10 Best Methods To Prevent Termites In Wooden Furniture

Termites are in love with wood. Not morning wood, just the ordinary type. If you’re reading this, there’s a high possibility that you’re responsive to this and you’re looking for a technique to kick them out from your wooden furnishings for good.

This is absolutely an achievable target. Here is a 6-step process you can follow to end their dreams of building a termite kingdom once and for all:

1. IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF TERMITE INFESTATION

There are three types of termites. The type you’re dealing with will ultimately determine the scope of action you need to take in order to exterminate them completely.

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES – These pests can be found in soil and in wood. They are double the risk because they can not only munch through your wooden furniture but also through your house foundations. Why do they stack up under houses? Mainly because they prefer moist areas, where they tend to build colonies and spread like wildfire. They leave mud tube formations on walls of the house, and that’s the easiest way to identify them.

DRYWOOD TERMITES – If you only have drywood termites you’re in a bit of luck (ironically). They will ONLY eat through your furniture.

DAMP WOOD TERMITES – These termites are only interested in super-moist environments. If you have major plumbing leaks and your furniture is really moist as a result you might be dealing with Dampwood termites. Otherwise, it’s probably the other two categories you should be worrying about.

Check out how each of these termites looks in this article.

1. RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF A TERMITE INFESTATION

The most common signs of a termite infestation in a house are:

HOLES IN THE WOODWORK – They’ve started eating through woodwork, leaving holes in it and ruining its structure. Tap or push the furniture with something from a safe distance and see if it falls or not. If it falls, you have a problem with termite.

DISCARDED PARTS – Discarded wings and wood-colored droppings will be found near the spots where the furniture is cracked.

MUD TUBES IN WALLS – Small mud tubes are a definite sign of the subterranean termites

1. EXPOSE INFESTED FURNITURE TO SUNLIGHT

There’s a good reason why termites make moist and/or dark areas their home. They HATE sunlight and they hate the heat! Exposing your furniture to sunlight for a few days (2-3 days at least) gets rid of them completely in many cases. Plus, the heat will remove the moisture from the furniture, making it a less appealing home for termites.

1. USE CARDBOARD TO LURE TERMITES OUT OF FURNITURE

Cardboard has a woody smell that termites love with a burning passion. And passions can be deadly. You can make enhance the smell of cardboard by pouring some water on it and moistening it. Then place it close to the infested furniture. The termites will come out and unto the cardboard. Then you can burn them or dispose of them in any way you prefer.

1. SPRAY THE FURNITURE WITH BORIC ACID

Boric acid is completely non-toxic, non-staining and safe for spraying furniture. But it’s deadly for small pests like ants and termites. It’s been used for decades to get rid of termites in wooden furniture.

There are many commercial sprays available that work great. I like the aerosol spray because it’s easy to spray the solution into small crevices and holes where the termites are hiding.

Alternatively, you can make your own spray by mixing borax powder and water. Spray the furniture a couple of times and you’ll definitely see results.

1. GIVE THE TERMITES AN OIL BATH

Some oils are harmful to termites. Vetiver, orange oil (image on the right) and Neem oil are the most effective essential oils. Vetiver and orange oil exterminate termites on contact. Neem oil is a slower killer. It starts to work when the termite ingests it.

Some other oils that can help are cinnamon, lemon, tea tree, catmint, bigarade, and vetiver oil.

Just like boric acid, you can make a spray from one or a combination of these oils and spray the infested furniture. Or you can pour it into the holes. It would be preferable to use both methods repeatedly until all termites are gone.

I also recommend using a carrier oil (I typically use olive or coconut) to dilute it when using essential oils or it can sting if you touch the surface before it dries out.

1. SEEK PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

In case of more serious termite problems, it’s best to call a Termite Control Melbourne service. They can use many options to remove termites: sprays, cold/heat treatments, and even electrocution.

HOW TO PREVENT TERMITE INFESTATIONS IN FURNITURE

If you don’t have a termite infestation already, you can prevent one with these simple tips. And if you have termites crawling around already, once you get rid of they also use these tips to your advantage.

1. GET RID OF EXCESSIVE MOISTURE

The number one reason for termite infestations is increased moisture. Coupled with darkness it can lead to a spread of termites especially in rooms that you don’t frequent very often.

Make sure to fix any leaky pipes and condensation or dampness seeping through the walls. Leaks from the air conditioner unit and offshoot air should also be funneled away from the house. For those living in humid climates, a dehumidifier can also be a major asset in preventing termites.

1. PROTECT THE FURNITURE WITH WOOD TREATMENTS

As a kid, I used to bite my fingernails all the time. Finally, my mom was fed up with it and bought some awful tasting nail polish. Suddenly my nails were no longer tasty and I stopped biting on them.

Wood treatments can stop or remove termite infestations for that same reason. Aside from termites, they also work against carpenter ants, fungi and various beetles that like to chew on wood.

Bora-care is arguably the best protective mixture for wood. It protects against all types of termites. All you have to do is either spray, roll or brush it on the wooden surface.

How does it work? It makes the pH very alkaline. That was the bugs don’t want to eat it. This can make them leave altogether and go somewhere else. But since they’re in your house already it’s advised to first kill them with some other method and then apply Bora-care.

Having said that, this is a lifetime solution. Once you’ve placed a layer of Bora-care on the wood, it penetrates into its deepest corners and stays there permanently. Plus, it’s perfectly safe for humans and pets, so you don’t have to leave your home will applying the treatment.

1. CLEAN UP YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

I don’t want to assume that your place is messy so don’t feel offended by me saying this. The point is that a messy place feels safer to pests and they’re more likely to make it their home.

That is the case not only with termites but scorpions, ants, worms etc., By keeping the garden and rooms in your home clean you can minimize the risk of termite infestations.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’re reading this article, you can probably still save your furniture by eradicating the termites. Even if that’s no longer possible, you still don’t want them to jump unto some other piece of furniture.

So the correct answer, in either case, is to kill termites once and for all. I suggest using boric acid spray if you’re new to do this because it will definitely produce reassuring results. Furthermore, if you can expose your furnishings to direct sunlight for some days it could also help clean things up naturally. The cardboard method is also incredibly easy and you might have some luck with that too.

Either way, try a few of these methods and see what works the best in your situation. But act fast, or that fancy antique table will lament your indecision.