Woodworms can be a serious problem in homes, causing significant damage to furniture and structural timbers.
There are several steps you can take to identify, manage and control a woodworm infestation. This is before it becomes a larger issue that may require professional help.
This guide on how to get rid of woodworms will help you understand woodworms, recognise the signs of infestation and treat them effectively.
Quick Answer: How to Get Rid of Woodworm
- Confirm it’s active: look for fresh, fine dust (frass) under holes and new, pale wood inside the holes. Activity is most noticeable in the warmer months when adults emerge.
- Decide furniture vs structure: small furniture infestations can often be treated DIY; structural timbers may need specialist assessment.
- Treat correctly: apply a woodworm treatment to all accessible surfaces of affected timber; for some species/areas, injection may be needed.
- Fix the cause: keep timber dry and well ventilated to reduce reinfestation risk.
- Monitor: check weekly for new dust/holes and keep a quick log (see monitoring box below).
What is Woodworm?
Woodworm is the common name given to the grub (or larvae) of the Common Furniture Beetle (Anobium punctatum). It is also used to refer to other similar wood-boring insects. These grubs are destructive because after hatching on a wooden surface, they love burrowing through it. In doing so, they create tiny tunnels and eventually create noticeable holes when they re-emerge as adult beetles.
Woodworm Behaviour
The adult Common Furniture Beetle is a small, brown insect measuring between 3mm and 6mm in length. You are most likely to notice adult beetles from May to September. This is when they emerge, leaving behind their characteristic round holes.
The adult beetles prefer to lay their eggs on rough, unpolished wood surfaces. This includes those of wooden furniture, structural timbers and floorboards. The grub, which is typically white or creamy, bores into the wood soon after hatching. This makes it difficult to detect their presence until they emerge around 3 years later as adults.
Woodworm infestations can start in homes through second-hand furniture, tea chests, or wickerwork, which can all have woodworms inside. Additionally, adult beetles can fly in from nearby areas, including from dead tree branches and nearby homes. Once in your home, they infest floorboards, joists, furniture and even structural timbers like rafters.
Identifying Woodworm Infestations
Recognising woodworms as early as possible is critical for minimising damage done. The following are key things we recommend you look out for that may indicate an ongoing woodworm infestation.
Neat round holes
Look for small, neat, round holes in wooden furniture, floorboards, and other wooden surfaces. These holes are typically about 2mm in diameter. Underneath the holes, you might notice tiny piles of fine, wood dust that is known as fass (pale, powdery waste left by woodworm). Fresh frass is a strong sign of recent activity.
Fresh Wood Exposure
Newly formed holes will reveal fresh, clean white wood inside. This indicates active wood-boring activity.
Adult Beetle Sightings
Though rare, you may spot small brown beetles flying near infested wood. This is most common between May and September.
Preventing Woodworm
The good news is that it's perfectly possible to prevent woodworm infestations yourself. It all starts with monitoring your home's wooden materials and ensuring they are always well-protected and dry. Here are several steps we recommend to help reduce the risk of woodworms in your home.
Inspect Furniture Regularly
Before bringing second-hand furniture or any wooden items into your home, you must inspect them carefully. Look out for signs of woodworm including neat round holes starting from 2mm in width, as well as wood dust.
Ventilate and Control Moisture
Woodworms thrive in moist, damp environments. This means that it's absolutely essential to keep your home well-ventilated and free from any excess moisture. We recommend that you regularly check that your wooden structures are dry. You should also avoid promoting any conditions which could lead to excess humidity, speeding up wood decay.
Regular Maintenance
Regularly polishing wooden furniture using insecticidal polish can help prevent infestations. Such a polish will prevent new woodworm holes and block off existing holes, killing any grubs or eggs inside.
DIY Woodworm Control Methods
If you discover an infestation in furniture or smaller wooden items, you can attempt treating woodworm yourself using DIY methods.
Woodworm Killer Treatment
Specialised woodworm killer solutions are available from many hardware stores. Apply the solution to all surfaces, including both polished and unpolished. Some woodworm killers may allow you to inject the fluid directly into existing holes using an injector. This will target the grub already inside the wood.
Treating Structural Timbers
For woodworm infestations in structural timbers, such as floor joists or roof beams, DIY treatment may be possible. However, you'll need to take care and follow these steps.
1. Clean the Timbers
Remove any dust, debris, or insulation from the affected areas to ensure the treatment is effective.
2. Cover Electrical and Water Installations
Cover electric cables and water tanks to protect them from the treatment chemicals.
3. Coat and Apply Woodworm Fluid
Use a woodworm treatment solution available from pest control shops. Ensure you cover all surfaces thoroughly, including the undersides of floorboards and joists. Follow the product's instructions closely.
4. Reinstall Insulation Carefully
Once treatment is complete, make sure to reinstall any roof or floor insulation carefully to prevent fire hazards.
When to Use Professional Help
While DIY treatment can be great for smaller infestations, woodworms in structural elements can pose a greater risk. In these instances such, as in structural timbers, we often recommend consulting professionals.
Consider professional help if:
- You suspect structural timbers (joists, beams, rafters) are affected
- The timber feels soft/crumbly, or you’re also dealing with damp/rot
- You suspect Deathwatch beetle or a House Longhorn (tends to require deeper treatment/inspection)
- Activity persists after careful treatment and moisture control
Woodworm treatment specialists offer detailed surveys and effective solutions for woodworms in structural timbers. We recommend choosing woodworm specialists who are members of the Property Care Association. Many of these companies provide long-term guarantees, which can be valuable if you plan to sell your property in the future.
Other Wood-Boring Insects
Besides the Common Furniture Beetle, other wood-boring insects may cause damage to wooden furniture and parts of your home.
Death Watch Beetle
Targets large, old hardwood beams, often found in historic buildings.
House Longhorn Beetle
Primarily found in North West Surrey, the larvae of this beetle can cause severe damage to softwood timbers.
Powder Post Beetle
This insect requires specific hardwoods containing starch. It is typically found in wooden objects such as antique furniture.
Wood Boring Weevils
Associated with wet rot, these insects often die out once the wet rot issue is addressed.
Woodworm FAQs
How do I know if woodworm is active or old?
Active woodworm usually leaves fresh frass (clean, pale wood dust) under holes or on surfaces, and holes may look newly cut with lighter wood inside. Old holes are often clean with no new dust appearing over several weeks.
What does woodworm frass look like?
Frass looks like fine, powdery wood dust (sometimes in tiny piles). If you wipe it away and it reappears, that’s a strong sign there’s still activity.
Can woodworm go away on its own?
It can die out if the timber becomes too dry and conditions aren’t suitable, but you shouldn’t rely on that—especially if you’re seeing fresh dust or new holes. The safest approach is to treat the timber and fix the moisture/ventilation issue.
What’s the best time of year to treat woodworm?
You can treat any time you have access to the timber, but activity is often more noticeable in warmer months when adult beetles emerge. If you’re seeing fresh frass, don’t wait—treat and monitor.
Will woodworm spread to other rooms or furniture?
Yes, it can—adult beetles can emerge and lay eggs in nearby timber, especially if there are untreated, damp or vulnerable timbers. Treat affected areas promptly and reduce damp/condensation to lower the risk.
Do DIY “home remedies” (vinegar, bleach, WD-40) work on woodworm?
They’re not a reliable way to treat woodworm. They may clean surfaces, but they won’t properly penetrate timber to reach larvae. Use a woodworm treatment designed for timber, applied as directed.
Can I treat woodworm myself, or do I need a professional?
DIY is usually realistic for small, accessible areas (like furniture) where you can fully coat the timber. Get professional advice if you suspect structural beams/joists/rafters, the timber feels soft/crumbly, or activity continues after a proper treatment cycle.
How long does it take to know if treatment has worked?
You should see improvement as fresh frass stops appearing. Check weekly for 4–8 weeks. Success looks like no new dust, no new holes, and no new adult sightings over that period.
Final Thoughts
Woodworm infestations can be managed effectively with prompt identification and the right treatment. Regular inspection, maintaining dry conditions, and using preventive polishes can reduce the risk.
For minor cases, DIY solutions such as woodworm killer treatments can be effective. However, when infestation involves structural timbers or is widespread, it is best to consult a professional. This will ensure the issue is handled correctly and safely.
By taking control of your home and staying vigilant for signs of woodworm, you can protect your property and maintain the integrity of your wooden furnishings and structures.
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