How to Get Rid of Termites and Make Sure They Never Come Back

If you’re enjoying a beautiful day tending to your garden and notice little mud tubes (or highways) leading into your home, you may have to learn how to get rid of termites. Although small, termites can cause mighty amounts of damage to your home if left untreated. Luckily, we’ll provide several methods to learn how to get rid of each type of termite and keep them away for good.

Types of Termites

You’ll need to know the difference between termite species before you can properly remove them.

Subterranean Termites

These burrowers live underground in colonies within the soil, your foundational wood, and compost piles around your home. Their saw-toothed jaws create mud tubes, excavating tunnels until they voraciously feast on your home’s wood. You can find them all over the U.S. (except for Alaska), and they cause the most damage compared to other termite species.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites only live in wood (they don’t burrow in soil or create mud tubes). They are found predominantly in warm, coastal regions such as Florida, California, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia. 

Flying Termites

If you spot flying termite swarms around your home, that’s a clear sign of a flying termite infestation. These are adult reproductive termites with four wings that appear during warm weather. One telltale sign of a flying termite infestation is finding discarded wings outside or inside your home.

How to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites

Photo: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / Adobe Stock

You can try the below DIY methods if they don’t involve highly toxic insecticides—termiticides and boric acid—or you can hire a local termite treatment company to ensure proper and safe treatment. 

Before you start treating termites, wear a pair of goggles, a dust mask, and gloves. Only attempt DIY eradication methods if you have experience and are confident in your abilities. 

Termite Bait

Termite bait includes wood (cellulose) and a slow-acting insecticide. Place the bait around your home’s foundation. Once a termite ingests the insecticide, they carry it around for weeks. They then die while attempting to molt, effectively spreading the insecticide throughout their entire colony. While homeowners can install bait themselves, we recommend calling in a pro to monitor and maintain the baits. 

Another bait trap is wet cardboard boxes—the cellulose in cardboard attracts termites. This solution is simpler but less effective. Here’s how to do it:

1. Wet two pieces of cardboard and stack them on top of each other.

2. Wait for a group of termites to get trapped between the cardboard.

3. Take the cardboard outside and burn it.

4. Repeat this process multiple times.

Exterior Barriers

A popular and highly effective treatment is creating a liquid termiticide (a toxic insecticide) exterior barrier outside your home. Termites cannot detect the chemical. They eat the termiticide and unknowingly spread it throughout their colony, effectively killing all the termites. As stated above, a local pest expert should handle termiticide treatments because it can be risky if you don’t handle it properly.

Another exterior barrier is diatomaceous earth (DE) powder. DE is composed of fossilized algae, which, when ground up, has sharp edges that are deadly to pests (but not harmful to humans). The sharp edges cut the termite’s exoskeleton, dehydrating them. 

You’ll want to take the DE powder with a sifting scoop and apply a barrier to exposed wood around your home’s attic, crawl space, basement, and insulation. DE powder is most effective for eliminating above-ground termites; treatment takes several hours to a few days to work.

Boric Acid

An indoor chemical treatment is a boric acid spray (wood preservative and natural pesticide), which dehydrates the termite’s nutrients, effectively starving them. Boric acid is safe to use as pest control, but it can be dangerous to inhale or ingest it. You’ll need to follow the product’s safety instructions before using this treatment. Take particular care when using this chemical if you have kids or pets in your home.

1. Boric acid comes in powder form, so you’ll want to mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of boric acid in a spray bottle. 

2. Shake until all powder dissolves. 

3. Begin spraying for termites by applying the treatment liberally on floors, walls, ceilings, and any areas you suspect termites might be present. 

4. Repeat this process for three to five days. 

Beneficial Nematodes

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic organisms located in garden soil. They act as parasites to many garden pests—they burrow into their host, releasing bacteria that poison termite blood within days. You can purchase beneficial nematodes in stores (for around $35). Add them to water and apply the nematode mixture to termite nests around your garden. 

Wood Treatments

For drywood termites living within wood beams and panels, you can try less invasive approaches. However, you’ll need to hire a termite exterminator to completely rid your home of subterranean termites.

Grab a drill and make holes every 10 inches in the termite-infiltrated wood until you reach the nest. Apply termiticide treatment and patch the holes with a putty knife.

If a piece of wood furniture is infested with termites, take it outside and let it sit in the sunlight for 2 to 3 days. Light and heat are known to kill termites. You’ll want to inspect your house for signs of termite damage here, though, as they could have spread.

How to Get Rid of Drywood Termites

There are multiple drywood termite treatments. However, more powerful and extensive treatments are available by hiring a professional. Especially for serious infestations, it's best to contact a professional exterminator rather than attempting to eradicate them yourself. Here are the available DIY options for getting rid of drywood termites.

Boric Acid

For minor or localized infestations, you can inject boric acid directly into the affected wood. Use a power drill to make holes every 10 inches or so, then inject the boric acid. Multiple applications may be necessary to ensure thorough elimination.

Orange Oil

For a more natural alternative to boric acid, add orange oil into the affected wood. Like the boric acid method, drill a hole every 10 inches and inject the orange oil to kill the termites. Orange oil contains D-limonene, which naturally kills termites.

Heat Treatment

If a termite infestation is confined to a specific area, you can also use heat treatment to exterminate termites. Keep in mind that high temperatures can be damaging to your home, so this method should only be used by a professional. 

Liquid Nitrogen

Similar to heat treatment, liquid nitrogen achieves the same results, but with freezing temperatures. Termites die when they’re subjected to temperatures of -20 degrees Fahrenheit for at least five minutes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), using liquid nitrogen poses serious risks, such as death by suffocation, plus it’s corrosive to the eyes and skin. Due to these hazards, liquid nitrogen is only allowed to be applied by a certified professional.

Fumigation

In cases of major infestations, a professional exterminator will cover your entire home with a tent. Then, they will introduce a toxic gas (such as sulfuryl fluoride) to exterminate any termites or other pests within your home. Termite fumigation is an invasive, disruptive process, but it’s effective in eliminating large infestations from your home.

How to Get Rid of Flying Termites

There are a variety of DIY-friendly flying termite treatments available. Here are some of the most effective ways to eliminate flying termites from your home and yard.

DIY Termite Trap

For a mild infestation of flying termites, you can use a cardboard box to lure termites out before killing them. You’ll need one cardboard box and roughly one gallon of water, plus an insecticide such as a pyrethroid. Here’s what to do:

1. Break down the box and cut it into several large pieces.

2. Stack the cardboard pieces on top of each other.

3. Slowly pour the gallon of water over the cardboard to soak it.

4. Wait for termites to emerge and begin feeding on the wet cardboard, then apply the insecticide to kill them.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth works by penetrating the termite’s exoskeleton and dehydrating them. Sprinkle the powder in areas with frequent termite activity and wait for the insects to come in contact with it. Note that diatomaceous earth is commonly recommended for ground pests, so targeting flying termites will likely take extra time.

Orange Oil

As with drywood termites, the toxic compound D-limonene in orange oil will kill flying termites. Pour the oil into a spray bottle and spray it directly on any flying or grounded termites.

Mulch Repellants

Rubber mulch is a type of mulch made from recycled tire material, and it acts as a natural termite repellent. This is because it lacks cellulose, which termites seek for food. You can find rubber mulch at most hardware stores, and spread it around your yard to deter these flying pests.

Flying termites are also repelled by the colors and resins in cedar mulch. Use cedar mulch around your home and replace organic soil with cedar to deter termites.

Beneficial Nematodes

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that act as parasites, releasing bacteria into the digestive system of termites and ultimately killing them. Introducing nematodes into the soil near a termite colony can effectively eradicate them.

How to Prevent Future Termite Infestations

To get rid of termites and keep them away for good, you’ll want to take these preventative measures:

• Check for leaks, especially around your roof and air conditioner. Subterranean termites thrive in moist environments.

• Clear your pipes and gutters (termites also love warm and dark environments).

• Make sure downspouts face away from your home.

• Caulk windows, doors, and any openings in or around your home’s foundation.

• Opt for rubber tubs or plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for attic, garage, and basement storage.

• Apply proper ventilation to crawl spaces and moisture-rich areas (steel mesh is a great choice).

• Remove tree stumps and decaying tree roots. 

• Replace wood-based mulch with a rubber or gravel base.

• Don’t stack firewood up against your home. 

• Keep wood at least 6 inches above the ground when building a deck. Choose pressure-treated wood to keep termites away.

• Add metal barriers over exposed wood surfaces.

• Get annual termite inspections from a trusted pest control company.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Termites?

Professional termite treatment costs an average of $600—and you can expect to pay between $3 to $20 per linear foot, depending on the type of termite treatment you choose. You can expect to pay between $200 and $600 for an average pest control service fee, but whole-house termite fumigation can run as high as $8,000.

You should also budget between $2,100 to $7,800 for foundation repair costs if termites have been feasting away at your home’s structure for some time.

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

DIYers with pest control knowledge can take a crack at tackling a termite issue themselves, as long as they handle any chemicals with safety and care. You can find over-the-counter treatments at your local hardware store and expect to pay:

• Bait: $50–$250 

• Liquid termiticide: $50–$100 

• DE Powder: $10–$15 

• Termiticide foam: $35 

• Boric acid: $15 

However, we strongly recommend calling a licensed professional termite control company to treat termites, especially any major infestations. Pros have the right large-capacity equipment, products, knowledge, and experience to ensure you get rid of termites for good. In addition, many pros offer multiple mitigation methods and follow-up, so you won’t have to worry about recurring infestations.