4 Non-Toxic Ways To Rid Your Home Of Termites

4 Non-Toxic Ways To Rid Your Home Of Termites

19 December 2017
 Categories: , Blog


Termites are destructive and they can multiply rapidly. You can get rid of termites by using pesticides. However, if you have children and pets in your home, you may be wondering if there are more natural ways to get rid of these destructive pests. Fortunately, there are several non-toxic methods that you can use.

Cardboard Traps

Cardboard traps are a non-toxic way to rid your home of termites. These traps are effective because cardboard contains cellulose which gives off a woody fragrance. Termites are attracted to cellulose, this makes it easy to set a trap for them. You can set the trap by lightly spraying a piece of cardboard with water. Spraying the cardboard makes the woody fragrance even more powerful. Place the cardboard near where you suspect termites live. The termites will climb onto the cardboard. Once they are on the cardboard, you can take it up and burn it.

Orange Oil Treatment

Orange oil is one of the most effective ways to get rid of termites. Orange oil contains a compound called d-limonene which is deadly to termites. Simply spray orange oil on the affected areas to get rid of termites. Orange oil is effective because its fragrance is toxic to termites. It also works when termites eat wood that has been sprayed with the oil. Ingestion of orange oil kills termites instantly.

Sodium Borate Treatment

Sodium borate more commonly known as borax is also an effective termite treatment. Borax is not toxic to humans, so it is safe to use it in your home.  You can spray borax solution on infected wood. Another method is to coat the wood with the borax. No matter which method you use, you may need to repeat the application a few times to completely rid your home of the termite infestation.

Sun Exposure

Termites will die when exposed to sunlight. If you have furniture that has become infested with termites, then you should put them in the sun. The hotter the sun, the faster the termites will die, so put out the furniture during the hottest part of the day. This is usually between midday and three in the afternoon. You can repeat the sunlight treatment as much as necessary until all the termites are dead.

The treatments for termites outlined above are all effective on their own. However, if you want rapid termite elimination, it is best to combine two or three of these termite pest control strategies at once.