[Home Tips] How to eliminate book lice when they appear?

📖 What are booklice?

  • Appearance : The body is extremely thin (about 1-2 mm), and the color is mostly light yellow, light brown or transparent. It is difficult to detect with the naked eye and can only be seen clearly at a close distance or with a magnifying glass.
  • Habits : Likes to live in moist, warm, dark places, such as gaps in books, corners, wooden cabinets, cardboard boxes, and the back of wallpaper.
  • Food : The main food sources are mold, mildew, paste, and paper fibers.
  • Reasons why Hong Kong is at high risk : Hong Kong has a subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers. Indoor humidity often exceeds 70%, making it a paradise for booklice.

🚨 Are booklice harmful?

  • On the human body : Booklice do not bite or transmit diseases, but their presence indicates a humid environment with the presence of mold. Long-term inhalation of mold spores can affect the respiratory system (especially for those with asthma or nasal allergies).
  • Objects : It will damage books, papers, photos, wallpaper, and cause small bite marks on the surface of wooden furniture.

🔍 Common hiding places for book lice (Hong Kong Home Edition)

  1. Deep in the bookcase, between books📚
  2. Back of wallpaper, back of photo frame
  3. Wardrobe corners, wooden cabinet bottoms
  4. Wet kitchen cabinets and bathroom cabinets
  5. Cardboard boxes and piles of old newspapers that have been stored for a long time

💡 Editor's Pick: A Complete Guide to Eliminating Booklice

1. Dehumidification is key

  • Method : Keep indoor humidity below 50% (the growth conditions of booklice will be inhibited).
  • tool :
    • Dehumidifier (a must-have in Hong Kong summer)
    • Air conditioner dry extraction mode
    • Moisture-proof bag (suitable for small-scale use in cabinets)
  • Editor's Tip : During Hong Kong's humid season (March to September), it's best to run a dehumidifier for 4-6 hours daily, especially near bookcases and storage cabinets.

2. Clean the infected area thoroughly

  • Use a vacuum cleaner to remove booklice and their eggs (the eggs are hard to see but hide in crevices).
  • Wipe the affected area with 70% alcohol or **diluted bleach (1:99)** to kill the source of the mold.
  • Editor’s tip : Wear a mask while cleaning to avoid inhaling mold spores.

3. Handling books and paper products

  • Books can be placed in a sealed bag near a dehumidifier, or blow-dried with low-temperature air (below 50°C) for several hours.
  • It is recommended to discard severely moldy books to avoid contamination to other books.
  • Editor's tip : Use transparent sealed plastic boxes to store books, and add moisture-proof bags inside the boxes to isolate them from air moisture.

4. Improve ventilation

  • Open windows daily for ventilation (during times when air quality is better) to reduce indoor moisture accumulation.
  • Open cabinet doors and drawers regularly to allow air circulation.
  • Editor’s tip : Some units in Hong Kong have few windows, so you can use a circulating fan in conjunction with a dehumidifier to increase air flow.

5. Targeted insecticide (if necessary)

  • Book lice are afraid of high temperatures, so you can use a hair dryer to blow hot air into the gaps (the temperature must be safely controlled to avoid damaging items).
  • There are insecticide sprays available for booklice (choose a less toxic formula) that should only be used in severe infestations.
  • Editor's Tip : Avoid using highly toxic chemicals around books or in areas where children can reach them.

6. Prevent reinfection

  • Avoid hoarding cardboard boxes and old newspapers for a long time.
  • Regularly check bookcases, wooden furniture, and the backs of wallpaper.
  • Switch to moisture-proof wooden boards or paper mats to reduce the chance of mold growth.

📊 Editor's Booklice Prevention Kit

method cost Time saving Effect Is it suitable for Hong Kong environment?
Dehumidifier to reduce humidity 💰💰💰 ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Essential
Alcohol/bleach cleaning 💰 ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ✅
Sealed book storage 💰💰 ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅
High temperature treatment 💰 ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ ✅ (Be careful)
Chemical insecticides 💰 ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅ (for severe cases)

🚨 A friendly reminder from the editor

Booklice aren't just a sign of "dirt bugs," they're a sign of dampness . If you have booklice in your home, it means the humidity is high enough for mold to grow. If you don't manage the humidity properly, even if you eliminate them once, they'll return.

📌 Editor's Summary

Hong Kong's humid weather creates optimal breeding conditions for book lice. However , controlling humidity (<50%), thoroughly cleaning, sealing, improving ventilation , and using targeted high-temperature or low-toxic insecticides can effectively eliminate book lice. 🪳 Developing a habit of regular inspections and moisture-proofing can help keep these microscopic invaders away from your home and bookcases for a long time. 📚✨

Back to blog
【家居小貼士】

See more...

View all
1 3
View all