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January 3, 2022What Smells Do Termites Hate?
What Smells Do Termites Hate? Many people want to get rid of termites in their homes, but most forms of extermination will only kill the insects and not the colony. One way to keep termites away is to use organic, natural ingredients that they hate instead. Here we will look at the smells termites hate and give some advice on how to use them as a deterrent.
Read on – What Smells Do Termites Hate?
Table of Contents
1. Cedar Wood
Cedarwood contains cedar oil which is incredibly effective as a form of treatment against termites. To treat an area, you should leave planks or logs lying around for between six months and one year so that the wood can release its chemical into the ground or floor beneath it. When using cedarwood, you should place it directly onto soil rather than inside walls or some other structure.
2. Mint
Mint has a very powerful odor that is released when the leaves are crushed or cut, and this smell can be incredibly effective in fending off termites.
The best thing about mint is how it can be grown at home from seeds without any particular effort being made to ensure success – all you need to do is plant the seed, water it reasonably regularly and keep the soil moist, and you should have a fully grown specimen ready within several weeks or months.
When growing your mint for use as a deterrent against termites, make sure that it is placed well away from any areas where food may be prepared, but otherwise, there’s no need to worry unduly about its presence in the garden.
3. Peppermint Oil
As with standard mint, peppermint oil is incredibly intense and will keep termites at bay. However, some people are allergic to peppermint oil, so you should test it first by dabbing a small amount on your arms to see if there’s any effect – redness, swelling, or rashes may be evidence that you are sensitive to the substance, in which case it should not be used to fend off termites.
4. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is one of the scariest substances known to termites – they can see heat very clearly, which makes cayenne an ideal deterrent at home as most homes have wooden surfaces that will transmit heat. The best way to use cayenne pepper as a form of treatment against termites is to sprinkle it liberally over soil or wooden surfaces that you want to protect.
5. Human Hair
Most types of human hair will contain things like skin flakes and other dead skin cells, which termites find highly unpalatable. The reason why this works so well is that termites are unable to digest certain substances, meaning they cannot survive off them even if they wish to.
This happens to be one example of such a substance, making human hair an invaluable tool for killing off these pests in the home. For maximum effect, place a thick layer of hair directly onto the ground – just a few strands won’t have much of an impact, so you will need to collect a lot of hair over a few days or weeks.
6. Wood Ashes
Wood ashes are used to make concrete stronger. This is because wood ashes are extremely alkaline – termites hate alkaline substances because they damage the exoskeleton that protects them from predators.
You can place wood ashes on wooden surfaces to protect them against termite attacks, but make sure you only use ash created from burnt wood – regular ashes won’t have sufficient alkalinity to cause any problems for termites.
7. Boric Acid
Boric acid is another harmful substance to termites’ exoskeletons – it breaks down the substance. It causes it to become soft, making the termites far more vulnerable to any predators who may be stalking them. You can buy boric acid as a solution or powder, but make sure you use at least a quarter of a teaspoon per square foot on wooden surfaces – this should be enough to deter any termite attack.
8. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is an extremely effective substance because it has both slippery and sticky properties, so termites won’t be able to gain any traction when walking across areas containing petroleum jelly.
The best thing about petroleum jelly is how easy it is to find in drug stores and pharmacies, meaning that even those with little or no knowledge of pest control can easily obtain or create some for home defense!
9. Bleach
Make sure you don’t mistake bleach for other alkaline cleaning solutions since some of these may not be as effective against termites – hydrogen peroxide, for example, has some detoxifying properties.
In contrast, bleach is simply an extremely strong solution that will dissolve the exoskeletons of most insects within a matter of minutes. You can use a 1% concentration to deter any termite attack, but make sure it’s thoroughly mixed with water before application to avoid accidents.
10. Mothballs
Mothballs are another substance that termites detest because they contain naphthalene – the reason termites hate this substance is that it inhibits their ability to absorb oxygen into their bodies, making them far more vulnerable to predators and other risks.
The best solution is to place mothballs directly onto wooden surfaces (with sufficient distance between each one) or within the soil itself since this will present a significant threat towards termites looking for a home!
11. Pennyroyal
If you’re looking for another natural way to kill termites without harsh chemicals, consider pennyroyal. It has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries, but it also happens to be toxic to termites!
You can make an all-natural termiticide by boiling the leaves and stems of this plant with water, letting it cool overnight, straining out the solid pieces, mixing it with some witch hazel or rubbing alcohol, and diluting the mixture with water before applying it to your home’s foundation.
What Smells Do Termites Hate? – Conclusion
Finally, identify where they are coming from – Termites usually come from either tree surrounding your house or underground through small cracks in the house’s foundation.
Any wood-eating insects such as termites are drawn to these weak areas to pass through them, eating up the wood structure underneath. If you suspect them coming from trees on your property, call an arborist to take down any weak-wooded areas and burn them before they can cause any more damage on their own.
Contact us today if you are looking for termite pest control today!