Question: I noticed tiny white "mites" crawling on the front of my
refrigerator/freezer, then noticed dead clusters of them in and around the
freezer ice dispenser & door gaskets.
I found the host: A unseen muffin carton on top/back of the fridge with
live larve. I have cleaned the entire fridge with vinegar and borax but
still have a few signs.
ANSWER Probably what you have are psocids (soo - cids) or booklice (an unfortunate name, since they are neither lice nor always associated with books).
These very small, pale yellow to brown insects live in humid areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, but they can occur in other locations in the house (especially in humid weather). Most of the time they are wingless, but sometimes you can encounter winged forms. They feed on microscopic mold and fungi, and some are associated with stored food materials which may also have some mold.
The best control in the kitchen and kitchen cabinets is to remove everything from the cabinets. Vacuum them very well , then inspect carefully to see if there is a moisture problem. Two common sources are: a leaking drain pipe under the kitchen sink and a leaking icemaker connection behind the refrigerator.
In the bathroom look under the sink and in the plumbing access for the tub.
For psocids in other places in the house, or on pieces of furniture, the best control is to lower the humidity. ,Dry out whatever or wherever these insects have been found. This may mean using a dehumidifier or taking items outside to dry in the sun. Solving the moisture problem almost always solves the psocid problem.
