If you are a book lover then you might understand the horror of finding your precious books half-eaten by termites. Termites devour cellulose and books are laden with it thus making books their favourite snack. If your books are infected with termites, then you might want to take immediate termite treatment measures since this indicates a severe termite infestation in your home. Getting rid of termites is not an easy job and it is best left to professional termite control companies. But here we provide a few ways to manage termite infestation in your books before you lose them all to the little creatures.

Steps to Manage Termite Infestation in Books

When a termite infestation is spotted, surprise followed by panic are the most common reactions. Before contacting the termite control professional, there are a few steps by which you can save the remaining books.

1. Look for Signs of Termite Infestation in Books

The faster you find the infestation, the better the chance of clearing it. Termite infestation in furniture might take a long time to manifest, but it is relatively easy with the books.

There are some signs you can note when your books are infested by termites.

• Mild –Pages start to turn dry and yellowish with the page edges turning ragged.
• Medium – Small holes and dust like layer form on the pages.
• Severe –Tunnel like holes in the veins, cover and pages of the book.

Depending on the severity of the infestation, you can save the book. For example, if the book is in the mild or medium stage, you can employ suitable termite treatment measures and use it again. But in severe cases, it would be best to throw the book out.

2. Clean the Entire Bookshelf

Once you confirm the termite infestation, it is best to get into action immediately. Empty the bookshelf fully and clean it completely. Check for points of entry since termites usually have these when residing in colonies. Check for holes or bumps and if found douse with termiticide and then seal shut.

Wooden bookshelves are themselves prone to termite infestation and thus it is usually recommended to go with steel or concrete in-built ones.

3. Spray Termiticide

After vacuuming the bookshelf, you must spray termiticide to get rid of the existing termites on the shelf and also to prevent future infestation.

If your shelf is placed near the wall, move it from the wall and check for termite infestation in the backside. If present, clean it and spray it with termiticide. After spraying termiticide you can let the bookshelf dry for a while (if possible, in the sun).

Also Read: What Happens When You Leave a Termite Infestation Untreated?

4. Take Care of the Termites in the Books

Termites can be present inside the books and thus it is important to clean them too. Dust the books fully and then leave them open under the sun. You might be worried about sun damage to the pages but it is the only way to get rid of the termites.

Leaving them under the sun for 2-3 hours might be enough for the heat to reach all the areas of the books. Still not convinced? Iron press the pages to get rid of the termites inside the books but make sure not to burn the pages. Lastly, spray termiticide on the books but use it sparingly so that you don’t damage the books.

What Does It Mean to Have Books Infested with Termites?

A book infested with termites is a sign of a severe termite problem at your house. There are two major types of termites -drywood termites and subterranean termites. Drywood termites survive without moisture and can live in wood and paper products. But books are usually infested by subterranean termites and these termites live in the ground. They drill through almost anything to get inside houses and infest furniture, clothes, books and even walls. Thus, when you notice termite infestation in your books make sure to contact a termite control company and get appropriate termite treatment for your house.

Hi Tech Termite Control

Termites are persistent creatures. Even after you get rid of them once, the chance of recurrence is high. This is the reason why hiring a termite control professional is preferred to DIY methods. At Hi Tech Termite Control, we use advanced technologies for termite treatment and we also provide a three-year full-structure warranty with some of our services. Interested? Know more by visiting https://hitechtermite.com/warranty.html