Wood Mites: What I Learned After Finding Them in My Shop

Found my first wood mite infestation about five years ago. Bought some reclaimed barn wood for a table project, stacked it in my shop, and two weeks later I had tiny white specks crawling on everything. Not exactly the project outcome I was hoping for.

What These Things Actually Are

Wood mites are microscopic – were talking less than a millimeter. You wont see individuals, but youll notice clusters of them as little white dots on wood surfaces. Theyre arachnids, related to spiders and ticks, though thankfully they dont bite.

Heres what took me a while to understand: wood mites dont eat wood. They eat the mold and fungus that grows on damp wood. So when you have mites, you also have a moisture problem. The mites are a symptom, not the root cause.

Spotting an Infestation

After my barn wood incident, I know what to look for:

• Tiny white or cream-colored dots, especially in crevices and end grain
• Fine webbing that looks almost like dust but sticks together
• A musty smell – thats the mold theyre feeding on
• Wood that feels damp or hasnt dried properly

If youre looking at reclaimed wood or firewood, check it carefully before bringing it into your shop or home. I should have done that with my barn wood. Would have saved me a headache.

How They Get In

Most infestations come from wood that wasnt properly dried or stored. Firewood is a common culprit – its often stacked outside where it can get rained on, then brought inside where the mites can spread.

Reclaimed and salvaged wood is another risk. That barn wood I bought looked dry but had been stored in a damp environment. The mites were already in it when I picked it up. Lesson learned: inspect everything before it comes into your workspace.

They can also come in through cracks in foundations, especially in basements. Any area with moisture issues is basically an invitation.

The Damage Situation

Good news: wood mites dont destroy wood like termites do. Theyre not eating the structural material. Bad news: the mold theyre feeding on can stain and discolor surfaces. The webbing they leave behind is annoying to clean and can interfere with finishes.

The bigger concern is what their presence tells you. If you have mites, you have moisture. Moisture leads to mold. Mold leads to wood rot. So while the mites themselves are mostly a nuisance, ignoring them means ignoring a moisture problem that will get worse.

Health Stuff

Wood mites themselves arent dangerous. Some people might have allergic reactions – sneezing, itchy eyes, that kind of thing. The real health concern is the mold theyre associated with. Mold spores can cause respiratory issues, especially for people with asthma or allergies.

My shop is in my garage, and after the infestation I noticed I was sneezing a lot more when I worked out there. Getting rid of the mites and addressing the moisture problem fixed that.

How I Got Rid of Them

Step one was getting rid of the infested wood. That barn wood went straight to the burn pile. Wasnt worth saving.

Step two was a thorough cleaning. Vacuumed every surface, wiped things down, got into all the corners. The little vacuum attachments are actually useful for this.

Step three – and this is the important one – was addressing humidity. I got a dehumidifier for the shop. Keep it running whenever Im not actively working out there. Mites need moisture; take away the moisture and they cant survive.

For the wood I kept, I let it dry completely in a well-ventilated area before bringing it back into the shop. Patience prevents re-infestation.

Prevention Going Forward

Heres what works for me now:

• Dry storage: All my lumber goes on racks with good airflow. Nothing sits directly on the concrete floor.
• Dehumidifier: Runs regularly, especially in humid months. Worth the electricity cost.
• Inspect everything: Any wood coming into the shop gets a careful look first. Reclaimed material especially.
• Fix leaks immediately: Had a small roof leak last year. Fixed it within days. Cant let water sit.
• Firewood stays outside: I only bring in what Im using that day. The stack stays in the woodshed.

When to Call Someone

Most wood mite problems you can handle yourself. But if youve tried cleaning and dehumidifying and they keep coming back, you might have a moisture issue youre not seeing. At that point, a pest control professional or a moisture specialist can help identify what youre missing.

If the infestation spread into walls or hard-to-reach areas, professional treatment might be faster and more thorough than DIY methods.

Final Thoughts

Wood mites are annoying but manageable. The real lesson from my experience is this: control moisture and you control mites. Proper wood storage, good ventilation, and a dehumidifier are your best defenses.

That barn wood table never got built. But Ive completed plenty of projects since then, all with properly dried and stored lumber. No more white specks crawling around my shop.