I posted on here about 5years ago when battling one of the most notoriously persistent pests I've ever encountered and over the years I've been messaged by people at their witts end asking me what I actually did to get rid of them. The truth is I did a lot of things. So I thought I'd make it easy with a step by step guide. Don't lose hope! With patience, persistence, and the right approach, you can reclaim your home.
Step 1: Moisture is the Enemy – Keep It Under Control!
Booklice thrive in damp conditions. That means moisture is your worst enemy in this battle. Here's how to fight back:
Dehumidifiers are a Game Changer: Invest in one for your home. They’ll help keep the humidity low and deprive the booklice of the environment they love.
Keep an Eye on Humidity: Get a hygrometer (they’re cheap on Amazon) to monitor the humidity levels in your home. Aim to keep it below 50%, the lower the better — booklice can’t stand it!
Air Circulation is Key: Open windows when cooking or showering to let moisture escape. Don’t let condensation build up in your house. The goal is to avoid creating a damp environment that booklice find inviting.
Step 2: Dry Everything – Don’t Give Booklice a Moisture Chance!
Tumble Dry Clothes: Use a convection dryer, not a vented one. Wet clothes left on radiators are an open invitation for booklice to thrive. If you don't have a tumble dryer put clothes on an outdoor washing line.
Heat is Your Ally: Keep the heating on, especially during the colder months. Set the temperature between 22-24°C (72-75°F) to make the environment less hospitable to booklice.
Step 3: Clean Like You’ve Never Cleaned Before
Your cleaning routine will become your secret weapon in this fight. Here’s how to eliminate moisture and booklice from every corner of your home:
Zero Ultra Spray: Buy a few tins of Zero Ultra Spray. It’s an essential part of your arsenal and lasts 12 weeks between sprays. Spray it on areas where you've seen the booklice or suspect they might be lurking — walls, skirting, cupboards, and even the kitchen tiles and grout.
Don’t Add Moisture While Cleaning: Don’t spray cleaners like Dettol directly onto surfaces. Instead, spray it onto a kitchen towel and wipe down surfaces. You’re eliminating moisture sources everywhere!
Tidy the Sink: When washing dishes, be sure to mop up any water. Don’t leave any standing water in the sink or around the back of it. Water is like a beacon to booklice.
Step 4: Take Action in the Kitchen, Wetrooms/Bath rooms– this is where booklice are most likely to thrive.
Pull Out Appliances: When using appliances like your toaster, kettle, pressure cooker, or steamer, make sure to pull them out from under the kitchen units. Steam rises and can add moisture, making your kitchen a prime location for booklice to settle.
Get Rid of the Contaminated Items: If you've found any items with booklice, don’t try to clean them. Just throw them away. The last thing you want is to bring moisture back into your home trying to clean them out!
Spray Behind and Around Cabinets: Take off kickboards, clean any mold you find, and spray all internal surfaces with Zero Ultra Spray. The booklice love to nest in hidden places—behind cabinets, inside the grout, and along external walls. Seal up any holes or cracks you find in the external kitchen walls to prevent them from getting back in.
After showering/bathing dry up any water/moisture straight away.
Step 5: Move Everything Away from the external Walls and Seal Off Their Entry Points
If you have outdoor bins near the external walls of your house, move them away. I’ve seen booklice hitching a ride from rubbish bins close to the kitchen wall. Make sure your home is sealed and difficult for booklice to enter!
Repoint and mend brickwork, use external sealant around windows and doors if there are gaps/damage.
Step 6: Spray Everywhere – Yes, Everywhere
Even if you haven’t seen booklice in certain rooms, be proactive and spray them anyway. Focus on the following areas:
Doors and frames
Skirting boards
Flooring (where the carpet or laminate meets the skirting)
Shelving
Windows and frames
Around fittings and fixtures (be careful)
Storage cupboards
Spray around the sink/bath/shower, inside lower cupboards, and on shelving too. If you can access areas that you think might be food sources, don’t skip them. The more thorough you are, the better.
Step 7: Frequent Checkups – No Room Should Be Left Behind
Morning and Evening Spot Checks: At 10 AM and 10 PM, do a quick scan of your home for any booklice especially window sills and tiles. If you spot any, don’t just ignore them - cellotape them to a piece of paper. This is an ongoing check to see if there are any signs of activity.
Step 8: Be Patient – It Takes Time, But You’ve Got This
The road to being booklice-free isn’t quick. Be prepared for a long battle, but don’t give up! For about 6 to 8 months, you'll need to keep up your efforts. During this time, stay vigilant. Booklice have a hatching season in October, so you might feel on edge when winter rolls around, but remember, the key is to continue your moisture control and spraying regimen.
Step 9: Celebrate Your Victory – Touch Wood, It's Over
It’s been a long journey, but you can breathe easy. Keep your vigilance up, especially when it comes to humidity. After all the hard work and constant checks, you'll have no signs of booklice returning (thankfully!). And if you’re like us, you might feel so relieved that you'll wait years before re-decorating, just to make sure everything’s still as good as new.
TOP TIP: if you see more of them in one area of your home note there is a food source nearby...! They never venture too far away from their food, they live on mould and fungi - Addressing the source of moisture and removing the mould is crucial for controlling and eradicating booklice infestations