If your home has high humidity levels, you might be hosting a family of booklice without even realising it. These tiny insects thrive in warm, damp conditions, feeding on mould and mildew that commonly form on cardboard, wallpaper and books.
The fastest way to tackle the problem is by investing in one of the best dehumidifiers, which remove excess moisture from the air and help prevent further mould, dampness and condensation from forming.
To find out how to banish these critters for good, we consulted three pest control experts for their top tips. Below, you’ll discover the most effective methods for eliminating them from your home, as well as the causes to prevent and the signs to watch for.
How to get rid of booklice
1. Reduce the humidity levels
I’ve spoken with three pest control experts, and they all recommend one thing: reducing the humidity levels in your home. You can do this by using a dehumidifier and fixing any leaks, as well as checking your kitchen and bathroom extractor fans are working properly.
Make sure your home has sufficient airflow by keeping furniture slightly away from your walls and opening windows – this will prevent moisture from building up and mould from forming (which booklice love to feed on).
To ensure your home maintains normal humidity levels, you can buy a hygrometer that displays the percentage.
2. Wipe down affected areas
As well as managing the moisture levels, you'll also want to thoroughly wipe down the affected areas with a mild cleaning solution, according to Deepak Shukla, CEO of PL Pest Control.
3. Throw away mouldy, damp objects
If you have mouldy, damp objects lying around your home – such as cardboard boxes or books – make sure you throw them away immediately.
Darren Backhouse, Partner at MJ Backhouse Pest Control, says, “Most infestations can be dealt with within a few weeks once the moisture levels are controlled.”
Prevent booklice with these expert-approved products
A dehumidifier and air purifier in one, this device controls humidity and cleans the air.
Monitor humidity levels in every room with this multipack of hygrometers.
This powerful spray gets rid of mould and mildew within 30 minutes, removing the booklice’s food source.
PL Pest Control is part of the Pearl Lemon Group, founded by serial entrepreneur Deepak Shukla. From cleaning and property maintenance to pest control, Deepak’s philosophy is simple: solve real, messy problems fast. Operating across the UK and expanding internationally, PL Pest Control helps homeowners and businesses tackle pest issues with precision, transparency, and zero fluff.
Darren is the partner of a family-run pest control company based in Yorkshire, which has been operating since 1988. He has vast experience working on both domestic and commercial property and has seen just about every pest control issue there is over the years.
What are booklice?
Booklice (also known as psocids) are tiny insects that thrive in warm, moist and mouldy conditions. According to Deepak Shukla, they appear in homes when there is damp and excess humidity, which allows microscopic mould spores to grow on surfaces such as books, cardboard and wallpaper paste.
Tony King, pest control expert at The Pied Piper adds, "Though their name might suggest otherwise, they are not actually lice and do not digest books in the way most people think.
"They are most likely to be found in places where their favourite foods are present: mould, mildew and microscopic fungi that grow on paper, cardboard, stored food or moist walls. Their size is extremely small, usually one millimetre or less, so they often go unnoticed by homeowners until they gather in groups."
Tony King is the owner and manager of The Pied Piper, a leading pest control service that has been in operation for more than 25 years.
What are the signs of booklice?
If you've noticed tiny, translucent bugs in humid areas of your house, chances are they are booklice. Deepak Shukla recommends checking behind your kitchen appliances, around shower frames and inside cupboards that don’t get much ventilation, as these are common places for these pests to gather.
He says, "When I first saw them years ago, I honestly thought it was dandruff moving on its own, which was mildly horrifying. You’ll also see them clustering near mould spots or damp cardboard. If you see tiny insects disappearing into cracks when the light hits them, that’s usually your clue."
Are booklice harmful to humans?
No, booklice aren’t harmful to humans. Tony King explains that while they won’t bite, sting or transmit any diseases, they do indicate excess moisture and mould, “which is the real problem people should tackle.”
Mould can cause long-term conditions such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and trigger allergic, respiratory, immune and inflammatory reactions, which is why mould removal is so important for your well-being.
To conclude, booklice aren't going to do you any harm, but they do signal a humidity issue that needs to be addressed. By following the steps above and taking preventative measures, like ensuring your home has proper ventilation, they’re relatively easy to remove.
If you’re struggling with other pests, our guides on how to kill silverfish or how to get rid of dust mites might also be helpful.
