How to get rid of termites?

Ms 214
by Ms 214

Suggestions on how to get rid of termites naturally are appreciated however if there is only a chemical solution for these pests please share as well. Thank you!


  27 answers
  • I strongly suggest a professional inspection. They suit up and inspect every square inch of your home. They know where to look and what to look for. When I did my mom's house, I knew I had them in one spot, it turned out that I had them in several. I paid extra for organic and pet-friendly removal with annual inspections. I have not seen a termite since. If left untreated they can literally eat up your house and that is not covered by homeowners insurance and not many can afford to rebuild their house from the ground up. It is therefore worth it to spend a few bucks now and be safe down the road.

  • Rachel Bear Rachel Bear on May 08, 2013

    Purchase termite spray at your hardware store. We live in Louisiana and they swarm badly here so we spray twice a year. It works great. We spray around our brick home and on our posts, also inside on all the baseboards. It is about $40 a gallon but cheaper than a professional. When we first purchased the product they had just repaired and treated our house for termites so we knew we were termite-free. Since then we just do these bi-annual sprays and we've had no problem for 11 years.

  • Karen Kay Babineaux Karen Kay Babineaux on Nov 16, 2014

    Buy a few Gallons of the Bayer Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus and spray. Then get a couple or more boxes of their Bayer Termite control stakes the amount needed depends on how big your house is, read the label to determine how many you need. I lifted up the insulation and sprayed the sheetrock and surrounding wood frame and around all of the attic air vents and walls area. I placed the stakes outside every 3 feet to be sure and around the walls of my house as well as one foot outward from the exterior walls. I have been constantly checking and I haven't seen anymore. My Father taught me to do things for myself and it has paid off through the years in the thousands.

  • You really cannot rid your home of termites you can only provide a shield to prevent them from coming in. Ideally a professional contractor that is licensed to do treatments should be consulted. However, there are many things you can do to make the termites or for that any insect less likely to infest your home or business. This is called integrated pest management or control. More and more companies are using this method in a way to lower the requirements for chemical treatments. This method of pest management is simply creating an environment that the insects either do not like or cannot thrive in. Then if necessary treat the area with the least amount of chemicals that are necessary to finish the job. Termites, require moisture and a food source. The moisture in the northern states comes from the soil, down south your termite can survive in just the attic and moisture found from the humidity. We can treat termites with chemical barriers that are picked up by the insect as they travel through. Or simply by feeding on a chemical treatment stick buried in the ground. In any case, you need to create an environment that they do not like. This is done by piping water away from the house. Keeping woodpiles away as well. Do not let soil or mulch get too close to the foundation sill area. For spiders, ants, etc. Keep the grass cut down and the soil right next to the house dry. Flower beds should be kept away from the house if at all possible. All insects need moisture. The dryer things are the better or easier it is to control them. If you have moisture then you have bugs. However being in the southern states, your termites may not be the type that requires living in the soil to survive. Topical treatments and in worse cases complete tenting of the home will be required to remove these pests. In any case, you need the services of a professional exterminator familiar with your area, house, or building type to properly remove these damaging insects. There is no one best method of removal of these bugs its all dependent upon the conditions in which they are located. As far as buying treatment systems from the big box stores. These treatments do work, but not understanding exactly how they do their job, you may only push the insects into another area of the building where you will not see their activity and by the time you do the damage will always be much worse than it would have been if you consulted with a professional.

  • Oliva Oliva on Jul 23, 2020

    If you choose to use mulch then remove any against your home's foundation placing it no closer than 18". You'll need to kill all termites before you can proceed. There are termite-killing sprays and stakes available for homeowners' use.

    Redirect any downspouts at least 10' or more away from your foundation.

    Check your gutters for leaks and repair or replace them, or install a gutter helmet system.

    Check the slope of your ground around your property and regrade as warranted to redirect water.

    Avoid plantings against your foundation.

    If your soil is attracting them, you may need soil amendments.

    Check your sill plate inside your basement for termite damage and treat as needed.

    You may need to run a dehumidifier frequently in your area, as well.

    Look for sweating pipes inside your home and take corrective action.

    Some people purchase a lifetime treatment policy, with regular, professional inspections/treatments, but you should not be home when these chemicals are applied.

  • We went with a termite removal company and they put bait pods in after they got rid of the termites because usually, they will come back. I would definitely look into investing in something like this, just because you don't want the situation to get out of hand.

  • Mar33482700 Mar33482700 on Jun 05, 2018

    It depends on which type you have? If they're dry wood get rid of everything that has them in it. Subterranean termites need professional service to eradicate them.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 10, 2020

    Use Peppermint Spray

    Peppermint oil helps to kill flying termites by suffocating them.


    Make Dish Soap Spray

    Dish soap on its own is efficient against winged termites since it gets attached to the termite’s bodies and dehydrates them to death.


    Make Use Of Diatomaceous Earth

    Diatomaceous earth is very helpful in solving the various pest problems. it is a powerful pest killer. It works great against termites by dehydrating them to death.


    Invest In a Bug Zapper

    An electric bug zapper also works great against many types of flying insects and flying termites.


    Make a Borax and Sugar Trap

    Borax is an effective method to get rid of flying termites fast. It is extremely toxic to termites, and when combined with sweeteners, the termites will not notice the poisonous smell and will carry the bait food back to their colony. When the ruler and the rest of the colony have the borax they will die.

    Mix equal parts sugar and borax. Add water to it and keep mixing it constantly until you get a paste consistency. Apply this paste to a portion of cardboard.


    Use Artificial Sweetener

    Certain types of artificial sweeteners are really toxic to termites, yet the sweet smell is often enough to tempt them for a merry death.


    Use Sunlight Effectively

    Termites are very vulnerable to sun-rays and actually die when they are exposed. Uncover all the infestations around your house. It is one of the most effective methods to target a particular area being exposed to direct sunlight.


    Eliminating Moisture From Area

    It is known that termites multiply and increase in areas that are damp and humid. Make sure that your place or the building is dry. Repair any moisture-prone areas. It is also recommended to look around your house and make sure that there is no water leakage or water pools in contact with the ground.


    Do Some Deep Digging

    Deep digging is one of the best ways to get rid of flying termites completely. This is because the remedy targets these termite colonies and thus removes them quickly and completely.


    Destroy Wooden Mulch

    Destroy all wooden mulch and you will be able to get rid of flying termites fast and naturally. Wooden mulch is often infested with termites because that is what actually attracts these pesky mites.


    Neem Oil Will Help

    Apply the oil with a cotton ball on infested furniture and some other infected area. The termites will ingest the oil and ultimately die. Keep applying the oil several times until they vanish completely.


    Use Some Orange Oil

    Apply the orange oil on the surface where you find the dry-wood termites. Keep applying it for a few days. You can drill small holes on the infested surface and inject the oil into the hollow space.


    The trick is to clean everything. The yard, the garden, compost piles, woodpile, the kid's tree fort, the dog's area, etc.

  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on May 29, 2017

    Have you tried Teminador foam? When you need an indoor solution for a termite infestation, then this interior foam is an effective solution. It can be immediately used and works very well in wall voids and spot treatments on tough subterranean infestations. This treatment has even been approved to be applied in restaurants and other food or feed handling buildings, so it can work in virtually any home to help eliminate a tough termite problem. Make sure to seal up the void after a treatment is applied, however, so pets and kids don’t get into it. One can of foam goes a long, long way.

  • Shoshana Shoshana on May 29, 2017

    Parasitic nematodes are worms that find termites to be a very tasty dinner. These can be found in many stores, including online stores.

  • We found the source of the nest, repaired the damage and then had a pro come and treat for them. Haven't had an issue since then. We did try the DIY route, but no product did the job permanently like the exterminator did.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jun 05, 2023

    Hello Ms 214, hope this helps you out.

    Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites. This solution is also ideal for soaking into any damaged areas of the wood to clear cracks of termites.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jun 09, 2023

    Many good suggestions, I would go the professional route, they are trained where to look, how to treat, have the effective chemicals, and offer a warranty.

  • Gog83887525 Gog83887525 on Jun 10, 2023

    Call Terminix? I wouldn't mess with some Internet hacks that don't work.

  • Hire a professional exterminator.

  • Deb K Deb K on Jul 10, 2023

    Hello, hope this helps you out. You want to go hard with this.

    https://westsidepestcontrol.com/how-to-get-rid-of-termites/

  • I would call a professional exterminator.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 31, 2023

    Call in the professionals to deal with them. Don't let them get out of hand!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 31, 2023

    Advice from Pest Control on the subject!

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 28, 2023

    Traps in the ground are the best "natural" way to get rid of them. I've also used diatomaceous earth, but that's only for a few pests. Ace Hardware carries a liquid, Hi-Yield 38 Plus, that is very effective - I use a garden spray to apply.

  • Marty Ayers Marty Ayers on Aug 28, 2023

    We noticed some termite tubes on the wall in our bedroom and hanging from our ceiling after a series of heavy rains (AZ)... We called a Termite Company and had them come out and do an inspection. They recommended bait stations at the hanging tube locations and bait stations surrounding the entire house.... Termites are not something to try a home remedy on.... the structural security of your home depends on the eradication of these destructive pests.... CALL A PROFESSIONAL TERMITE COMPANY

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 22, 2023

    10 Best Home Remedies to Get Rid of Termites from Home

    1. Apply Neem Oil.
    2. Use Clove Oil.
    3. Try Orange Oil.
    4. White Vinegar Works.
    5. Use Diatomaceous Earth.
    6. Sprinkle Boric Acid.
    7. Use Petroleum Jelly or Aloe Vera.
    8. Salt Remedy.


  • Betsy Betsy on Oct 11, 2023

    Hello Ms. 214: Here's a few sites that should help. You need to know what type of termite you have. Yup, there are several varieties! And, a few sites that should help: https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/termites-how-identify-and-control-them https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef604 and, https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/termites/


    Good luck

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 12, 2023

    Call in the Professionals - NOW!

  • Kpas6185 Kpas6185 on Nov 15, 2023

    I inherited our 1960s family home. Nothing fancy but it's free and I wanted to live in it. A sunroom had been added with wood trim around the windows and the moulding along the concrete walls and floors.....all filled with signs of termites having been there. I went on Home Advisor from Home Depot and luckily the fellow and his company literally trenched out around the entire house, even where the concrete sidewalk came to the doors, he drilled and filled with the poison for the termites. Some were still active with eggs and some were long gone. Today, a few years later, I have no termites. Don't regret the $2,000 I put into the termite invasion.

  • Diatomaceous earth is effective against termites but it’s not a substitute for bringing in a pro as those bugs spread.