If you think you might be dealing with a woodworm infestation, it’s understandable that you might want quick DIY fixes. Considering white spirit is something many of us have lying around at home, and it’s known for being pretty strong, we’re left with the question…
Can you kill woodworm with white spirit? You can use white spirit as a way to control a woodworm infestation, but it won’t necessarily kill the bugs or their larvae. Instead, it’ll cause the bugs to leave the piece of wood, meaning you’ll then have to kill them another way.
In this article, we’ll go into more detail about using white spirit to control a woodworm infestation.
How Does White Spirit Treat Woodworm?
White spirit helps with a woodworm infestation because it’s acidic. Woodworms don’t like acidic environments, so treating a piece of wood with white spirit will cause them to leave it.
Rather than killing them, then, using white spirit is a useful way of telling whether you’ve still got an active woodworm problem.
The holes you see in wood aren’t an indication of an active infestation, as they’re caused when the larvae leave the structure. So, white spirit will cause them to leave early, showing you if they’re still alive.
It’ll certainly help, but there are some points to consider:
· White spirit has a very unpleasant smell, meaning anywhere you use it will be out of bounds for a few hours. I’d recommend trying lavender to treat woodworm..
· It’ll be more practical for furniture and wooden frames, as you’ll need a lot of white spirit to cover a wooden structure in your home.
· However, white spirit can damage wax and varnish finishes on wood, so be careful.
Does White Spirit Kill Woodworm?
In short, white spirit will act more as a diagnostic tool than a woodworm killer. If you know there’s an active infestation, you’ll be better off just buying a standard treatment.
Will Thinners Kill Woodworm?
Paint thinners are often similar chemicals to white spirit.
Despite this extensive range of products, thinners also won’t kill woodworm for exactly the same reason. They’re not strong enough or the correct chemicals to do the job.
To get it done properly, look for any insecticide containing permethrin, which is the primary chemical for killing woodworm.
This is the permethrin I recommend:
While it’s tempting to use less harsh methods if you have kids or pets in the house, you’ll want to use the proper product for killing woodworm.
How to Treat Woodworm with White Spirit
If you want to use white spirit to tell whether you have an active woodworm infestation, you need the following:
· White spirit:
· A spray bottle:
· A vacuum cleaner
· Candle wax (optional)
Method
1. Get rid of anything that the white spirit might stain, particularly waxed wood and soft furnishings.
2. Vacuum the area, being thorough around cracks and gaps. This may be difficult in small items like wicker baskets so a dust cloth will suffice.
3. Put some white spirit in a spray bottle or apply directly to the area using a cloth.
4. Spray white spirit onto the area or wipe the cloth over it.
5. An optional step is to then fill the visible holes with candle wax by rubbing it over the surface. This way, if new holes appear, you know you have live woodworm.
6. Alternatively, you might see them exiting the wood. If so, use the vacuum cleaner to get rid of them.
Pros and Cons of Using White Spirit
Make sure you weigh up these pros and cons before deciding to use white spirit for treating woodworm.
Pros
· It’s pretty easy to get hold of white spirit. If you don’t have some already, any DIY shop sells it.
· It’s also inexpensive, particularly for testing whether the infestation is still active.
· On that note, it can be a useful diagnostic tool if you’re unsure about the infestation.
Cons
· It can strip the finish off wood and will stain soft furnishings.
· It stinks, meaning you might not be able to use a room for a few days if you’ve splashed white spirit all over it.
· Although not toxic, white spirit is an irritant. As such, you won’t want to use it around kids or dogs unless you can guarantee they won’t be around it.
Will Methylated Spirits Kill Woodworm?
While methylated spirits may have some insecticidal properties, it is unlikely to kill woodworm effectively.
Methylated spirits may have a dehydrating effect on woodworm, which can be harmful to them, but it is not a reliable method for eradicating it completely. Moreover, using it on wood can cause discoloration and damage to the surface, especially if used in excessive amounts.
Therefore, it is recommended to use specialized insecticides that are designed to kill woodworm effectively like this one:
These products are formulated to penetrate the wood and kill the larvae deep inside, ensuring that the infestation is eliminated.
Treating Woodworm with White Spirit – A Summary
The bottom line is that white spirit can be helpful to treat woodworm, but it’s not the most practical product to use. Instead, try vinegar.
It does exactly the same thing (push the woodworm out of the wood) but is much less harmful to the surface and the environment.
