Termites are really no joking matter. Like many other kinds of pests, they can bring a lot of trouble to your household and you are always at risk of a proper infestation. The worst part, though, is definitely how incredibly destructive they are. Even though there are several kinds of termites, all of them have one major thing on common: they consume cellulose, which you typically find in plants and wood. This makes them highly destructive, so it’s mandatory to find ways to immediately remove them from your home. It’s crucial to get professional help to deal with this issue thoroughly, but while you’re waiting for the intervention, you can use the following home remedies for termites to keep them away for a while.
Below, you will find a comprehensive guide consisting of some of the best home remedies for termites. Some are excellent preventive methods while others deal with an already-installed invasion. Furthermore, you will find solutions that either kill the termites or simply keep them at bay. Needless to say, there are plenty of possibilities, so check out our recommendations!
1. Wet Cardboard
You can set up a quick and efficient trap using nothing but a plain cardboard box. The scent of wet cardboard is actually incredibly attractive to termites, who will drop their attack on any wooden object in vicinity to feast on this apparently delicious item.
Instructions:
- First of all, locate the areas where you’ve noticed the most increased termite activity.
- Acquire some beat-down cardboard boxes and then spray them with some water to get them sufficiently damp.
- Place the boxes around the respective areas and wait.
- After a while, termites will begin colonizing these boxes to feast on the cardboard.
- When that happens, remove the boxes and set them on fire. Be careful with that fire, though!
2. Neem Oil
Neem oil doesn’t really act immediately since it’s one of the home remedies for termites that require the pests to come in direct contact with it for it to work. But this makes it a great long-term solution in case your house is prone to this kind of infestation. Neem oil will prevent termites from molting, which eventually results in their death. Furthermore, it can also inhibit their appetite to stop them from chomping on your wooden objects and even keep them from laying eggs.
Instructions:
- Soak a cotton ball in neem oil and then apply generously to all surfaces and wooden objects that you’ve noticed have attracted termite activity.
- Wait for the termites to flock to the respective objects and for them to consume it. This will eventually lead to their deaths.
- Regularly replace the layer of oil until termites stop appearing altogether.
3. Orange Oil
Here we have another type of oil that’s bound to really show termites who’s the boss. Compared to neem oil, orange oil actually takes pretty immediate action and it’s most effective against drywood termites. Orange oil contains a substance called d-limonene, which is highly toxic to termites. So, if you’ve happened to identify your invaders as being of the drywood kind, you should definitely procure some orange oil as soon as possible to deal with this issue.
Instructions:
- Soak a cotton pad or ball in orange oil and then apply generous layers to the surfaces and objects that have been invaded by these pesky pests.
- If the problem is persistent and serious, you could also drill small holes in the sides of tables and other similar objects and inject orange oil.
- Replace the oil coating once every 3-4 days.
4. Boric Acid
Boric acid acts as an effective insecticide that damages the nervous system of the termites, killing them pretty much instantly. It’s an incredibly efficient method of dealing with these annoying invaders. However, boric acid fumes can be toxic to humans as well, so we advise wearing gloves and masks when you’re attempting the remedy below.
Instructions:
- Acquire some boric acid or products which contain borate and other deriving elements of boric acid.
- Mix 1 part boric acid powder with 2 parts water to create a solution.
- Apply it to the affected surfaces using either a paint brush or a spray bottle.
5. Aloe Vera
For some reason, termites just really don’t like aloe vera. When they come in contact with it, especially the aloe vera gel, they drop dead basically on the spot. As a result, aloe vera makes one of the most efficient home remedies for termites that can help you quickly solve this issue.
Instructions:
- Acquire a whole aloe vera plant and then crush it as much as you can.
- Store it in a jar and then cover with water.
- Let everything infuse for 4-5 hours and then transfer to a spray mist bottle.
- Lastly, spray the aloe vera water directly to the surfaces where you’ve noticed the termite activity.
6. White Vinegar
White vinegar is a slow and a bit of an unstable method. It can repel most termites and, if they are exposed to the substance for several days, they will eventually die. Despite that, white vinegar makes an excellent temporary remedy while you’re waiting for professional help. After all, most households have some white vinegar in it.
Instructions:
- Simply apply some coatings of white vinegar to the surfaces that termites have been flocking to.
- To try something more effective, combine 1/2 cup of white vinegar with the juice of 2 lemons. Add the solution to a spray bottle and apply to the affected surfaces.
7. Soap
A little bit of soap and water can go a long way. It seems that soap creates a nasty layer around the outer shells of the termites. This particular layer then eventually destroys their respiratory systems and the termites die. It’s definitely one of the most effective and accessible home remedies for termites, an excellent solution to this unpleasant problem.
Instructions:
- Create a simple solution by mixing 4 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of dish soap.
- Transfer this mixture to a spray bottle.
- Finally, spray this blend to all wooden surfaces and objects to repel termites that might be tempted to feast on them.
- Do this daily or once every 2-3 days depending on how bad the infestation is.
8. Cayenne Pepper
Maybe it’s the capsaicin in cayenne pepper or maybe it’s just the taste of it, but a little bit of cayenne pepper is very efficient in making termites want to turn around when they come in contact with it. This is a remedy that’s more efficient for small-scale infections and for specific surfaces.
Instructions:
- You can freely sprinkle some cayenne pepper powder over the small areas that are prone to the attacks of termites.
- Alternatively, you can keep them from climbing to higher ground by creating a paste with cayenne pepper powder and a bit of vegetable oil. Spread it on vertical surfaces.
9. Salt
Salt is another efficient remedy to deal with termites. It’s excellent for keeping these pests away due to its strong scent and taste, so termites absolutely loathe it. We recommend using this solution if you have localized the access points of the insects in order to keep them from entering your home or going too deep into the wooden objects.
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix equal parts of water with salt, mixing thoroughly until the salt dissolves completely.
- Fill a syringe with this salt water blend and then inject it into the entry points of the termites.
- For it to be even more effective, pour a bit of this blend around the entry points as well.
- Regularly inject new doses of salt water (once every 2-3 days).
10. Extreme Temperatures
Sometimes, the bad has already happened and termites are already basically colonizing a particular piece of furniture or object. If all you want is to make them run away until professional help arrives to remove them from your home altogether, try this method. Since termites thrive in warm and humid environments, exposing them to extreme conditions is going to make them flee in terror. As it seems, nature does provide some of the best home remedies for termites.
Instructions:
- For the heat method, if you’re lucky enough to currently benefit from summer weather, all you need to do is to take the object outside and place it in direct sunlight. Exposure to the hot sunlight will make them run away almost instantly.
- Alternatively, you can put a jet of ice cold water over the termites to make them leave your beloved wooden object alone.
11. Microwaves
In case your current issue is with a small object (of 2 feet at most), you can give these termites a lot of hell by exposing them to the harmful microwaves. Furthermore, simply treating a non-infected piece of wood with this method is enough to keep termites from flocking to it for the next few days.
Instructions:
- Acquire or locate a portable microwave device that can help you.
- Place the wooden object inside and treat it for 10-20 minutes in order to get rid of the problem or to prevent it altogether.
- You may also place the object in direct sunlight in order to amplify the effects of the microwaves.
12. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is one of the most popular home remedies for termites. These pests really hate the substances found in petroleum jelly, so they are bound to flee whenever they come in contact with it. This method is useful both to prevent an invasion on a particular object and to make a colony of termites flee certain surfaces.
Instructions:
- Coat a wooden object in a thick layer of petroleum jelly and then move it outside in sunlight in order to make the termites flee.
- To prevent them from infesting the object to begin with, apply petroleum jelly to furniture and other wooden surfaces. After a couple of days, use a soft cloth to polish them.
Conclusion
Termites are more than just a casual nuisance. Not only are they extremely creepy and tend to ‘travel’ in large groups (thus, becoming even more terrifying) but they are also incredibly destructive. We’ll emphasize again that it’s incredibly important to get professional help for this particular issue. But our home remedies for termites are reliable if you need a quick evacuation method and something to keep the termites form emerging again after said evacuation. Give these solutions a try and good luck at protecting your home from these invaders.
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