Termites are one of the biggest issues for homeowners as they can damage the belongings at their house, especially wooden items. One can generally observe their clicking sound, which is usually caused by their heads banging against walls and shaking of their bodies when they are disturbed. These sounds can make you frustrated and compel you to get started with termite treatment at home immediately.
Fortunately, there are a range of treatment options available, but you have to choose which one fits perfectly for your home. When you are puzzled about the right termite treatment to choose to completely get rid of termites, it can be challenging for you to move on the right path. Therefore, to help you with the selection, we have come up with a blog that covers the list of treatments for termites at home. Read on to learn more.
Types of Termites
Subterranean Termites
Termites found in underground habitats will infest the structural wood of your home, along with the soil and compost surrounding your home. The tubes or roads they construct inside your house are made of wood and soil. The saw-toothed jaws of these termites usually damage dry wood more than they do for unseasoned or improperly seasoned wood. They live in large colonies, can eat items of other materials such as newspapers and books and are thus considered to be the most destructive types of termites.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites, unlike subterranean termites, live solely in wood, while subterranean termites require soil in order to survive. A lot of the time, you will only find them in areas where it is warm, such as along the coast, so they do not build mud tubes as a way to get around. Termites in dry wood can be between 1/8 and 1/2 inches long and come in a variety of colours. A dry wood termite’s wings can be yellow-tan to light brown, depending on its shade. It is possible for drywood termites to form colonies of up to 2,500 individuals. A sufficiently long period of time is required for drywood termites to completely destroy a wooden structure. They are not generally attracted to moisture and live in dry wood.
What are the Signs of Termite Infestation?
Termite infestations usually exhibit some telltale signs. Before an infestation worsens, homeowners should take action if they notice any of these signs:
- Termite infestations under the ground can be detected by hollow mud tubes spanning the ground’s distance from structures.
- An infestation of dry wood termites can be identified by faeces near windows and doors.
- In walls and on the top of foundation walls, there may be deteriorated wood
- Paper-covered drywall with gypsum underneath that has blistered
- Stacks of discarded wings
- The most telling signs are mud tubes, frass, and discarded wings, though blistered drywall or crumbling wood may also be due to other reasons.
Home Remedies for Termite Treatment
If you need termite control at home because of a minor infestation or are looking for ways to prevent future infestations, these home remedies are helpful. These can eradicate the infestation completely and ensure that the home and belongings remain pest-free for many years to come.
- Neem Oil for Termites
Utilising neem oil is an ideal remedy to get rid of termites and a variety of other pests which includes ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, and mosquitoes. There is a strong, bitter smell to this natural insecticide. Hence, neem oil plays a prominent role in kicking out termites from wooden structures from within with its natural properties. Simply inject neem oil into wooden structures if you want to treat termites. For permanent removal of the infestation, repeat this process for a few days. There are also no harmful effects on your health when you use neem oil treatment for termites, as it is a natural product.
- Salt for Termites
Is your kitchen infested with termites? What if you used your kitchen ingredients to eliminate termites from your kitchen? Among the many kitchen ingredients you must keep at home, salt is one of the most common ones readily available in your kitchen. Would you be surprised to learn that salt can be used to kill termites and get rid of an infestation of them?
In case you are still unsure whether salt can be an effective method for the treatment of termites, just try this method and you will see the result. On the infestation, you simply need to spray a solution consisting of water and salt. By dehydrating the termites, salt will cause them to die without causing any adverse effects on your health or the health of your family members. You can also use the same method to treat termites in other parts of your house.
- Vinegar for Termites
In most Indian homes, white vinegar can be found in the kitchen. Vinegar can be used to get rid of pests such as termites, ants, lizards, and some other insects in your home naturally and is a good choice if you are short on budget to treat termites.
You can easily treat termite infestations by making a solution where you mix white vinegar, lemon juice, and water together. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a half cup of water, and mix it with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Make sure that this solution is sprayed on and around termite infestations. Termites may not be eradicated permanently by this method. However, when termites infestations are still at their early stages, this solution can work for you.
- Aloe Vera for Termites
Aloe vera is another natural home remedy for termite control. As soon as aloe vera gel is applied to the infested wood, the problem will be resolved by suffocating and killing the insects. Aloe vera gel can also be applied to your furniture to prevent termite infestations on your wooden furniture.
- Kerosene Oil
Liquids such as this are excellent termite killers for home use and a popular conventional method to kill termites. The treatment works well on drywood termites. Infested wood can be treated by spraying kerosene oil from a spray bottle.
If you wish to prevent other wooden structures from being infested by termites, spray the liquid on them. The best way to ensure the wood is treated effectively is to inject kerosene oil.
Conclusion
A house full of termites always brings lots of frustration and causes a lot of damage. These can be avoided by using simple home remedies as explained above.
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