Booklice in new build

[Emmyyyx]

We moved into a new build January 20 and over the last week found booklice all in the main bathroom and then my sons room which is the room next to it!

Went on a hunt around the house and found multiple in all rooms - I’m killing loads every day, hoovering all the time, bleached all skirting and bathrooms!

It’s making me ill as I’m constantly on the hunt for them and constantly crying about it (I am pregnant so hormones won’t be helping)

Bought 2 plug in dehumidifiers and hygrometers and loads of disposable dehumidifiers and whacked the heating up the last 3 days but it’s not something I can do constantly!

I know they are harmless but it’s the fact they breed so quickly I feel if I’m not constantly on the go getting rid of them then my house will be over run.

Anyone had these in a new build and managed to get rid of them??? My partner tells me when the house dries out they will go but I can’t cope with another year of this!!

I know David did message saying he is kind of went after 18 months too

If anyone can update who’ve had renovations or new homes we’d appreciate the feedback and let us know
thanks

I think people forget about these places when they get used to living with these creatures.

Hi,

I don’t come on here and read all this due to the anxiety I had and Just bad memories! But I’ve had loads of notifications so…

after constantly having dehumidifier on and the colder months they do go - I see the odd one in the rooms where it wasn’t great but I don’t go on the hunt anymore as it will drive me mad.

if I do see one I see more and Jusy kill them and keep checking that place to see if anymore come - I think having a few is common just through moisture and humidity etc but when you are over run all I can suggest is spraying, hoovering and getting rid of anything where it’s really bad!

Also for reference - I like in the UK and house was built in 2020 - noticed them that year from summer onwards - my house was drying out though after being built in winter months too. This causes a massive reduction once the house dries out

I'm very glad that they are decreasing, at least they are decreasing as the houses dry out. I'm just wondering if you are still spraying at the moment, I guess you consider it normal to have a few of them now.

Thanks Emmy for replying
gives us some hope
mine isn’t a new build but a renovated one but we did have plastering styling new roof etc all done
apprexiate how anxiety provoking this is as I feel the same
how long did it take to dry would you say and reduction in numbers?
many thanks

I only sprayed a few times when I first found them - the main way to get rid is hoover where they are, keep humidity below 50 and open your windows when it’s dry - even when it’s cold - short bursts help with the humidity.

I still have my hygrometers in the rooms they were bad and as the house has dried out the humidity is naturally below 50 - sometimes goes above if the weather is bad or the someone has had a bath or shower due to the moisture!

I would say when I wrote the post is when I found them - by Christmas it was under control with a few and then I had my baby in March 2021 but honestly didn’t really see any - Just after summer I would say some came again but just had the dehumidifier out and on constantly and then they went again as the weather dropped and humidity went lower.

my issue with them I honestly think was the house being a new build - so if you have had renovations it will be because of that - once it’s dried out and you keep the humidity down then they will decrease.

from researching at the time I know some places in other countries are bad due to the humidity full stop and I don’t know a way around that other than getting an air con system fitted!

I was pregnant and hormonal at the time and was cleaning like crazy - I was going round with a light round every skirting board on my hands and knees. It was horrible.

cold / dry weather should help them die out!

i am sure they are still around the house somewhere but I’ve looked since writing my precious post and I can’t see any when I have a quick look and for me, compared to how it was and how I felt - that’s good enough for me!

they can’t hurt you, they don’t bite and don’t tend to go in clothes from what I read - it’s more wood / books etc!

sorry I can’t help anymore x

Thankyou it is reassuring
i hope by spring I’m in a better position than I am now
many thanks

Can we naturally come to this conclusion? In fact, there are these creatures in every house due to humidity, but their numbers are not large, but in newly built houses, due to the high humidity, their numbers may be higher and they decrease over time. According to a study conducted in an article, it was determined that 98% of houses have book lice. In time, I will find an answer to this contradictory situation that bothers me, where some people are uncomfortable with their homes, even though their homes are not new or renovated...

My humidity is low though and they’re still here although low numbers
perhaps it’s materials drying out

I think my biggest fear is moving them to my parents' house, I actually don't have much of a problem with them, maybe it would comfort me to know they are in every house but I'm not sure about that either. My conscience doesn't leave me alone, what if my family doesn't have any and I take them with me!!

I sprayed that super c spray yday containing 0.1% cypermethrin and they were on skirting boards today 3 of them
perhaps the strength needs to be higher for the cypermethrin to work?

01% is too low, I use at least 10% and 15%. If you can find a higher one, I recommend you use it.

Ok thanks

It’s 0.1% cypermethrin in a litre bottle
so how much would you dilute it down
clearly it’s not very effective at that concentration

You can put 20 ml in 1 liter of water, normally 10 ml is sufficient, you can add a little more since the active ingredient is low.

Thankyou
im willing to try it

You can buy sprays like Dethlac.

Applied to a clean, hard surface such as a shelf, skirting, or laminate floor, it dries and leaves a film that poisons crawling insects through their feet. You can use it under and behind cabinets after cleaning, and in cracks.

You need to reapply if you wash the surface.

Other brands may be labelled "crawling insect spray"

But IMO you would do better to find and rectify the sources of damp and humidity.

Edit
I just checked the Dethlac makers website and they say the lacquer resists rain and detergents. I don't think other brands do.

Sorry, they somehow survive without a source of moisture and mold, their food sources are very diverse.

Thankyou
I’ve tried dethlac but can’t use a n wallpaper and leaves a clear film
il see how I get on
to my knowledge humidity is not an issue and damp either
time will tell I’m in month 7 of
movinh back into house after renovating

Have anyone find them on bed / closet?

No, but that doesn't mean we won't find them, they're wandering around everywhere...

nightmare 🥹🥹

One day they will end or we will get used to it. It is very normal to feel like this right now. Everything will be easier once you accept it🙃