Protecting your Precious Books from Insects

Nowadays people are adapted to the digital age – where everything can be accessed within a click of a

mouse or a swipe of the pad. But a lot of people still love reading and collecting books, whatever their

reasons might be. It’s a good thing though, as these hard copies can be read over and over again and be

passed to future generations. But what makes it a pain is the fact that you’re not the only one who loves

your books. Insects such as silverfish, cockroaches, book lice and termites can be found in shelved books

everywhere. So what to do about it? Well worry no more as ways of protecting your books from this

book destroying insects will be enumerated and discussed in this article

Cleaning and Protecting by the use of Non-Chemical Repellent

First things first, upon recognizing the presence of insects on your bookshelf, remove the books and

clean the shelf thoroughly. You can also spray insect repellents on the shelf to keep these insects from

coming back. You may use commercial insect repellents being sold in the market or make your own

using different kind of organic materials readily available in your own home. One example is by mixing

garlic with water in a spray bottle and spraying it on your bookshelf. Do this at least once a week to keep

them from coming back to your precious books.

Aside from cleaning your shelf, it is also good to keep foods such as cereals and oats in tight containers

as the silverfish also likes to consume them. Keep your books away from any food sources. Also check

for plumbing leaks and lower the level of your air conditioner as book destroying silverfish likes to live in

moist areas.

Regular Vacuuming Keeps the Critters Away

It is also advisable to vacuum bookshelves regularly to remove the silverfish. You can also store unused

books in plastic containers instead of carton boxes to keep cockroaches and silverfish away. Books that

are affected by the insects need to be isolated from the other books. You can store these books in

plastic sealed containers and freeze them to kill any insect lurking inside.

Using Chemical Insect Repellent

Another way to keep these insects away is through the use of chemicals. Boric Acid, aside from been

used as an antiseptic for minor cuts and burns, is an effective insecticide safe to use at home. Sprinkling

boric acid on areas where silverfish frequents is one way. You can also use insecticide sprays where

other insects are present. Remember to study about the chemicals that you are going to use before

introducing them to your home. It is also important to avoid spraying them on your books and papers as

some of the chemicals can damage your books or cause discoloration, you wouldn’t want that.

One very important thing to remember is to make sure that your books aren’t damaged by the

chemicals used to kill these insects, it is best to keep them away first before doing the steps mentioned

above. In case of severe infestation, you can call pest control professionals to perform a total

extermination of these insects that destroys your books. Again, take your books away first so no damage

will be dealt to them while your house is being treated with chemicals.

Keeping your books away from insects that destroy can be hard. But it’s a small price to pay considering

your precious books are on the line. Following a couple of these steps regularly will keep your books safe

and in good quality condition for a very long time.

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