How to take care of Woodworms in Finished Furniture
“Woodworm” is something of a misnomer, because the creatures that make the tiny wormholes which mar timber furniture are really beetles. The most common is referred to as the furniture beetle, and once you see its holes on your furniture, the infestation is over two years old. Woodworm is common in Europe — especially the United Kingdom, which has the damp climate the beetles favor — and control products are far more easily accessible than in the USA. If you do not have access to an appropriate solution, you can even kill woodworms by heating the infested part of furniture.
Dry the infested part of furniture thoroughly. Woodworm beetles need moisture to live high humidity and dampness likely caused the infestation in the first place.
Heating the furniture to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and keep it at that temperature for 24 hours to kill the beetles, larvae and eggs. If the piece is small enough, you can set it in the oven or in addition to a radiator. To heat a larger piece, you might have to set it in a small closet or room with a electric heater. If you do this, track the temperature frequently to prevent overheating the timber or any upholstery.
Inject woodworm oil to the holes. You can buy this kind of oil at an aerosol can, which has an attached tube for directed spraying. You may also dump the oil by means of a syringe.
Point the tip of the tube or syringe into one of the holes and dump the fluid until you see it coming out from among the additional wormholes, which might be located several inches away. Wear goggles when doing so, because the oil can back up within the timber until there’s sufficient pressure to forcibly eject it in the hole.
Rub some of the oil about each hole, and wipe the excess away with a clean rag. Let the oil dry for for several days in a well-ventilated room.
Pack the holes with beeswax- or lacquer-based wood rubbed following the oil has dried. Together with improving the overall look of the wood, filling the holes assists in the detection of future beetle action.
