How Do You Get Rid of Termites? – This Old House

How Do You Get Rid Of Termites?

Some of the best ways to get rid of termites is to apply termite-killing products to your home’s exterior, use direct chemicals on the inside of your home, set up termite baits, and spray boric acid in your floors and walls.

If you’re committed to taking on a termite infestation yourself, there are many methods you can practice, from traditional chemical killers to organic options.

Getting Rid of Subterranean Termites

• Termiticide Barriers: Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to purchase some professional-level termite-killing products like liquid Taurus SC and Termidor SC. You apply these conventional termite treatments to your home’s exterior perimeter to create a barrier. Termites are unable to detect the termiticide, so they don’t try to avoid it. When a termite eats materials treated with termiticide, it will die. Termiticide also works by spreading like a virus. When one termite comes into contact with the termiticide, it will unknowingly carry it around, infecting other termites and ultimately killing the colony.
• Direct Chemicals: Direct chemicals, unlike termiticides, can actually be used inside of your home itself. If you spot a termite and want to dispatch it immediately, this is the technique for you. Shoot Termidor Foam directly into cracks, voids, and crevices that make for great termite hiding places. The odorless foam will expand, then evaporate, leaving behind a residue that poisons termites as soon as they touch it. This method lasts for a month or slightly longer.
• Termite Baits: Termite baits are a proven method. These baits, installed around the perimeter of your home’s foundation, attract foraging termites to the poison within. The slow-acting toxin interrupts termites’ natural growth, killing them as they try to molt. Because of the toxin’s delayed action, the infected termites will bring the insecticide back to the colony and transmit it to other termites.
• Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic, segmented roundworms are natural parasites to many garden pests—including termites. Beneficial nematodes burrow into their host and release a symbiotic gut bacteria that poisons the termite’s blood, killing them within a matter of days. You can find beneficial nematodes online or in stores. Apply a mixture of nematodes, potting soil, and cold water to the infested areas of your lawn and garden.

Getting Rid of Drywood Termites

• Spot Treatmeant: If you’re dealing with painted or finished wood, you can drill and fill holes to combat drywood termites. First, you need to drill holes about every 10 inches into the termite-infested wood. You will feel resistance once you hit the nest. Then, fill the holes with termiticide. To finish up, use a putty or wood patch to close up the holes.
• Essential Oils: Orange oil and neem oil can kill termites slowly over time by inhibiting their ability to shed their skin or lay eggs. Just mix two cups of water with a couple drops of dish soap and about 10 drops of your chosen oil. Shake it up and spray it on infested wood and materials.

Getting Rid of Subterranean and Drywood Termites

• Boric Acid: Boric acid is a tried-and-true method for killing termites. Many of the termite insecticides you can find at the store use the highly effective boric acid as the main ingredient. Boric acid works by dehydrating the termite and shutting down its nervous system. Simply spray cracks and crevices in floors, walls, and ceilings evenly with the acid.
• Diatomaceous earth: This method kills termites by penetrating their exoskeleton and dehydrating them. Diatomaceous earth is made up of fossilized aquatic organisms whose exoskeletons are made up of silica. Just sprinkle the powder around areas where you suspect termites, and wait for them to crawl over it.
• Cardboard trap: Once you’ve identified the source of your termite infestation, wet two pieces of cardboard and stack them on top of each other to make a kind of DIY bait. The cellulose in the cardboard will attract the termites, and the pests will get caught between the two pieces. Then, you can take the cardboard outside and burn it. This is not a very effective method, since there’s no guarantee it will trap all of the termites, which can reproduce very quickly. Also, maintenance is key—if too many dead termite bodies stack up, that will deter future termites from crawling to the cardboard.