Have you ever noticed little chunks of wood dust under your sofa? This is an indication of termite infestation. It is extremely difficult to get rid of termites once they penetrate your home and begin feasting on the structure of your house or your valuable furniture, especially given their tiny size. This blog is a guide to the ways in which you can eliminate termites in your home.
Termites are difficult to deal with mostly because they are usually not discovered until after they have caused significant damage and established sizable colonies. These colonies contain thousands of termites, making it extremely challenging to eradicate them without expert assistance. If termites have been found in your home, you need to start taking some preventative action right away. This is where home remedies for termite control become useful.
Signs of termite infestation in your home
Termite infestation typically goes undetected until significant damage has been done. They are extremely difficult to locate until it is too late because they reside in a dark, moist, and interior environment.
It might be difficult to spot a termite infestation since termites eat their way through wood from the inside, but there are some telltale symptoms that point to their presence. When you notice these signs, it is time for termite control home remedies.
The first sign of a termite infestation may be small flying insects known as termite Swarmers hovering near your windows and leaving behind their discarded wings. But to actually determine whether they have entered your property, you have to look for early damage. Here are some signs that will indicate termite infestation in your property:
1. Mud tubes on the wall
The clearest indication of a termite infestation, mud tubes typically extend from the ground along the wall and are roughly the size of a coin. Subterranean termites construct cover tubes from mud, dirt, and other material to covertly get to and from the food source. Additionally, mud tubes are a sign that their nest is nearby.
2. Signs of wood damage
Termites typically leave behind a thin veneer of wood or paint after consuming wood from the inside out. Therefore, a termite-damaged region will sound hollow or papery when you knock or tap on it because some (or all) of the wood has been eaten away.
3. Termite swarmers (flying termites) and discarded wings
One of the initial indications of a termite infestation is, typically, swarmers. Termites with wings that swarm out of nests in huge groups are called swarmers. So, any symptom of a swarm signals the presence of an existing colony or the formation of new colonies.
The remains of discarded wings on windowsills and floors are another typical sign. The similar and disembodied wings are unmistakable indicators of an indoor termite swarm, even if they can rapidly vanish after they’ve chosen their mate.
How termites get into your home
In order to prevent an infestation, it is essential to comprehend how termites enter homes and why they do so. Moisture is one of the main elements that tempt termites and other pests into your home. For survival, termites require food (cellulose from sources like wood), moisture, and heat.
Typical building flaws around houses, such as sloping ground that allows for the formation of puddles near the foundation and air conditioners that produce runoff moisture, can provide termite colonies with an adequate supply of moisture.
How to get rid of termites permanently
If you believe there are termites in your home, it’s critical that you take quick action. Some of the best ways to get rid of termites are termite control home remedies, which include applying termite-killing substances to the outside of your home, employing direct chemicals inside, placing termite baits, and sprinkling boric acid on your floors and walls.
If you’re determined to treat a termite infestation on your own, you have a number of options, ranging from standard chemical killers to natural alternatives. The methods of eliminating various types of termites in the different areas of your home are discussed in detail below.
How to get rid of termites in wood
Getting expert assistance is a smart move. However, if the infestation is not too bad, you can use this do-it-yourself termite treatment advice to get rid of termites in wooden furniture.
1. Sunlight exposure prevents wood termites
Expose your furnishings to sunlight on a regular basis. Exposing termites to sunlight is one of the greatest natural ways to get rid of them. Termites dislike sunshine and prefer moist, dark environments.
Termites succumb to heat and perish quickly. Additionally, by removing the moisture from the furniture, termites can be permanently eradicated. This is a simple termite control home remedy.
2. Create a cardboard trap for DIY termite treatment at home
Boxes made of cardboard work well as termite traps. Termites are attracted to the woody aroma of cardboard, which is formed from the cellulose they love. Place it close to the afflicted area for termite control and moisten it to make the smell stronger. Within a few hours, the termites will be drawn to the open cardboard box. Then, throw it away or burn it to get rid of the termites.
3. Spray boric acid to permanently remove termites
To get rid of termites at home, prepare a solution of borax powder and water, and spray it on the damaged regions. It is a non-toxic procedure that guarantees the elimination of termites in cabinets and wooden furniture after a few applications. For enhanced anti-termite treatment outcomes, you can also combine this technique with the cardboard trap.
4. Maintain a safe distance between soil and wood
Termites can damage the foundation of your property by constructing colonies beneath it. Building your home away from your lawn or garden is the greatest method to prevent this. Experts advise that the distance between your house and garden be at least 18 inches.
How to get rid of termites in furniture
The termite treatment techniques mentioned above for removing termites from wood generally can also be used for furniture. Additional suggestions are provided below to help you with your termite treatment-at-home problem.
- To protect wooden furniture from damage, occasionally treat it with aloe vera gel.
- Make sure that no moisture of any kind touches your furniture.
- Get rid of any unnecessary wooden items from your house because they serve as pests’ breeding grounds.
- If you reside in or close to a coastal city, you must frequently have professional chemical treatments performed.
How to get rid of termites in walls
Termites can be permanently eliminated with the use of several home remedies. Vinegar can be used as a remedy to eliminate termites in walls.
1. Prepare your vinegar solution
Once you have discovered and detected the termite nest, you must make your vinegar solution. Vinegar can be used in a variety of ways to kill termites. It can be used in:
- Its purest form
- Dissolved in water in a 1:1 ratio.
- With lemon juice added in a 1:2 ratio.
- In a 1:4 mixture with olive oil
Vinegar diluted in water or mixed with lemon juice is one of the most efficient termite killers. There are many other options as well to suit your preference. Spray the prepared solution all over the house in any potential termite hiding places. The termites might not appear to be harmed at first. Continue spraying until all of the wood has been soaked in the solution. The termites will eventually perish, leaving you with a termite-free house.
2. Repeat the process
Prior to starting over, give the wall some time to dry. After two to three days, repeat the spraying. The termites will be totally eliminated in three days to a few weeks after the second spraying.
How to get rid of flying termites
Although flying termites don’t cause damage, their presence may indicate the need to treat your home for termite infestation. A guide on home remedies for termite control using natural solutions and other techniques is provided below.
1. Bugg zappers
Like other insects, termites adore light. Bug zapper lights will draw them in and electrocute them. This method obviously only works if the flying termites are outside the house, but expert exterminators advise using it.
2. Orange spray
Professionals strongly advise using orange oil because it is such an effective termite repellent. The fact that this spray contains a component that will kill termites too explains why it works so well. This substance is responsible for the citrus fruits’ distinctive aromas, such as oranges.
3. Cedar mulch
Cedar mulch can be an effective method of naturally getting rid of termites when used properly. Cedar mulch is a mixture of plant and wood waste, and subterranean termites abhor its colours and resins. Cedar mulch can be used in place of organic soil around your home.
How to get rid of termites in the soil
There are several natural methods that you can try to get rid of termites from your soil. The following is list of termite control techniques:
1. Cayenne pepper
Use cayenne pepper spray or powder to get rid of termites. The active component of cayenne peppers, capsaicin, kills termites by damaging their nervous system.
To treat termites, either sprinkle the powder directly on them or prepare a spray by combining water, vegetable oil, and pepper powder. To completely eradicate termites from the soil, it is best to use this spray every week.
2. White vinegar
A white vinegar and lemon juice mixture is also effective to get rid of the termites in the soil. One cup of vinegar should be mixed with the juice of two lemons. Spray this mixture in the soil every day until the termites are eliminated.
3. Insecticidal soap
Insecticidal soap can kill termites by coating them and interfering with their respiratory system. You can reapply the solution every few days by mixing soap and water in a spray bottle until all termites have been eradicated.
How to get rid of termites in plants
Using termite bait
Baiting is an advisable treatment to get rid of termites in plants. It works without damaging plants because it doesn’t use much of chemicals.
How to use bait:
- Utilize prebaiting to entice termites. Place untreated wood or inspection cartridge stations on the ground for the termites to find.
- Keep an eye on how often termites feed at your stations.
- A number of them should frequently be eating in your wood monitors, so make sure of that.
- Replace the monitor wood with the active poisonous bait instead (a toxic substance that sticks to the termites and spreads to others to kill them).
- Without harming plants, these poisons can wipe out colonies of termites.