Get rid of dust lice: This is how you get rid of the pests

If you've never heard of dust lice, you can probably sleep peacefully at night. However, if you suspect that your home is infested with dust lice, you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Many people find the idea of ​​an insect infestation in the house quite repulsive.

Especially since these insects have long antennae, can jump and some even have wings. This is why they are sometimes confused with fleas. Although they only live for 10 to 12 weeks, they reproduce all year round. If you want to get rid of them, you have to actively fight them.

Dust lice (Psocoptera) are small insects. They are only 1-2 mm in size and are therefore hardly visible to people. They feed on mold, fungi and spores, which is why they are mainly found in damp rooms. But they also feed on rice or flour, which is why they are often discovered in the kitchen.

Dust lice are not actually pests. They are completely harmless to humans. They can only trigger allergies in very large quantities.

Dust lice live in more households than you think. Since they cannot be easily seen with the naked eye, they simply remain undetected. They are particularly common in new buildings where the building structure has not yet dried. However, this problem usually resolves itself when the building materials are completely dry.

Even damp wallpaper attracts dust lice. Since they generally feel most comfortable in high humidity, they are often found in basements, in the bathroom, but also in the kitchen. All these places provide them with enough food. Where dust lice occur, you will discover a fine layer of paper dust.

Since dust lice thrive in high humidity, the first measure to combat them is quite obvious: lower the humidity. In the kitchen, it can be enough to use a lid when cooking.

In addition, the extractor hood should continue to work a little while cooking.
In the bathroom, tiles and the shower cubicle should be removed after showering or bathing. This also lowers the humidity.

Regular ventilation is also important. There is often too little ventilation, especially in the bathroom. It is recommended to ventilate the house three times a day for 5 to 25 minutes. This means that the windows are not tilted, but rather opened completely. Preferably in such a way that there is a draft in the house. The colder it is outside, the faster the air spreads throughout the house.

In addition, certain things should be avoided or reduced if you are dealing with excessive humidity. For example, when laundry is dried inside, water is released into the air. Unfortunately, too many houseplants can also lead to excessive humidity.

The second method for getting rid of dust lice is surprisingly simple: vacuuming. To our eyes, dust lice are small, but to the vacuum cleaner they are an ideal size. If you find a layer of paper dust somewhere, we recommend vacuuming it up with a vacuum cleaner.

It's best to vacuum the corresponding shelf or wall, as dust lice can also be found in wallpaper. Books are also often attacked and should also be vacuumed. You should then dispose of the vacuum cleaner contents or bags outside in the garbage can.

Although the vacuum cleaner method helps with an acute infestation, it is no longer sufficient if there is already a large infestation throughout the house and it does nothing against the dust lice eggs. The vacuum cleaner only serves as a supplementary measure, but also as a preventive measure.

Like all insects and pests, dust lice make themselves comfortable wherever they find food. The animals particularly like to eat grain products such as flour or semolina, but also paper.

Paper cannot necessarily be avoided in the house, but there are dust lice buffets that can be avoided. Stacks of old newspapers, for example, are a common source of food for dust lice and can be avoided. If you want to store old magazines, you should at least do so in a sealed plastic container (order here from Amazon)* also.

Dry foods can also be protected. Grain products, for example, can easily be transferred into glass containers (order here from Amazon)*. Flour bags are usually made of paper, which doesn't keep dust lice away. Glass and metal, on the other hand, do (even plastic would help, as long as there are no mice in the house. They also eat through plastic).

The shelves should also be wiped down and cleaned regularly. Food residues that have been spilled, for example, must be vacuumed up or disposed of immediately.

The best thing about this method is that all pests are kept away and the pantry looks super stylish at the same time.

Silverfish and dust lice are often referred to as beneficial insects because their infestation is an indication of a risk of mold. The humidity is too high. Even if there has already been a mold infestation, they eat the spores and actually help fight it. Most of the time, the problem of insect infestation resolves itself at the same time as the moisture problem.

Simple measures to prevent and combat mold include correct ventilation and heating. If you ventilate too rarely or believe that constantly tilted windows help, you risk mold growth. Tilting the window for several hours can promote mold. Walls cool down, making it easier for mold spores to spread. In addition, there is no complete air exchange.

Too little heating can also lead to mold formation. If the room temperature is less than 16 degrees, this leads to condensation when warm air enters the room. This encourages mold. In addition, each room should be heated separately. This also saves energy.

If a mold infestation has already occurred, you not only have to adapt your own behavior, but you also have to remove the visible mold. If the infestation is small and concerns, for example, isolated spots in the bathroom joints, you can remove the mold yourself. If the infestation is larger, the only option is to go to a specialist.

If you want to remove the mold yourself, you can try using home remedies such as baking soda, ammonia or a steam cleaner. Special mold removers or chlorine can also be used. Sometimes it is also advisable to use a dehumidifier.