The best way to deal with termites is to stop them from invading your home in the first place. That means identifying the most effective ways to deter termites and using them around your home. Smell is a great place to start as there are several aromas that are particularly unappealing to termites. If they detect them in or around your home they are likely to go elsewhere.
Of course, when learning about how to control termites it is also important to speak to a local professional firm. They will have the expertise to help you prevent the termites from getting in. They can also verify that you don’t already have a termite issue and, if you do, they will even help to resolve it.
Regardless of what control methods you use it is a good idea to have an annual inspection by the professionals. After all, the sooner you discover the issue the faster you can deal with it.
Lemon
One smell that termites hate is lemon. In fact, a lot of animals don’t like lemon. This is because it is considered a citrus fruit, making it acidic. Termites hate the scent of any acidic food and will avoid the lemons.
All you have to do is spray lemon juice around any potential entry point and re-spray regularly. This should keep the termites away.
Bleach
Bleach is generally less friendly to the environment but it is effective at keeping termites away. Bleach emits fumes, it’s the smell you can detect. You’ve probably experienced the smell at some point. To a termite the stench is overpowering and they will need to get away as quickly as possible.
Simply spray bleach anywhere you think you have termites and across all entry points, it will deter the termites from entering. Of course, it is important to keep the bleach off any soft furnishings as it will damage them.
Vinegar
You probably won’t be surprised to discover that vinegar is also effective. It has a powerful odor and is great at cleaning a variety of things. The aroma is, again, too powerful for the termites. They will want to get as far away from it as possible. You can use this to guide them away from your property.
Simply spray the wood in the affected area, around entry points, and anywhere else you think may be appropriate. It will deter them and can even propel an established colony to move!
Tea Tree Oil
This is another natural product that emits a distinctive aroma and one that termites don’t like.
It’s exceptionally easy to use, simply add some tea tree oil to water and then spray the wood in your home. Most humans find the aroma pleasant, termites do not. You can also soak cotton wool in the liquid and throw the balls under the floorboards and place them around entry points.
It will be enough to scare existing termites away and deter any new ones from arriving.
