Rules and regulations vary from city to city. We are able to accept carpet with carpet beetles at some of our 1-800-GOT-JUNK? locations. To find out if your local 1-800-GOT-JUNK? team accepts carpet beetles, ask in advance.

To tear up your old carpet, pull the carpet free from the tack strip connected it to the wall with pliers. Once the carpet is free, pull the carpet up by hand. Remember to cut the carpet into smaller pieces as you go to make it easier to move and dispose of.

Once you’ve ripped up your carpet, you may notice some leftover glue on your foundation or walls. 

Here’s how you can remove carpet glue from your home surfaces:

1. Remove as much glue as you can with a razor, scraper, sparkling knife, or 5-in-1 tool.
2. Soften hard-to-remove glue with heat by pouring boiling water or steaming the area.
3. Use your scraping tool to scrape away the softened glue.
4. Repeat as many times as necessary.

Carpet is held in place by small planks of wood studded with nails known as tack strips. These pieces of wood can be reused when laying down new carpet. To remove your carpet from tack strips:

1. Locate the tack strip by finding the nail head in the carpet.
2. Place a pry bar between the floor and the tack strip below the nail.
3. Hit the opposite end of the pry bar with a hammer to pop the nail up.
4. Remove the nail.
5. Continue this process until every nail in the tack strip is free.
6. When the tack strip is free, place it in a trash bag.
7. When all tack strips are removed, sweep the floor for any loose nails or splinters.

To remove carpet from stairs, start by pulling the carpet free from the tack strip. Pull the carpet towards the ledge of the stairs and use a utility knife to cut along the nose of the landing. Using both hands, pull the carpet from the vertical riser until the carpet is completely removed. Remember to cut the carpet into small, manageable strips as you go and place them to the side for proper disposal.

Carpet can be thrown into the garbage with other household waste. However, your local waste pickup service may not accept old carpet in large quantities. Instead, you may be required to bring the carpet to a designated waste drop-off facility, or wait for a bulk-trash pickup day.

Some municipalities allow carpet to be thrown away in dumpsters. However, the amount of carpet you throw away may be limited.

Rather than risk having the carpet not accepted, check with your local waste removal site first. Some companies may offer used carpet pickup or require you to transport your carpet to a facility on your own.

Yes, nearly all types of carpet can be recycled. Carpet is made from a combination of fibers, plastics, and chemicals that make it hard to break down in landfills. And because most old carpet is thrown away in large quantities, many trash collectors will not accept it.

When a carpet is brought to a recycling center, it is broken down into its raw components so it can be reused in new products, including plastic found in household items, auto interior parts, engines, industrial flooring, and even parking barriers.

Carpets are made of complex fibers, chemicals, and plastics that are hard to break down in landfills. Between the effect used carpet has on the environment and the limit on how much will be accepted by trash pickup companies, your best bet may be to recycle your old carpet.

Getting rid of carpet beetles starts with vacuuming all of your carpets and upholstered furniture. Next, discard any clothes, towels, or linens that have been eaten to prevent the spread of infection.

Once you’ve thrown out any tainted cloth, wash the uninfected linens and clothes with warm, soapy water. Use insecticide in any other areas that can't be washed in the machine, such as walls, edges or carpets, shelving, and cracks and crevices.You can also dust boric acid in areas that are hard to reach.

Once your inside is clean, remove any outdoor sources or nests. Remember to clean your home frequently, and seal any unused clothing or fabrics in plastic containers.