Efficient Ways To Kill Termites In Furniture

Termites are small, crawling creatures that eat into the very foundation of your home. As ugly and creepy as they look, so is their handiwork. And the worst part is that their presence is not felt until they have managed to create a good amount of damage.

Before moving on to methods of getting rid of termites, it would be helpful to know about the ways to avoid this problem from cropping up. First and foremost, buy your furniture carefully. Do a good research of the wood you are purchasing. Make sure there are no holes or signs of decay. A little bit of carelessness can lead to a great amount of damage. Keep the foundation of your house dry. Termites like to stay in moist surroundings and if you give them that, they will happily thank you and be your guests. Do timely inspection of your woodwork, furniture and house for termites. Even at the slightest doubt, take immediate action. Nip the problem in the bud and save yourself mental and physical strain.

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Get rid of termites using the method that best suits you. But before you start your ‘termite elimination project’, locate the source of the problem – you can follow the muddy trail they leave behind.

Here are some ways to kill termites in furniture:

Sunlight: One of the ways to kill termites in furniture is to give them the sunlight treatment. Termites like to stay in dark and cool places. Sunlight can cause chaos in their life. Not only will they hate the light but also the heat from the sun. Two to three hours of hot sunbathing can kill a good deal of termites. Continue doing so for a couple of days.

Cardboard method: Termites feed on cellulose found in cardboard. This makes the cardboard a perfect trap for the pests. Wet a couple of cardboard sheets and place them near an opening. The moist cardboards attract termites in great numbers. When you find the cardboard infested, carefully take it outdoors and burn it. Place another set of wet cardboards at the same spot and repeat the process. This method can work for large pieces of furniture that you cannot move around easily.

Boric acid: Though it is said that boric acid helps eliminate cockroaches, it is equally effective on termites. This is similar to setting up a trap like the cardboard treatment. You can coat or spray some wood with boric acid and check on it regularly. The chemical affects the very nervous system of the pest and kills it. Do regular checks and apply fresh coats of boric acid regularly.

Orange oil: While essential oils are good for us, they serve as ways to kill termites in furniture. Orange oil contains D-Limonene, which is found to be very effective in getting rid of termites. It can either be brushed over the infested area or you can spray it. The oil will kill the termites.

Beneficial Nematodes: Another effective method of getting rid of termites is by employing beneficial nematodes. These groups of parasitic nematodes feed on pests like termites and prove to be pretty helpful in treating termites.

Moisture free: This can be a preventive measure if done in the initial stages. But once infested, make sure to keep the furniture moisture free. Termites greatly need water for their survival; if the source of water and moisture is cut off, their survival becomes questionable.

The methods mentioned here are very basic in nature and can be performed using household materials. But one thing to be kept in mind is that these ways of killing termites will be greatly effective when the problem is in its initial stage. If you allow them to grow, they will go on multiplying. So take charge and control the problem before it goes out of hand.