Termites are insects that eat away our houses and furniture; sometimes, we can’t help but look for ways to alleviate or eliminate their effects. We may wonder about the different things that can only be found in our kitchen and how we can use these against termites,
This article will discuss the different anti-termite homemade remedies we can produce and use out of things we usually use at home. While these remedies don’t guarantee promising results, you might as well try them, right?
Boric Acid
Boric acid is often used in homemade termite treatments because it kills and scares away termites. It works by messing with the digestive system of the termites, which kills them in the end.
Boric acid can be used to make a homemade treatment for termites by mixing it with other ingredients to make a potent mixture. One popular way to attract termites is to combine the boric acid powder with something sweet, like powdered sugar or corn syrup.
The termites eat the mixture with boric acid because the bait is sweet. When they eat the boric acid, it affects their digestive system and eventually kills them.
It’s important to remember that ingesting boric acid can be dangerous for people and animals, so use this method carefully. People must use boric acid bait correctly and put it in areas where termites are active to ensure optimal effectiveness.
White Vinegar Solution
White vinegar is another common household item that homeowners can use to make their treatment for termites. Even though white vinegar may not kill termites directly, it is known to keep them away.
Termites don’t like strong smells, so the smell of white vinegar makes them less likely to live in treated areas. You must mix white vinegar with water in a spray bottle to create a solution that will kill termites.
One part vinegar to one part water is the recommended ratio, but some recipes may call for more vinegar. Once the mixture is ready, spray it on surfaces where termites are known or where you think they might be.
Regularly using the white vinegar solution on your home or other wooden structures can help keep termites away. But this method might only partially eliminate termites, especially if they are in many places. It’s best to talk to a professional termite exterminator in this situation.
Salt and Water Spray
Homeowners can also use a simple spray made of salt and water to eliminate termites. It is easy to make at home. Salt kills termites by making them lose hydration, which causes them to die.
To make a spray made of salt and water, mix a lot of salt into warm water until you have a saturated solution. Once the mixture is ready, put it in a spray bottle so it is easy to use.
Then, you can spray the mixture directly on areas with termites or are likely to get them. The salt solution will get through the termites’ outer shells, drying out their bodies and killing them.
Regularly spraying salt and water on your home or other wooden structures can help keep termites away. But it’s important to know that this method might work better for severe termite infestations.
Orange Oil
Orange oil is another natural way to eliminate termites you can do yourself. It comes from the peels of oranges and has a chemical called d-limonene that termites can’t stand.
Orange oil has a strong smell that keeps termites away and can mess up their pheromone trails, making it hard for them to communicate and find their way. To make an orange oil solution, you can buy it from a store or get it by letting orange peels soak in a solvent like alcohol.
Once you have the orange oil, put it in a spray bottle and mix it with water. One part orange oil to ten parts water is what you should do.
Shake the mixture well before applying it to areas that have termites or could get them. The pungent smell of the orange oil will scare away termites and help keep them away.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is a natural treatment that people can utilize to keep termites away. It has a chemical called eugenol in it, which is known for killing insects.
Eugenol is a neurotoxin that hurts termites by messing up their nervous systems, ultimately killing them. To use clove oil as a homemade termite treatment, you will need to mix it with carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil.
Most of the time, ten parts carrier oil to one part clove oil is recommended. Once the mixture is ready, you can put it directly on areas where termites are known or where you think they might be.
Clove oil’s strong smell also keeps termites from coming into areas that have been treated.
Neem Oil
Neem oil comes from the tree’s seeds and has been used for a long time as a natural pesticide. It has chemicals, like azadirachtin, that kill insects and can stop termites from growing and getting bigger.
Neem oil not only kills termites, but it also keeps them from coming back to areas that have been treated with it. To make a termite-controlling neem oil solution, mix neem oil with water and a mild detergent to make the oil emulsify.
Most of the time, one part neem oil to ten parts water and a few drops of detergent are suggested. Once the solution is ready, put it in a spray bottle to treat areas where termites live or are likely to live.
The neem oil solution will coat the termites, making it hard for them to eat and reproduce. When used regularly, neem oil can help control the number of termites.
Garlic Oil
Garlic oil is a natural substance used to make treatments at home to eliminate termites. Garlic has chemicals in it, like allicin, that kill insects and can be used to both keep termites away and kill them.
To use garlic oil as a homemade termite treatment, you must squeeze the oil out of fresh garlic cloves. Crush a few garlic cloves and put them in a jar.
Mineral oil or olive oil should be used to cover the crushed garlic. The garlic should be completely submerged.
Close the jar and let it sit for a few days to allow the garlic’s active compounds to get into the oil. When the time is up, strain the oil to remove the garlic solids.
What’s left is garlic oil. The resulting oil can be mixed with water and put on areas where termites are known or suspected.
The pungent smell of garlic keeps termites away from areas that have been treated.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is another common household item that can be used as a home remedy to eliminate termites. Capsaicin, found in cayenne pepper, has strong properties that keep insects away.
Cayenne pepper keeps termites away because of its strong smell and spicy taste. To make a treatment with cayenne pepper, mix cayenne pepper powder with water to make a paste or a solution.
The paste can then be put directly on areas that have termites or are likely to get them. You could also make a spray by mixing cayenne pepper with water and putting it in a spray bottle.
Spraying the cayenne pepper solution in and around areas where termites live, and work can help keep them away and stop infestations.
Sun Exposure
A natural and inexpensive way to eliminate termites at home is to let them get some sun. Termites don’t like the sun and need darkness and water to live.
Termites can be killed, and their growth can be stopped by putting infested objects or areas in direct sunlight. Find things like wooden furniture, logs, or cardboard boxes with termites.
Put these things outside in direct sunlight, ensuring every surface is exposed to the sun’s rays. The sun’s heat and dryness will kill and dehydrate the termites, ending the infestation.
It’s important to remember that this method works best for more minor termite infestations or termite activity in a small area.
Insecticidal Soap
Homemade termite treatments can be made with insecticide soap, which is easy to find and doesn’t hurt the environment. It is made with natural ingredients like fatty acids from plants, and it can work to keep termites away.
Insecticidal soap kills termites by making them suffocate, which messes up their breathing system and kills them. To use soap that kills insects, dilute the solution as the manufacturer directs.
Put the diluted solution into a spray bottle and spray it directly on termite-infested or termite-prone areas. Coat the surfaces well, ensuring the termites come into contact with the soap solution.
Repeat the treatment as needed, especially if the problem keeps coming back. People and pets can use insecticidal soap, but reading and following the directions and taking any other necessary precautions is essential.
Wet Cardboard Trap
A simple and effective way to eliminate termites at home is to use a wet cardboard trap. This can help find and get rid of termite colonies.
Termites are drawn to things made of cellulose, like cardboard, because it is a food source for them. By setting up a trap with wet cardboard, you can get termites out of their hiding places and into one place where they are easier to eliminate.
To make a damp cardboard trap, soak a few pieces of cardboard in water and stack them in a place where you think there are termites. Place the trap near where you have seen termites come in or where you have seen swarms or mud tubes.
Termites will be attracted to the wet cardboard because it could be a food source and a place to live. Once the termites have gotten into the trap, carefully remove it and burn or throw away the cardboard so the termites can’t get out.
It’s important to remember that a wet cardboard trap may not be enough to eliminate a termite problem on its own, but it can be used to find and keep an eye on them.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera, a well-known medicinal plant, can also be used as a homemade anti-termite treatment. Aloe vera contains natural compounds that are toxic to termites and can disrupt their bodily functions.
Extract the gel from a fresh aloe vera leaf, then apply the gel directly to termite-infested areas or areas prone to termite activity.
The gel can also be mixed with water to create a spray solution, which can be sprayed onto termite-infested surfaces or areas. The toxic compounds in aloe vera act as a deterrent and can help repose termites.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly, also called Vaseline, can be used as a homemade termite treatment to create a barrier that keeps termites out of certain areas. Petroleum jelly is an excellent way to keep termites away because they can’t get into or eat them.
To use petroleum jelly to get rid of termites, find places where they could get in, like cracks, crevices, or points of entry around wooden structures. Use a lot of petroleum jelly to make a thick barrier over these areas.
The petroleum jelly creates a physical barrier that stops termites from entering or leaving areas that have been treated. Petroleum jelly may need to be checked and often reapplied to keep working well since it can lose effectiveness over time due to weather or physical movement.
Liquid Soap and Water Mixture
Mixing liquid soap and water lets you make a simple and effective termite treatment at home. This mixture kills termites by causing them to suffocate, messing up their cell membranes.
Pour a few tablespoons of mild, biodegradable liquid soap and a few tablespoons of water into a spray bottle. This will make a solution of liquid soap and water.
Shake the bottle gently to make sure the ingredients mix well. Once the solution is ready, spray it directly on areas that have termites or are likely to get them.
The soap solution will cover the termites, blocking their breathing holes and making it hard for them to breathe. Regularly using the liquid soap and water mixture can help reduce the number of termites.
Also, it’s essential to be careful when using soap solutions on certain surfaces because they can stain or damage them. Before putting the solution everywhere, you should first try it out in a small, unnoticeable area.
Overall. These homemade remedies or anti-termite treatments are suitable for fighting termites at home. However, homeowners must not always depend on these and ask for professional help whenever termite infestations worsen.
With our proper knowledge and resources, we can fight termites in our own creative yet effective ways.
