How To Get Rid Of Termites: 7 Effective Methods
Having termites is a troublesome problem, as they can cause quite some damage to your property and furniture. There are three common types of termites – drywood, subterranean and dampwood. Drywood termites usually like to hang out in hardwood floors, dead trees and structural timber. Subterranean termites enjoy living in soil and like to build large nests. They prefer living in trees, fence posts, and structural timber. They are the most common type of termite. Dampwood termites enjoy high-moisture contact and don’t usually hang out in homes, as there is not enough moisture. But either way, all three can cause serious damage to your beloved home. So, let’s see how to get rid of termites.
There are three common types of termites – drywood, subterranean and dampwood
How Do You Tell If You Have Termites?
Termites have some tell-tale signs. They have straight antennas, a wide, straight body shape, equally sized pair of wings, and they range from tan to light brown colors. When you have a termite infestation you will hear strange clicking sounds, you’ll noticed damaged wood, maybe some discarded wings, frass (termite droppings), your paint is damaged, mud tubes and hollow wood.
When you have a termite infestation you’ll noticed damaged wood
How To Get Rid of Termites
Getting rid of termites doesn’t have to be a hard task. As long as you have the right ingredients and the determination, no termite infestation stands a chance. Here are some effective methods to getting rid of these annoying pests.
Getting rid of termites doesn’t have to be a hard task
#Boric Acid
Boric acid is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of termites. This acid is a natural pesticide. Not only that, but it’s also helping to preserve the wood. So, win-win. Keep in mind that boric acid is quite strong, so it’s better to be used for outside infestations. If you do, however, wish to use it on an inside termite infestation make sure to combine only a teaspoon per one cup of water and to use it only where it’s needed. It’s also a good idea to have some protective gear when handling boric acid, such as goggles, a mask, and some gloves. Better safe than sorry! Keep in mind that boric acid doesn’t make termites drop-dead right away. Rather it works by preventing them from getting any nutrients from their food, ridding you of the problem over time.
Boric acid is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of termites
#Traps From Cardboard
You would be surprised how effective some simple cardboard traps can be. However, while this is an easy way to get rid of termites naturally, it is quite disgusting if you don’t like dealing with insects directly. All you need to do is place a cardboard box where your termite infestation is and leave it unbothered for a couple of days. These critters will start to infest the cardboard. Once the box is filled, take it out and burn it. This will destroy all the insects trapped inside. You can use this method a couple of times. Once you begin to take out empty boxes, it means the infestation is gone. However, experts advise using this method alongside some boric acid treatment, as it can take a really long time.
These critters will start to infest the cardboard
#Sunlight
This may be one of the easiest ways to get rid of these pests. Termites really hate sunlight. This is because if they are exposed to too much of it, and it’s heat, they will die. So, if your infestation is on a piece of easily moveable furniture, just drag it into your yard and let it bake in the sun. During summer, the job shouldn’t really take long. However, if you have termites in your home’s structure, it may be harder to drag it out onto the sun. But you can set up strong UV lights onto the area for similar results.
Termites really hate sunlight
#Nematodes
Nematodes are usually used by gardeners to help contain garden and houseplant pests. A great thing about nematodes is that they are safe to use around animals and people unlike boric acid. These little roundworms come in and attack and quickly kill all pests. Just make sure you get the right nematodes for the right pests. When it comes to fighting termites, just mix a big bucket of water with the nematodes and spray all the places that are infested. Then repeat this process on the daily.
A great thing about nematodes is that they are safe to use around animals and people
#Diatomaceous Earth
Another type of organic pest control is diatomaceous earth which is an effective treatment for termites as well as other common pests, such as bed bugs. Diatomaceous earth is very deadly to pests as it has strong dehydrating properties and razor-sharp particles. What it does, in a nutshell, is to penetrate through the pests shell and then sucks out all the moisture from the body, drying them out and making them easy to vacuum up. This method is also human safe.
Diatomaceous earth is very deadly to pests as it has strong dehydrating properties
#Vinegar
What isn’t vinegar good for? White vinegar in particular can be used for cleaning pretty much anything as well as a bug spray. All you need to do is to mix together half a cup of vinegar and the juice of two lemons in a spray bottle. Then soak any affected areas and repeat the process. Then check every couple of days to see if all the termites have gone.
White vinegar in particular can be used as a bug spray
#Essential Oils
Essential oils have a ton of uses. This also includes helping you rid your home of annoying termites. Specifically neem and orange oil can help get the job done, as long as it’s a minor infestation. Using essential oils isn’t the quickest method, but they do manage to slowly prevent and destroy the termites by stopping them from reproducing and shedding. To make your own essential oil treatment, just mix two cups of water, some drops of dish soap and around 12 drops of said essential oils in a spray bottle. Then spray the infested areas and check on them, like with the vinegar.
Using essential oils isn’t the quickest method, but they do destroy the termites
These were all the tips and tricks we have on how to get rid of termites. We hope you found this article useful! Now you’ll be able to get rid of those pesky termites in no time!
Now you’ll be able to get rid of those pesky termites
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