After writing How to get rid of ants?, how to get rid fruit flies?, how to get rid of bed bugs?, and how to get rid of cockroaches?, now we are writing the best ways to kill termites. Everybody wants to have beautiful, neat and clean home. But sometimes due to some pests like termites, can create a serious problem for your home. Termites are colony pests, which can appear in any plant or wood materials. The termites come in five different types, which are Conehead termites, Damp wood termites, Dry wood termites, Formosan termites and Subterranean termites. These termites are naturally equipped to remove away tough cellulose materials. But the most common termites are dry wood termites and subterranean termites, which cause a lot of damage to your home.
They destroy wood as they have special protozoa in their digestive system, which helps to digest wood. Wood is their source of nourishment. The first sign of termite damage are holes in wood and sagging floors, which are noticeable by the people. Termites are the silent killer for many houses throughout the world. There are 40 to 50 species of termites which can be found in unites states alone. You can get beautiful neat and clean house by getting rid of termites. This article will give you affordable methods to kill termites yourself.
Causes of Termites:
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- Wooden structures and wood- Termites get easily attract with the wooden material. The cellulose present in wood helps them to feed on cellulose.
- Moisture- The presence of moisture in soil helps them to create their colonies. Standing water also attracts such type of pests.
- Opening in your home- Cracks or any other opening in your home offer opportunities for termites because of searching moisture.
Signs of Termites:
There are some common signs of termites where they can found.
- They can spoil the interior of your home. The paint of your house will start to bubble.
- The mud like materials such as mud tubes can be found in your home or building.
- You can also find their wings in your house.
Best Methods to Kill Termites Yourself:
1.) Boric Acid to Kill Termites Fast
Boric acid is one of the most effective ways to kill the pests like termites. This boric acid dehydrates them and also shuts down their nervous system. Use boric acid to spray wood or coat wood. Wear gloves and a face mask to work with boric acid. Also, keep your children and pets away from the insecticide because this insecticide is toxic when you inhale.
2.) Cardboard Trap to Get Rid of Termites
Termites like to feed on the cardboard or wood. Thus, cardboard attracts termites and it is one of the best methods to kill termites at home.
- Take flat strips of cardboard, wet them and stack them in an area where termites usually come.
- Termites feed on the cardboard, which is an excellent spot trap.
- When the cardboard is infested with termites, take the cardboard out in a safe area and burn it.
- Repeat it many times if necessary.
3.) Hot and Cold Temperature to Get Rid of Termites
There are various treatments that utilize hot and cold temperature to remove out termites. Termites can not live in -20 degrees F or less and hotter temperatures above 120 degrees F or more will kill termites. To get the colder temperature, use liquid nitrogen to get rid of termites when they come into contact with. Sunlight is also the way to kill any type of termites. You can put your furniture which is infested with termites in the sunlight.
4.) Nematodes to Kill Termites Without Pesticides
Nematodes is a very popular solution for termite damage. They are a small worm that are natural parasites for killing termites. They can search for the hosts and burrow into them. Nematodes will reduce termite populations by targeting termite larvae and helps to keep termites away from further damage to your home.
5.) Insecticides and Foams to Kill Termites Fast
Using insecticides and foams are the most common way to get rid of termites. To use these products, you need to vacate your home for a period of time. The insecticides can come in gases and liquids. The foams are good as it allows the poison to get into the cracks of the wood to kill the termites. Use Termidor SC Termiticide Fipronil Case-(4) 20 oz. which can easily remove termites.
6.) Use Termite Control Products to Get Rid of Termites
Use termite control products which are available at your local hardware store. Termite control products are the way to get rid of harmful pests. You can use liquid termite killing product or termite baiting control methods. Place the bait near infested areas and spray the liquid termite control product on that areas.
7.) Essential Oils to Prevent Termites Infestation
Clove bud oil is particularly used for killing termites. Take a sprayer and pour the oil in it. Spray the oil where you see the termites. Use vetiver oil if you want to prevent their appearance.
8.) Sodium Chloride to Kill Termites
You can use sodium chloride to kill the termites. Soak several cotton balls in sodium chloride and then fill these cotton balls in a plastic cover and place it in all infested areas. This helps to kill the pests and stop their recurring.
9.) Pest Repellent to Treat Termites Infestation
Permethrin is a pesticide which have no risk of toxicity. Add 0.1% of permethrin to paint or wood polish while repainting or building the house that will keep termites away permanently. You can also use permethrin to the cement.
10.) Seal The Cracks to Get Rid of Termites
Seal the doorways, windows and cracks around your home so that no termites infest your property. Use screens on your windows, porch and doors which are necessary to prevent termite infestation.
Other Useful Tips:
- Clean your house daily to prevent termite infestation.
- Fill all the unnecessary openings in your house.
- Don’t use unauthorized products to get rid of termites as they can damage your furniture.
- Don’t store extra wooden items because they create excessive moisture and attracts the termites to attack them.
- Maintain the level of moisture in your house or any other building.
- Keep your food in a safe place before killing them.
- Using water is also the best way to kill termites at home.
- Wear protective clothes such gloves and mask before killing them.
Home Remedies to Kill Termites Fast & Yourself
1.) Kill Termites by Exposing it to Sunlight
If you want to get rid of termites fast and yourself than killing termites with sunlight is one of the best ways to kill termites fast. As these termites are extremely susceptible to the sunlight and die off when you expose it to harsh ultraviolet rays. You need to take out the all the furniture or other termites affected under the sunlight to kill the termites from a piece of furniture another item can be placed outside the sun.
You just have to place the furniture or other effected things that have termites under sunlight. Try to keep this furniture in the sun for 3 to 5 Days.
2.) Wet Cardboard Trap to Ward off Termites
Another method to kill the termites is wet cardboard trap. It is one of the non-toxic methods that surely kill the many termites. As the cardboard is made of cellulose that termites likes to feed on. The woody smell of the cardboard is proven to be irresistible for the termites.
You just need to wet down some corrugated cardboard box as woody smell of the wet cardboard which is proven to be irresistible to these pets. Put the box where you see the termite’s infestation. After some time you will see that the termites colonizing and feeding in the box, remove it and burn the box.
3.) Orange Oil to Prevent Termites
As the orange oil contains d-limonene which is one of the active compound that helps in killing the termites once they come in the contact. This method is very amazing and helpful that helps in killing the drywood colonies that have infested limited areas.
You just need to take some orange oil on the surface where you can see the colonies of drywood termites. Keep repeating this process for many days until you get rid of termites.
Alternatively, you can also make small holes with the drill machine to inject the oils in the holes. You need to re-inject the oil over the many days, depending upon the severity of the infestation.
4.) Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best methods to kill the termites as it is one of the best way to solve a variety of the pest problems which include a termites infestation. It will also help in get rid of subterranean as well as drywood termites from infesting your home. Diatomaceous earth helps to scrape away the termite’s outer shell, causing them dry out and die.
You just need to sprinkle the thin layer of diatomaceous earth on infested areas. Keep repeating this method once a day until all the termites are gone. Once in a while you should also sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on the garden area as well as foundation of the house where you find the risk of infestation. But make sure, you also wear the mask while handling the diatomaceous earth.
5.) Neem Oil to Kill Termites
Neem oil is one of the best home remedies that help in killing the termites fast and Yourself. The process takes time but it is one of the safe and non-toxic method to kill the termites. It works as insect growth regulator and preventing them from molting, which kill the termites. Neem oil also make the termites to stop eating and laying eggs. But this process only work when the termites come under the contact of neem oil.
You just need to put neem oil on the cotton ball and keep apply it properly on the infected furniture and other areas. You will see the termites will ingest the oil and get die. Repeat this process many times until the termites are eliminated.
6.) White Vinegar to Prevent Termites
Vinegar is one of the best methods which are being used in many home remedies. Along with the countless uses, vinegar can help in killing the termites. It is one of the safe methods to kill termites fast.
You just need to mix the white vinegar with the juice of two squeezed lemons. And then pour the solution into the spray bottle to spray the mixture easily. You just have to spray the mixture on any area where you can see termites. Repeat this method twice a day daily for a few days.
7.) Soapy Water to Destroy Termites
Soapy water is one of the amazing home remedies that help to kill the termites without burning holes in your pocket. It creates an impermeable seal on the termite’s outer shells. It also demolished their respiratory system and ultimately they die.
You just have to take dish soap liquid to begin the process. Just mix the dish soap liquid on 4 cups of water. Put the solution into the spray bottle and spray the solution on the affected area of the wood and other areas as well.
Keep repeating this process until you get satisfy.
8.) Salt to Ward Off Termites
Salt is one of the best methods to kill the termites fast. To kill these tiny creatures you can use salt from your kitchen. It keeps the termites at bay and thus, also prevents future infestation.
You just need to mix the equal part of the salt and warm water into the bowl. And stir it until it gets dissolved. You just need to fill the solution into the syringe and then inject into the termites entry point. Repeat this method daily until you get rid of termites.
9.) Cayenne Pepper to Kill Termites
For small and localized areas infested with termites, you can also try cayenne pepper as it helps to kill the pest. It is one of the best remedies that can kill the termites and also prevent the future infestation. You just need to sprinkle the cayenne pepper powder into the small infested areas. Keep repeating this process until you find the termites are died. You can also make the paste of cayenne pepper which also helpful in killing the termites. You just have to make the paste of cayenne pepper and mix with light vegetable oil then apply it on the vertical spots once a day for a few days.