Roundworms are parasites that are typically found in soil or animal faeces. It’s very common for roundworm eggs to find their way into your carpet due to how widespread they are – this is especially common if you have younger children or animals that go outside such as dogs or cats.
There are around 60 different species of roundworm in total that can live inside the human body, ranging from guinea worm disease to the more well-known threadworm.
In this article, we will take a look at what roundworm eggs actually are, how they make their way into carpets and the measures you can take to not only treat but prevent roundworm eggs from getting into your carpet in the future.
What Are Roundworms?
Roundworms are parasites that can live inside the human body, usually in the intestines, that feed on partially digested food.
Roundworms are found throughout the globe but they grow at a much faster rate in warmer, more tropical climates. Despite this, they can still thrive in more moderate climates and are typically found either in soil or animal faeces.
Roundworms are also more likely to be found and spread in places with poor hygiene, which is why lots of health services place warnings on drinking tap water in countries that have poor infrastructure due to the risk of contracting roundworms.
Roundworms can survive in the human body for up to 2 years as an adult worm and a lot of people don’t exhibit any symptoms whatsoever, with worse symptoms including:
- Worms in stool
- Vomiting
- Fever
Like we’ve said, though, most people will not even realise they have roundworms and it is estimated over 1 billion people around the world actually have them.
Human vs Dog Roundworms
The human roundworm is a species known as Accaris lumbricoides which is more common in countries that have poor infrastructure. These roundworms thrive in the human body but are not common to encounter in developed countries – if you are planning to travel abroad then check to see if the infrastructure is suitable or not to drink tap water.
The dog roundworm, Toxocara canis, is one of the most common problems found in puppies and can easily spread and infect humans. In terms of your carpet, it’s much more likely that dog roundworm eggs will be found there rather than human roundworm eggs – in fact the odds are almost zero.
Dog roundworms can still cause some serious issues for humans, however, and symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, wheezing or even seizures. In young children, dog roundworms can easily migrate towards the eye and in serious cases lead to blindness, so it is definitely something worth thinking about if you own a dog.
How Do Roundworm Eggs Get Into Carpet?
Roundworm eggs are usually brought into the house and on to carpet from contact with soil or animal faeces. This contact can come from walking barefoot over the soil, digging around in soil that contains roundworms eggs or accidentally stepping into animal faeces.
Usually, dogs and young children are the main culprits.
Dogs roaming around in the garden are sure to walk over the soil, even possibly digging into it, whilst also sniffing other dogs’ faces or their own. All of these factors can make a dog pick up roundworm eggs and spread them directly into the house and ultimately into your carpet.
Children are less likely to pick up roundworm eggs but are still vulnerable when playing in soil and then putting their hands near to their faces. Furthermore, younger children are less likely to wash their hands after playing outside which can also make them spread the eggs easier if they do pick any up, inevitably leading to the eggs getting into carpets around the house.
How Long Do Roundworm Eggs Live For?
Roundworm eggs become infectious after developing in faeces for around one month.
After this stage the eggs, if ingested, will develop into roundworms inside the gut. Roundworm eggs will not develop to become infectious if they are in a carpet, but the problem is that they might already be infectious before they are passed into your carpet.
Infectious eggs are quite hardy and can live on your carpet for long periods of time whilst resisting changes in both temperature and humidity. They usually remain viable for a good couple of months.
How Long Do Roundworm Eggs take To Hatch?
Roundworms will not hatch unless they have already made their way into the gut. This is because they require energy in order to hatch and survive, so while they are in your carpet they will not hatch but can be picked up by a human or animal.
Of course, the human roundworms will hatch inside your body but dog roundworms usually just lead to infections and other complications.
At this stage, an egg will develop into a worm in a matter of weeks, depending on the species.
How Can You Get Rid Of Roundworm Eggs In Carpet?
Roundworm eggs are very difficult to treat, not only because they are not visible to the human eye but also because they are highly resistant to chemical treatment.
The best way to get rid of roundworm eggs in your carpet is steam cleaning. The high temperature of the steam is an effective way to remove any roundworm eggs that might be in your carpet, although this will come at quite a cost.
Regular cleaning such as vacuuming and spot cleaning will ensure that most of the eggs will be removed, but there is no guarantee for all of them to be removed. If you suspect that your carpet does contain roundworm eggs then keeping good hygiene around the house is another thing to consider to reduce the chances of them spreading to anybody in your house.
Other Ways To Kill Roundworm Eggs
There are other, less conventional ways to kill roundworm eggs that might be useful depending on your particular situation. Let’s take a look at what these are and if they’re worth considering.
- Fire – Using fire is highly dangerous and something we do not recommend. It is proven to kill roundworm eggs however and could be used if you are wanting to torch animal faeces on your property, just be sure to contact your local fire department and follow their guidelines to ensure safety.
- Boiling water – Suprise surprise, if steam works then boiling water will do the trick as well. Boiling water is more versatile than using a torch for obvious reasons – it can be used inside easily. It can still be dangerous to use though so take every precaution you can to keep everyone safe if you want to use this method. A great way to implement this would be for spot cleaning areas of your carpet where you suspect there are eggs present.
How To Stop Roundworm Eggs Getting Into Your Carpet?
Another thing to consider is how to stop roundworm eggs from getting into your carpet in the first place, as this can be even more effective than having to remove them from your carpet in the first place.
Regularly Deworm Your Dogs
Dogs are the main culprit for getting roundworms, especially younger dogs such as puppies. A vet will usually prescribe a course for this problem but if not make sure you regularly deworm your dogs to prevent them from spreading roundworms around the house and into your carpet.
Take Caution With Dog Faeces
You’ve probably already got the message by now but it’s important to be careful when picking up your dogs waste to keep it away from your skin. Wearing gloves and using a poo bag is a good measure to take, alongside washing your hands after you’ve disposed of it.
Practice Good Hygiene
Good hygiene is the last step in preventing eggs from getting into your carpet. If you manage to get any eggs on your hands or skin without knowing it then they can be easily washed off before you sit down and eventually spread the eggs all-around your house.
Be Careful With Soil
Soil can cultivate roundworms eggs so if you are out gardening or have younger children who like to play in the soil this is a sure-fire way to pick up some eggs along the way without even realising it.
If you get a lot of soil on your skin make sure to wash it off using warm water – this should keep you covered from spreading any into the house.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to roundworms there are a lot of other questions people have regarding their eggs and the home. We’ve listed the most common questions below so you can find the answers to any questions you might have!
How Do I Clean My House After Roundworms?
Following the advice above to remove the roundworms from your carpet is the first call of action – either use boiling water or to be more certain steam clean your carpet.
Following this, you’ll want to follow a vigorous cleaning program around your house which starts by first deworming any animals that you have in your house. If you have cats then you’ll also have to clean their litter trays completely and remove all of their litter and throw it into the trash.
Depending on the severity of the problem you’ll need to vacuum all surfaces and clean them with a decent surface cleaning product. In any bedroom change the sheets and wash them thoroughly, steam cleaning your mattress if possible.
Essentially this is a culmination of the regular cleaning duties around the house condensed into a couple of days to ensure you’ve got the best chance of getting rid of most of the eggs.
How To Remove Roundworm Eggs From A Rug?
Thankfully rugs are a lot easier to treat if they contain any roundworm eggs.
This is because most rugs can easily be placed into a washing machine, the only thing left to do is select a hot setting to make sure that any eggs that are present get dealt with properly. If your rug is too large then the advice above for carpets outlines the same steps to take for a large rug.#
How Long Do Roundworm Eggs Live On Surfaces?
Roundworm eggs are incredibly hardy and can lay in wait for years at a time for the right host to come along.
They’re also incredibly good at sticking to surfaces too due to their small size – bad news for any clean freaks out there! Luckily with good hygiene principles they should not become a problem and it is actually quite rare for them to be transferred to many surfaces inside the house as they are usually carried by animals or children who have been outside in soil.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, if you want to see any other questions included then don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We hope you’ve learnt everything there is to know about dealing with roundworm eggs in your carpet!