In this article I’ll share with you the best non toxic ways to control termites in your home or building. Some of the approaches I’ll cover are well known to control other insects and can be similarly effective on termites.
And others are way more unusual and you are unlikely to have heard of them.
What if it is just a mild invasion, is there a way to use a non-toxic alternative to eliminate them? Good thing that there is the best non toxic way to control termites, effective, and readily available for eliminating these pests.
What exactly is a non-toxic method for controlling pests?
Non-toxic means the product used doesn’t contain ingredients that can harm or give a toxic response in humans. It also implies that the ingredients of the product will not in any way harm the environment, poison the groundwater, and will not make any animals sick.
There are many methods to ward off termites using non-toxic alternatives, and here are some of them.
Use of Borax
Although termites have their benefit outside the home cause they help in the decomposition of fallen trees and rotting wood, they can be troublesome once they get inside your home.
Luckily, there is a very popular product that’s been used since the late 1990s. It is a type of non-toxic salt that is mined in geological saline deposits found in Death Valley and Chile. This salt is popularly used to control bugs and can control and kill termites.
Unlike other termite control products, borax will not kill termites instantly, but termites will slowly feed on it and then will bring the food back and feed it to the others left in the colony. It will kill the colony after some time, as the borax will conflict in the digestion of termites and will cause it to die.
The problem with using borax is that once the wood dries up, the borax application disappears as well.
After a week or every week thereafter, they require repeating the treatment for control measures.
For prevention, it is also necessary to make the application at a regular interval.
Eliminating Termites with the use of Heat and Cold
Using extreme temperatures to eliminate termites will work if done correctly. It is non-toxic and effective when the right temperature is applied, such as 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit to heat space or less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit for cold application.
There are some considerations when using this alternative in termite elimination, such as removing anything that can get damaged, remove things that can break, or anything that can get spoiled.
The area must be covered with a tent to make sure that the temperature is locked inside, thus the termites will be most affected with the right enclosure.
The result may vary, and it may take time to achieve the expected result. You may take a few treatments first before you can see the effect.
Neem Oil To Control Termites
They take neem oil from the seeds of a neem tree and is a well-known effective pesticide used in treating a termite infestation. The neem oil once spread on wood chambers and blocks of wood, will act like a fumigator to the termites. Once the termites chew on the wood with oil applied to it, termites get poisoned to death.
One other way to keep this more effective is when you cover the affected area with a tent, so there is a high concentration of the neem oil without the rapid air reducing its effectiveness.
The chambers will have an area sprayed with an insecticide-like solution, as the termites will slowly deteriorate.
We need a few treatments for this to take effect since it is not a highly toxic product and is just a natural termite control.
Use of Vinegar To Control Termites
The right mixture of vinegar and lemon can kill termites. Vinegar has many uses in your home, and eliminating termites is one of them.
When placed in a spray bottle and sprayed where the termites are dwelling, the acidic substance called acetic acid in vinegar is poison to termites, and its smell also repels them.
Once the mixture is ready, you must spray it where the mounds or termite tube is found, you may also look for the entrance holes. Other areas you can also spray on are nearby wooden structures or even wooden furniture.
After a few days, they require checking on where you sprayed the mixture and if there are still termite activity, repeat the process.
When does it make more sense to use a particular non-toxic method?
The non-toxic method is applied when the infestation is not too extreme, homeowners should choose the non-toxic method first before resorting to toxic and chemical methods of eradication. Chemical treatment should always be the last resort.
You can check how far off the damage is in your home. It will help to call a professional so they can gauge whether a non-toxic method is still workable or a more aggressive approach is more practical.
Let the professionals deal with inspecting the entire house and see if the damage is just in one area or it compromises the entire house.
A professional pest inspector will be able to identify correctly what species of termites you are dealing with, and they have the right equipment to carry the task.
They will be able to analyze what needs to be done and if there is still a preventive measure that can be implemented.
It is not smart to do the natural treatment yourself cause when you see termites in one area of the house, and you treat it with what is available anti-termite product in your house; they tend to move to other areas to chew on.
Which non-toxic approach is best in hot climates?
Hot climates cause termites to move away from their colony to form a new one. They will find another spot in your home where they can be the king and queen of the colony. They will also reproduce quickly and is the reason the termite infestation in your place is faster if you are in a place where there are hot climates.
One non-toxic termite fighting technique is by exposing the furniture or logs in to be exposed to sunlight, as termites will avoid sunlight at all costs, and direct exposure can kill them. They are like vampires that hate sunlight. However, this technique may only be used if the termites housed on furniture, a piece of wood that is inside your home, but if it is the whole beam that was affected, this method may not help at all.
Using nematodes To Control Termites
We can release these parasitic worms where the termites are on. They will be pumped in the affected area so the nematodes can feed on the termites. The worms will surely feast on them in minutes.
Nematodes are available in pet stores and can tackle your termite issue. However, make sure they are placed strategically where the termites are present.
Another non-toxic method that can be applied is with the use of electronic termite control. The termite colony must be centralized if this is to be used to eradicate them, otherwise, this method will not be as effective as some areas will still hold some termites.
This style is non-toxic and needs just the right electrical voltage for it to work. A high voltage of electric currents is used in the wood where the termites are located, killing them in seconds.
Another non-toxic way is by using Cedar Oil Method since this is also organic and is non-toxic that is not harmful to humans or animals, but to termites, it can be lethal. The oil can easily penetrate the wood, and the odor also affects the breathing of termites, which can confuse them eventually, and they will soon die of poisoning.
Another type of non-toxic control of termites is by nest excavation or removing parts that are affected by termites. This is easy if the nest is located immediately, and there are no areas that need to be excavated.
You may need the help of a professional here as well since they know what they are dealing with, and they can find the nest fast, so they can tell you which termination method will be more useful.
Are non-toxic methods less effective than regular pesticides?
The non-toxic method may work for some type of termite infestation and will be effective if there is a small invasion. If the case is otherwise, the use of a non-toxic method needs many applications to be sufficient.
They must take the right step in controlling termite, such as identifying what species are in your home, where are the location of their nest and what non-toxic strategy will be used.
Regular pesticides are used for termite eradication, with it being highly toxic and are concentrated, and yet they still need reapplication to make sure that it will kill every termite.
By revisiting the area or section where the termites are first located, you can ensure that you are preventing its recurrence. Checking on other locations in your home once in a while will also prevent termites from damaging your house further.
If you want to learn more about various insects, then checkout our site categories, we have a bunch of articles there that are totally worth reading:
P.S.
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All the best
Steve
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