Natural Ways to Get Rid of Termites & Prevent Infestations

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Plus, learn the signs of a termite infestation
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Termites eat through wood, and when left untreated, can cause lots of structural issues in homes and buildings. While it’s best to hire professional pest control services, there are several natural remedies that can keep infestations at bay until you can get professional treatment. In this article, we’ll explain how to kill termites naturally , as well as other infestation treatments. Plus, we interviewed pest control specialists Joshua Bloom and Hussam Bin Break to teach you how to recognize and prevent future infestations .

How to Get Rid of Termites Naturally

Kill termites naturally by spraying wooden surfaces with water and vinegar, orange or neem oil, or soapy water. Sprinkle boric acid or salt in cracks and crevices, or release nematodes in the garden to attack termites at the source. Set furniture out in the sun or in a freezer to kill any termites inside.

Section 1 of 6:

How to Kill Termites Naturally

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  1. 1
    Spray wooden areas with vinegar and water. In a spray bottle, mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray the mixture on your wooden furniture, surfaces, and the perimeter of your house. Termites don’t like the smell of vinegar, so they’ll try to avoid it. Reapply the mixture every day to keep termites out. [1]
    • Alternatively, mix 2 tablespoons (29.5 ml) of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of lemon juice and half a cup of water.
  2. Orange oil kills termites when they come into contact with it, while neem oil kills termites after they ingest it. Pick up a bottle of your preferred oil, and dilute it with water according to the instructions on the back. Spray the oil on wooden furniture or around your home to kill termites within a few days. [2]
    • For best results, keep spraying the oil in the same spot multiple times a day.
    • Neem oil is safe to use around children and adults. However, it is slightly toxic to birds and fish. [3]
    • Orange oil is generally safe, but it may cause slight skin irritation if you come into direct contact with it.
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  3. 3
    Mix clove oil and water to kill termites. Clove oil is another natural oil used to get rid of termites. Clove oil’s strong smell can interfere with termites’ navigation, and one of its components, eugenol, is toxic to them. Mix 3 drops of clove oil with about half a cup (118 ml) of water in a spray bottle, and spray it on any affected areas. [4]
  4. Grab normal table salt or sea salt and sprinkle it onto furniture or in small cracks in your home. Termites don’t like salt, so they’ll avoid it as much as possible. If they venture into the salt, they’ll die within a few hours. Alternatively, mix salt with warm water and inject it into your wooden furniture. Keep in mind, though, that injecting salt water into old wooden furniture may harm it. [5]
  5. 5
    Suffocate termites with soapy water. Termites essentially breathe through their skin, so covering them with a soapy film will suffocate them. Mix 6 tablespoons (88.7 ml) of liquid soap (like Dawn dish soap) with 8 cups (1.89 L) of water in a spray bottle. Shake it up, then spray any areas where you’ve seen termite activity. [6]
    • You can also pour soapy water (or use water directly from the garden hose) on top of termite nests to attempt to flood the tunnels and kill the queen.
  6. Termites can’t cross a thick layer of aloe vera, so grab a bottle of aloe vera gel and spread a layer all over your wooden furniture and any other wooden areas of your home. As the aloe vera gel dries out, apply more to stop the termites from moving around. Eventually, the termites will be stuck in place and die out. [7]
    • When you’re done, wipe the aloe vera gel up with a wet cloth.
    • This works best for termites in wooden furniture, but it’s not quite as effective if you have an infestation throughout your entire home.
    • If you don’t have aloe vera gel, petroleum jelly works the same way.
  7. While boric acid is natural, wear gloves and a mask when handling it. Pick up a bag of boric acid and sprinkle it in cracks, crevices, and holes around your home. Over a couple of days, the termites will eat the boric acid and die. Try not to get the boric acid wet, as moisture lowers its effectiveness. [8]
    • Boric acid is a natural boron compound found in nature, kind of like salt.
    • Buy a bag of boric acid online or at most hardware stores.
    • Boric acid can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds in children, especially infants. If your child comes into contact with boric acid, call poison control. [9]
    • If you have pets, keep them out of the house when using boric acid. Boric acid can cause vomiting and diarrhea in animals, especially cats. [10]
  8. Find and dampen a couple of flat strips of cardboard. Stack the pieces of wet cardboard on top of each other, then place them in a spot you’ve seen termites before. Check the trap a couple of times a day. If you spot termites in it, take the cardboard outside and burn it. [11]
    • You may have to burn and replace your trap multiple times per day, especially if you have a lot of termites in your home.
  9. Diatomaceous earth is an organic powder that contains the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms, and it kills insects by dehydrating them. Wearing gloves, sprinkle diatomaceous earth into holes, cracks, and crevices around your home and in your furniture. After a few days, the termites will begin to die. [12]
    • Purchase diatomaceous earth online or from most hardware stores.
    • Diatomaceous earth is most effective against small colonies of termites, but it doesn’t do much for large infestations.
  10. If you have termites in your furniture, bring it outside on a sunny day. Place your wood furniture in a spot where it can bake in the sun for at least 8 hours, and leave it there for at least 3 days. Termites stay in moist places, so sunlight will help dry out the moist wood and kill any termites inside. [13]
    • This trick is great for furniture, but it can’t kill an infestation in your home.
  11. Frozen temperatures can kill dry wood termites, so if you have access to a large chest freezer, use it to kill termites in small pieces of furniture. Wrap your furniture in plastic, then put it in the freezer for at least 2 weeks. When you remove it, leave it wrapped until it thaws out completely. [14]
    • Keeping the furniture wrapped until it thaws protects the wood from water stains.
    • Handle your frozen furniture carefully! Freezing temperatures can sometimes weaken wood glue, which can make your furniture fragile.
  12. Nematodes are microscopic worms that are natural predators of termites. They’ll find termites and burrow into their bodies, usually killing them within 48 hours. Since they hunt and kill pests, nematodes are usually available at garden supply stores. Release them into your garden soil immediately after you buy them, or store them in the fridge if you want to wait. [15]
    • Nematodes don’t do well in the sun, so try to release them at night so they have time to bury themselves in the soil.
    • Experts recommend using 13,000 to 35,000 nematodes per square foot.
    • Once the nematodes eradicate the termites, they’ll continue to live in your garden and eat harmful bacteria and fungi.
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Section 2 of 6:

Other Ways to Kill Termites

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  1. 1
    Treat the soil around your house with a termite insecticide. Because there are tens of thousands of termites in a colony, chemical treatments often work better than home remedies. A popular way to get rid of termites is to use a termite insecticide . Follow the instructions on the package to apply the treatment properly. [16]
  2. 2
    Try termite baits. Strategically place termite baits around your yard to attract the termites. Once the termites are in the bait, they’re covered with a slow-acting insecticide. They’ll then return to their colony and poison the other termites. [17]
  3. One of the best ways to remove termites is with fumigation, so call a pest control specialist if you can’t get rid of the termites on your own. A professional pest control company can kill termites before they take over your home, and they can stop a small infestation from getting worse. [18]
    • To get rid of termites, Bloom recommends, “Contacting a reputable company and exploring a liquid barrier treatment or the installation of termite bait stations. If there is a moisture condition, be sure to address that, as well.” [19]
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Section 3 of 6:

Signs of a Termite Infestation

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  1. 1
    Look for swarmers or physical signs of termites. Swarmers are flying termites that have branched off from their colony to find mates and begin new colonies. If you notice a swarm of these insects on or near your property, it’s often a sign termites live there. You may also notice discarded termite wings in your home near windows, doors, and other access points, as termites shed their wings when they find a place to set up their colony. [20]
    • If you’re remodeling, you may also find live termites in the wood you’re tearing out.
    • Make sure you aren’t mistaking termites for ants. Bin Break says, “Sometimes you call termites white ants, but they’re really different from ants. They’re really sensitive, and you will never see termites walking on the grass outside unless there is something wrong with it. They stay in moisture.” [21]
  2. 2
    Inspect wooden structures for signs of decay. Look for visible signs of damage , like chewed or buckling wood, blisters and dark spots, and anything that looks like water damage. Gently tap on wooden structures and beams. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so if the beams sound hollow, it could indicate a termite infestation. [22]
  3. 3
    Look for mud tubes that connect a wooden structure to the ground. Mud tubes are thin mud structures (as small as ¼ inch in diameter) that termites build to connect their nests in the ground to your house, garage, or other wooden structures. If the mud tubes are moist, it means the tunnels are active. Bin Break explains, “If you find any mud tubes, you can always scratch them. If they’re active, you will find some ‘white ants’ inside, which are termites. Sometimes, you can scratch the mud tunnel and there’s nothing inside it, but that means, at some point, you had termites outside and they’re [now] feeding on your house.” [24]
  4. 4
    Check for doors and windows that are hard to open. This isn’t always a sign of termites, but when termites eat through wood, they damage it and often cause it to warp or buckle. This can make it difficult to open or shut windows and doors properly. This could be an early sign of a termite infestation. [25]
  5. 5
    Examine damaged drywall and bubbling paint or wallpaper. Drywall contains paper, which contains cellulose, a primary food source for termites. [26] As termites chew, they leave behind small trails of pin-sized holes. These holes often cause bubbling under paint or wallpaper.
  6. 6
    Examine floors and window sills for frass. Frass, or termite droppings, occurs when termites tunnel into wood to create galleries. To keep these galleries clean, they create holes where they remove their droppings. Frass often lands on floors or windowsills and resembles a pile of sawdust or coffee grounds. [27]
  7. 7
    Listen for clicking or banging sounds. If you listen closely near wooden structures, you may hear termites making clicking sounds as they chew through the wood or rustling sounds as they move around. Termites also sometimes make banging sounds to alert the colony of danger. [28]
  8. 8
    Check for swollen floors or ceilings. Termite infestations can damage the structure of a building, causing ceilings to dip and crack or floorboards to buckle. Look for dipping ceilings or swollen, spongy areas on wooden floors. [29]
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Prevent Termites

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  1. 1
    Check for leaks and standing water. Because termites are attracted to moisture, “You don’t want any water gathering near your house,” says Bin Break. [30] Regularly check your home for plumbing leaks , improper grading, and leaky air conditioners to make sure the ground around your home stays as dry as possible. Clean up standing water as soon as possible. [31]
  2. 2
    Eliminate as much wood-to-ground contact as possible. Most termites nest in the ground and build tunnels to wooden structures, so try to keep wood off the ground as much as you can. For example, leave at least 6 inches (15.24 cm) of space between the ground and wooden decks, porches, and patios. Avoid stacking firewood against your house, and remove tree stumps from your yard. [32]
    • “I always recommend having at least 6 to 12 inches clear around the house,” Bin Break explains, “So no vegetation, no trees, or anything close to the house.” [33] This way, it’s easier to notice mud tunnels or other signs of a termite infestation.
  3. 3
    Clean gutters and drain spouts frequently. Because termites are attracted to moisture, clean your gutters and drain spouts at least twice a year, or whenever you notice a buildup of dirt and debris. This will keep the water flowing so termites won’t be attracted to the buildup. [34]
  4. 4
    Cover openings outside your house with termite-resistant steel mesh. Cover any openings on the outside of your home, like vents, with termite-resistant steel mesh . This will prevent the termites from entering your home as easily, while still allowing for ventilation. Make sure all vents are free from debris and vegetation, as well. [35]
  5. 5
    Use termite-resistant wood whenever possible. Try to use termite-resistant wood in areas where wood must touch the ground. Pretreat wood with termite-resistant sealer when building a new house or wooden structure, or whenever you renovate an old one. [36]
  6. 6
    Replace the soil around your house with sand. If possible, replace the soil around your house with sand, especially if you have wood touching the ground. Termites cannot build tunnels through sand, so if you have an infestation, it will be more difficult for them to do any damage. [37]
  7. 7
    Have your home inspected regularly. Try to have your home inspected at least once every 3-5 years. For newer homes, try to get an inspection every 2-3 years if possible. It’s often recommended that older homes be inspected annually. This will help ensure that your home is in good condition and free from any pests. [38]
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Section 5 of 6:

What are termites?

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  1. Termites are small insects that eat wood. Termites are technically a type of cockroach, though they more closely resemble ants. [39] According to Bloom, termites typically live “below or at grade areas of a structure where moisture is present.” [40] They typically feast on decaying plant material, like wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. Termites often destroy wooden structures and furniture because they’re hard to detect.
    • Termites and flying ants are similar in appearance, but termites have a thick, ribbed abdomen with no apparent waist; two pairs of vein-filled wings that are of equal length and twice as long as their body; straight, somewhat short antennae; and no eyes. [41]
    • Flying ants, on the other hand, have a clearly-defined thorax and constricted abdomen; a front pair of wings that is larger than the rear pair and only slightly larger than the body; and distinct, elbow-shaped antennae with an elongated first segment. [42]
    • There are several types of termites, often categorized by their habitat and behavior. The main types are subterranean , drywood, dampwood, conehead, formosan, and desert termites.
Section 6 of 6:

Termite FAQs

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  1. 1
    Why do termites keep coming back? Each termite colony has a queen, who produces new termites. If you don’t successfully kill the queen, more termites will appear. Even if you do successfully wipe out a colony, swarmers from nearby colonies may move in after treatment, looking for moisture and food sources. [43]
  2. 2
    Can you get rid of termites permanently? Termite colonies can host around 60,000 and up to a million termites, so it can be difficult to get rid of them permanently. In order to do so, you must find the nest and kill the queen. Otherwise, she will keep laying thousands of eggs per day and the infestation will never end. [44] Consider using termite bait traps or hiring a pest control specialist.
  3. 3
    What is the best way to get rid of termites? While using natural home remedies can keep termites at bay, the most effective way to get rid of them is through professional termite treatment. Pest control professionals have access to treatments unavailable to the public, making it easier for them to remove and prevent infestations. [45]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Where do you usually find termites?
    Joshua Bloom
    Pest Control Specialist
    Joshua Bloom is a Pest Control Specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control.
    Joshua Bloom
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Termites mostly live in moist places. They can be present in basements, window sills, moldings, beams, and furniture.
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  • Question
    How do you get rid of termites?
    Joshua Bloom
    Pest Control Specialist
    Joshua Bloom is a Pest Control Specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control.
    Joshua Bloom
    Pest Control Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can install termite bait stations, use a liquid barrier treatment, or contact a reputable company to get rid of termites.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.whatsthatbug.com/how-to-get-rid-of-termites-naturally-simple-diy-solutions-for-homeowners/
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/
      3. ↑ https://www.npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html
      4. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8781989/
      5. ↑ https://www.whatsthatbug.com/how-to-get-rid-of-termites-naturally-simple-diy-solutions-for-homeowners/
      6. ↑ https://www.homeowner.com/pest-control/how-to-kill-termites
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8781989/
      8. ↑ https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-011001_1-Sep-93.pdf
      9. ↑ https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-011001_1-Sep-93.pdf
      1. ↑ https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-011001_1-Sep-93.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8706096/
      4. ↑ https://treattermites.com/top-7-diy-methods-to-kill-termites-naturally/
      5. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drywood-termites/
      6. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/
      7. ↑ https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/termites
      8. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/termite-infestation/
      9. ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/drywood-termites/
      10. ↑ Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
      11. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/termites/
      12. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      13. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/termites/
      14. ↑ Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
      15. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      16. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/termite-infestation/
      17. ↑ http://extension.msstate.edu/content/termite-biology-eastern-subterranean-termites-and-formosan-termites
      18. ↑ https://extension.msstate.edu/content/signs-termite-infestation
      19. ↑ https://www.whatsthatbug.com/can-you-hear-termites-in-the-wall-expert-tips-on-detection/
      20. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/termites/
      21. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      22. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef605
      23. ↑ https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/termites
      24. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      25. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef605
      26. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef605
      27. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/
      28. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/
      29. ↑ https://owic.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/pubs/termites.pdf
      30. ↑ http://extension.msstate.edu/content/termite-biology-eastern-subterranean-termites-and-formosan-termites
      31. ↑ Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.
      32. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/termites/
      33. ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/termites/
      34. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/termite-swarmers-what-do-they-mean-for-you
      35. ↑ http://extension.msstate.edu/content/termite-biology-eastern-subterranean-termites-and-formosan-termites
      36. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/

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