Why home remedies for termite treatment don't work? | Pest Ex (2023)

Here at Pest-Ex we are constantly dealing with people who try to cut corners when it comes to getting rid of termites.

In an effort to try to save money, homeowners often self-diagnose and try to treat termites by following silly tricks and ridiculous home remedies that just don't work. In most of the cases, these home remedies are obtained from the internet from unknown sources.

Needless to say, each and every time, we eventually get called out by frustrated homeowners who have tried just about everything to get rid of the problem. From diesel fuel to fly spray to vinegar, we've seen it all.

What people don't realize is that none of these DIY treatments work, and as a result, the problem just gets worse, leaving them in a position where they've wasted an enormous amount of time, money, and effort, tinkering with ineffective envelopes. . over-the-counter products.

Expenses, unfortunately, don't stop there. A failed termite treatment attempt not only means you still have termites, it can also mean the problem has spread and the termites have had more time to do more damage. All of which result in costly repairs, which could have been avoided if the problem had been dealt with correctly when first detected.

Unprofessional advice is expensive advice

Most problems arise because of people giving "advice" that they aren't really qualified to do so.

Some of the advice we've heard includes killing termites by pouring diesel on them. In one case, a client nearly burned down his house because he decided to set fire to a tree stump in the yard in an effort to kill the termites. Any professional in the sector will tell you that diesel, gasoline or any other type of fuel does not kill termites. Sure, it will kill those directly affected, but it won't have any impact on the hundreds of thousands or more termites that have been lost below the surface.

Baking soda is another home remedy that we have seen owners try. Baking soda has absolutely no effect on termites, and it certainly won't kill them. The other popular termite treatment myth is using vinegar, which just like baking soda is a waste of time.

What homeowners need to remember is that a nest can consist of hundreds of thousands, perhaps in some cases even millions of termites buried deep under the ground, nesting in colonies. Pouring a cup of vinegar on a handful of termites that can be seen flush with the surface is a total waste of time.

If anything, it will make your property smell horrible and that's it.

What about using DIY termite products from The Hardware Store?

Homeowners often spend a considerable amount of time online researching treatment options and find themselves going back and forth between Bunnings or the local hardware store buying products that are completely ineffective.

The most popular products may be Bifenthrin, Permethrin, Deltamethrin, and Bifenthrin, all designed to kill termites. Now, these products will kill termites on contact, but that's about it. Again, that won't help you with the thousands you've missed.

Another point to note is that the products listed for sale, such as Bifenthrin, retail for $160 per 4 liters. First of all, bifenthrin is the cheapest form of termite control available with most pest control companies paying only $25 for 5 liters. Second, when installing a chemical barrier around a typical 3-bedroom house, we can use anywhere up to 700 liters of specialist chemical, which is applied by injection into the ground.

As you can see, there is a big difference between spraying a few liters of product on the surface and injecting hundreds of liters below ground, and this is what most homeowners don't understand. Termite treatment is not like spraying for roaches, it is a specialized process.

Unfortunately, however, retailers rely on the vulnerability of the homeowner, which makes buying cheap over-the-counter products quite attractive, until, of course, it becomes apparent that the problem still exists or has gotten worse.

Why do termites keep showing up even after spraying a DIY product?

The simple answer is this: when you use ineffective home remedies as mentioned, you are essentially treating about 0.5% of the actual problem.

You can spray vinegar, fly repellent, and whatever else you choose, on the walls, floors, ceiling, etc. and it will only kill what is visible on the surface. Also, that product is only effective during application and while wet. When the product has dried, it will no longer be effective as it does not provide continuous protection. Over the next 48 hours, the termites simply rebuild or simply relocate, so you'll often see termites or mud mounds reappear, regardless of your efforts.

Again, while you may be able to physically see termites, they only make up a fraction of the infestation. Spraying them is nothing more than a spot treatment that disregards millions more that live well below ground.

Certain termite species such as Schedorhinotermes and Coptotermes are shy and will back off if they experience any sort of disturbance. However, within 48 hours they will usually be back in numbers. So while you may feel like your DIY treatment has been successful, they will eventually show up elsewhere, or you may mistake the same termites elsewhere for a whole new nest.

The last thing any homeowner should do is Google "home termite treatments" because the internet is full of misinformation. For example, queen termites can lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs in a 48-hour period. There's just no way a cup of borax or a spray bottle full of vinegar is going to be a line of defense.

There are no localized treatments

Whatever you call these treatment solutions—spot treatments, home remedies, DIY treatments—they just don't work. Cheap repetitive treatments alone cost homeowners thousands of dollars and a lot of lost time. Complete eradication is never achieved, and the longer it is left on, the more expensive the problem becomes. Statistically, 40% of termite treatments provided by our technicians report that the homeowner has already tried some type of home remedy without success.

Home treatments can be dangerous and detrimental to your family's health. As mentioned above, we've seen just about anything, including burning gasoline, poisoned dogs, and young children unwell from eating produce left in unsafe areas of the home. Here are some more home remedies that we have seen that should be avoided:

• Bicarbonate
• Diesel
• Kerosene
• Gasoline, including burning nests.
• fly spray
• Boric acid
• chlorine
• Various oils like orange oil and neem oil.

How do professional termite treatments work?

Unlike DIY treatments that only treat on the surface, professional termite treatments essentially treat from the inside out. We use commercial products like Termidor that has been specifically designed for decades to completely eradicate termites. This chemical isnot a repellent, so the termites don't know it's there, allowing them to naturally travel through it and transfer the product back to the nest through their grooming process.

Products like Termidor typically take 21-30 days to take effect due to this transfer and preparation process. During this time, hundreds of termites can travel through the product and then spread it back to the termite colony that is home to thousands or even millions of termites. From there, the chemical passes between the nest killing it completely.

Why can't I use Termidor myself?

We understand that many people are cost conscious, and while it may be natural to assume that you can simply buy Termidor and then spray it around the house yourself, it's actually not that simple. What most homeowners don't realize is that the average Termidor termite chemical barrier in a home will require 700 liters of chemical, which is applied by injection into the soil with specialized equipment. Running around the perimeter of your house with a spray bottle will be a waste of time.

Another form of treatment that we use is bait stations. The types of bait stations and products we use really depend on the size of the termite infestation and the type of property we are treating. Like chemical barriers, the amount of product required can be substantial. It should also be noted that current Australian standards recommend that at least 10 liters of product be applied per meter (up to the base) to ensure adequate protection.

Let the professionals help you

We have been in the pest control industry for over a decade and in that time have helped literally tens of thousands of homeowners with termite related problems. If you think you may have termites in your property, don't waste valuable time or money trying to treat the problem with an over-the-counter solution. We have the experience, tools and equipment to provide you with sound advice that will ensure fast and effective treatment solutions at affordable prices.