpet, brushed into pile and then vacuumed out although it is virtually impossible to remove all the powder from the pile. The powder method does not clean as thoroughly as the wet shampoo but it does freshen-up a carpet.