6 Ways to Control Termites in Your Home

Got termite problems?

If they’re not yet serious, you may want to hold off on calling the exterminator. Let’s face it – exterminators are expensive, and they may have to be called more than once if an infestation is bad.

On the other hand, termites are destructive and absolutely need to be eradicated. Is there such a thing as do-it-yourself termite control?

Yes, there is! DIY pest control is getting more popular these days as people want to avoid the expense of exterminators, and also as people prefer more natural approaches to getting rid of bugs.

6 Ideas for DIY Termite Control

1. Termite Bait

Putting out termite bait is often the first choice for homeowners who want a fairly straightforward, less messy option. Termite baits are stakes that you stick into the ground, and when you begin to see termite activity in the wooden stakes, you put bait in the wood. Then the termites collect the baited wood and take it back to the termite colony. As the poisoned wood gets shared, the termites die. Use with caution; this involves toxic substances, so make sure your children don’t get to the baits.

2. Liquid Termite Control

Liquids are simply termiticides that are sprayed on to the infested areas. You may have to drill holes to get to all the little bugs involved. The idea is to soak the area around your home and crawl space. To prevent re-infestation, it’s vital that there be no opening whatsoever in the liquid termiticide barrier. If this is a concern, look for termiticides that are undetectable by termites. Again, keep a close eye on your children.

3. Boric Acid

For a more natural approach, boric acid can be effective against termites. You simply apply it as-is to termite holes, or you can get it mixed with propylene glycol. Keep away from children!

4. Orange Oil

Orange oil is a concentrated extract from orange peels, and it is an effective insecticide against various creepy-crawlies, termites included. To treat with orange oil, you need to get the oil into the hollow space where the termites make their home. This means you’ll need to drill holes and inject the orange oil directly into the nest.

5. Nematodes

For a really organic approach, you can invest in beneficial nematodes. The nematodes are sprayed into the yard around your house, and they then kill the termites in the ground.

6. Homemade Trap

While this probably won’t help a bad infestation without some other method, it can help to trap as many termites as possible. Termites feed on the cellulose in wood, and cardboard, being made of cellulose, is like “termite candy.” If you cut squares of cardboard, wet them, and stack them, termites will invade the stack. Check the trap every few days, and when you see termites in it, burn it outdoors in a safe place.

Termites are tough pests to get rid of, but there are all kinds of options for DIY termite control that can help.

Finally, don’t wait until the termites destroy your house to do something about them. If in doubt, do call the exterminator — it’s your home that’s at stake, after all.

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