Termites will devastate any building that they infest. Once inside wood, they do not take long to chew through it and use it to grow their numbers. One of the ways to deal with this issue before it causes too much damage is to have regular termite inspections and detect an infestation before it gets out of hand. However, if you happen to catch signs of an infestation on your own, there are several natural methods that you can use to either slow down or completely halt the spread of termites in your home.
Borates
Borax powder, or sodium borate, is very effective at killing termites and washing laundry. The powder can be sprinkled on infested areas, or it can be mixed with water, put into a spray bottle, and sprayed. Since termites are either inside wood or underground, you cannot really apply borax powder in any way that significantly affects the colony, but it can be used to deter and kill swarmers during termite season. In this way, you can prevent an infestation from taking root. Make sure that you apply the borax near windows, doors and other entry points into the home.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another great substance that can be used against termites that has many household uses. From adding it to food, to cleaning your kitchen counter and shower, vinegar is great to have. In order to use it against termites, all you have to do is mix half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two squeezed lemons. You can then put it in a spray bottle and use it in a similar way to borax powder. Spray any areas where you think that swarmers may land, or any entry points that they may use to gain access to the home.
Wet cardboard
You can set up your own baiting stations, by using wet cardboard. Termites feed on cellulose and there’s plenty of it inside cardboard. If you add a pesticide, or one of the substances mentioned above, you can create a trap for termites that will kill them instantly. Alternatively, if you lace the cardboard with a slower-acting insecticide, the termites will gather it and spread it throughout the colony, potentially reaching the queen and destroying the entire nest.
Removing termites with the help of a pro
Termites are very hard to deal with because they are subterranean and spend most of their time either inside the ground or inside the wood. To effectively control an infestation, you will need the help of a pro. Contact us today if you have a termite infestation.