Termites are small insects that are often called ‘silent destroyers’ for their ability to chew through various materials like wood, and paper without any traces. Termites spread really fast, and once they infest your home, they can cause a lot of damage too soon. You will have to further shell out a lot of money to repair the damaged cupboard or the beam. Regular inspection is the greatest method for controlling termites. Keep an eye out for these pests in dark, humid places in your home. In case, you notice termites in a pile of wood, don’t panic, we are here to give you some tips and tricks that can help you effectively control termites from spreading further.
- Mix Vinegar and Lemon: Vinegar is one of the most versatile liquids that you will find in your kitchen cupboard. They help with removing stubborn stains from clothes, counters, showers and are also known to be a natural termite repellent. All you need to do is to fill a spray bottle with a cup of white vinegar, add the juice from three or four lemons, shake well, and your magic portion is ready. Apply this liquid to the places you believe are afflicted with this pest, and you will notice the acidic concentration in this liquid will immediately kill the termites.
- Use Natural Insect Repellent: There are a lot of natural insect repellents available in the market these days that can help you get rid of termites. These small insects are very powerful and can even bring down a whole construction in mere days. Natural insect repellents are chemical-free and contain natural oils and herbal ingredients that can help you safely eliminate termites, with minimal harm to the surface, people, and pets in the house. You can directly spray the insect repellent in the crevices, and gaps in your wall, cupboards, and furniture. Ensure to use it once every 10 days for at least 2 months to see the best results.
- Use Boric Acid: Sodium borate, which is sometimes sold as a borax powder, may both kill termites and clean your clothes. You can use boric acid in two ways, one is to directly sprinkle the powder, or you can dilute it in water and spray it in the problem area. You can also buy a readymade boric acid solution from the general stores and spray it. Like other treatments, you may have to reapply this solution once every few days to ensure that you have covered most of the infected area, and this will also prevent the eggs from hatching.
- Exposure to Sunlight: If it is a single piece of furniture that you suspect has termites infested, then you can also drag out the furniture and leave it in the sun. Termites cannot survive in sun, and you will soon notice these pests would start dying and falling off from the inside of the furniture. For better results, spray one of the above solutions and leave the furniture in the sun for a few days.
- Use Orange Oil and Neem Oil: Orange and neem oils have a component called D-limonene, which is lethal to termites. You can order these oils online, or you can buy them from the market since it is readily available. If you are wondering how orange oil works, then let us tell you that the D-limonene disintegrates the exoskeleton of the termites, which causes the body protein to dry up, ultimately killing the termites. This is a an excellent way to protect your furniture and wooden structures at home. Even if you don’t have termites, regularly coating your wooden furniture and cupboards with orange and neem oil will prevent the termites to enter your home in the first place.
Making ensuring a problem never arises is the best approach to handling it. Look for strategies to prevent termites from ever entering your home rather than trying to discover a technique to get rid of them. You can monitor the problem by making sure to inspect those dark, left-alone places in your house on monthly basis. Get rid of that extra cardboard and newspapers immediately.
