Bamboo furniture has become a popular fashion and works well with so many aesthetics. But with wood, even grass-like frameworks like bamboo can get infested by termites. It is a terrible thing when this happens.
Fear not. There are many ways you can get rid of or prevent termite infestations. You can do this naturally or do easy tasks that will keep the termites away. Here is everything you need to know to get rid of these pesky bugs and keep them at bay.
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Is Bamboo Furniture Termite Proof?
Most bamboo furniture should have gone through a treatment process to remove all sugars and dry out the moisture. This isn’t always the case. If the bamboo has gone through this process, then your furniture should be safe from termites.
Termites need moisture and attack wood and wood-like products due to the sugar within the structure. If the sugars are removed and the moisture is gone, there is nothing for the termites to feed off, and they won’t infest it.
Does Bamboo Furniture Attract Bugs?
If your bamboo furniture has not gone through a borate treatment, your furniture can attract bugs. The sugar within the structure hasn’t been removed properly, so bugs find this a sweet dessert to eat.
There are many preventative measures if you feel or know that your furniture didn’t go through the proper treatment process to rid of these sugars and moisture. You will need to do this to ensure that it doesn’t attract any unwanted guests.
Signs Of An Infestation
If you suspect an infestation within your bamboo furniture but are unsure, here is a list of signs that you may have a termite colony on your hands:
- The furniture is buckling or breaking easily.
- Holes within the furniture.
- Furniture seems more hollow than before.
- A maze-like pattern in the bamboo.
- Small mounds of termite pellets resembling salt or pepper.
- Piles of wings from termite swarms.
- You are finding flying termite swarms on your property.
- Bubble in the paint.
- Mud tubes.
If you suspect any of the other wood on your property has termites, there is a likely chance that your furniture could have been infested as well. Separate the infested wood away from any other woods so that the infestation doesn’t spread any further.
If you are unsure if you have a termite infestation or not, hire a professional to look at the areas you think house the swarms. You don’t want termites getting into the rest of your house and damaging any other structures.
Methods To Rid Of Termites
Termites are a pest, but you can get rid of them. They are not invincible. Here are some things you can do to rid of the pesky little bugs:
- Get rid of moisture.
- Expose the furniture to the sun.
- Make a trap.
- Spray with sporic acid.
- Use a termite’s parasitic predator.
- Treat with oil.
- Pust distance between soil and furniture.
- Get rid of mulch.
- Call an exterminator.
Get Rid Of Moisture
Moisture in wood or structures is one thing a termite needs to live. This is why many wood products and bamboo products are often “dried” before they are used to build furniture. This prevents termites from finding a home in your decor.
You can kill the termites by cutting off their water source. Just dry out the furniture to chase the termites away or slowly destroy them. You can use a dehumidifier on the furniture or just make sure it’s not placed in any wet areas like on soil or where you have a lot of water and humidity.
Expose The Furniture To The Sun
One way of getting rid of moisture, if you are able, is to put the furniture in the sun. The sun is a powerful tool you can use, and it’s free. The sun will dry out the furniture and chase the pesky termites away.
Placing your bamboo furniture in the sun also allows further infestations to occur. You don’t have to keep the furniture in the sun, but you may want to rethink putting your furniture in the shade or next to moisture if it is for outdoor use.
Make A Trap
You can make a simple trap by using a cardboard box and some water. Cardboard has the same texture as wood and, when it is wet, gives off a similar scent to wood. Termites will flock to this like flies to trash.
All you need to do is set out an open box, spray it with a little water, and put it near the infestation. The termites will go to the new source of food. Once you have caught them in your snare, you can dispose of the box. Many people just burn it, but you can spray it or throw it away.
Spray With Boric Acid
You can make a borax solution with water to spray the infestation. The great thing about this solution is that it is not toxic and won’t harm you. You spray this solution on the infected area. Spray around the area as well, just in case.
If you want to, combine the boric acid with the cardboard trap. This combination will do wonders when you are trying to get rid of the infestation. The results are amazing.
Use A Termite’s Parasitic Predator
Nematodes are a natural predator to a termite. This is one of the more natural routes to get rid of these pests. Nematodes are small parasitic worms that burrow into the termite larvae and kill them.
If this is what you would like to do, you can find a local worm nursery or look at online stores. These are quite readily available to you. This option is fast-acting and long-lasting. It is one hundred percent effective.
Treat With Oil
You can use essential oils to repel and rid of termites. It may not be as effective as some other options, but it is still a great one if you have essential oils on hand. The most effective scents are orange and neem oil.
Orange oil has a compound called d-limonene which kills termites. While with neem oil, the termites will have to ingest it before the pest dies. You can choose which one to do, but if you have orange oil on hand, it is the better choice of the two.
Put Distance Between Soil And Furniture
Soil traps in moisture for long periods. This is necessary for plants to grow and be healthy, but it is a downfall to bamboo furniture, especially if it has never been treated.
Move your furniture away from the soil. If you can, put the furniture on cement or a hard surface made of wood. This will reduce the likelihood of termites finding your bamboo, and it will remove the access of moisture to the structure. Moisture only attracts termites.
Get Rid Of Mulch
Mulch is great to have in your garden. It keeps the ground moist so that your plants don’t get burned and can stay watered, but it is not so great when it comes to attracting termites. Mulch is made of wood and is in consistent contact with soil, a breeding ground for termites.
If you are struggling with an infestation, you will need to remove any mulch from around the home. Termites can hideout within the mulch as you are trying to rid of the infestation and return quickly. You don’t want that, and so to stop any of this to continue, get rid of the mulch.
Call An Exterminator
If you have tried every route to get rid of the termite infestation to no avail, you may want to consider contacting pest control. They can get rid of those pesky termites quickly, and if nothing you have done has worked, you don’t want them destroying any structures.
Keep in mind that when you call an exterminator, those sprays may and often are toxic. If you have pets or children, you may need to find somewhere to stay temporarily as the exterminators get rid of all the termites.
How To Prevent Termite Infestation
The best way to tackle a termite infestation is to prevent it from ever happening. Often, you won’t know if an infestation is occurring until it is already too late to save the structure or furniture.
You can prevent termites with many simple methods. These methods include the following:
- Eliminate any water accumulation.
- Make sure the bamboo is borate treated.
- Add a coat of borate.
- Add Aloe Vera Gel
- Add wood polish.
- Keep any old wood away.
- Add a physical barrier.
- Treat all wood products.
- Declutter your home.
- Fix leaks in your home.
Do any of these, and you will find termites are less likely to be attracted to your furniture or home.
Eliminate Any Water Accumulation
If there is water next to your furniture, try to move your furniture somewhere else or move the water. Moisture gives termites a water source for them to survive, and you don’t want that. Make sure that your furniture stays dry. Any water collection can attract those pesky pests.
If you are worried about water accumulation indoors, so bugs and try out a dehumidifier. If your furniture is outside, make sure the furniture is outside in the sun. Placing it there will ensure that your furniture stays dry or dry out when it rains.
Make Sure The Bamboo Is Borate Treated
Before you make any purchases, double-check to see if the furniture has been treated properly. When the bamboo is borate treated, the manufacturers dry out the bamboo, getting rid of all the sugars. Termites feed off the sugars.
Once the bamboo has been dried out, they cover it in a coat of borate. This coat of borate helps protect the bamboo from termites and repels them. Most manufacturers do this process before selling their products to customers, but you will always want to check just in case.
Add A Coat Of Borate
If you are unsure if your bamboo has been treated or the product description doesn’t say that it has been treated, you may want to put a coat of borate on it yourself. You will find that borate has fewer health risks than many other treatments out there.
There are many types of borate treatments you can use. Here are a few that you can choose from:
- Tim-Bor
- Bora-Care
- Board Defense
- Spectracide Terminate
Some of these treatments come in a liquid form or a powder, water-soluble form. Glycol-based solutions are the better choice. If you get borate gel, this is best if you are trying to insert borate into the inside of the bamboo.
Borates or boric acid is not only great at preventing termite infestation and other bug infestations, but it also adds a protective barrier. This barrier allows the bamboo to last longer because it protects against weathering and other environmental factors.
Add Aloe Vera Gel
If you don’t have any borate on hand at the moment, you can use aloe vera to coat the furniture. Doing this will add a protective barrier and repel pests. Adding this protective covering is only temporary and will not last, so only use this sparingly.
Add Wood Polish
Make sure to add a wood polish to any and all of your wooden furniture. You can do this yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. Here are the simple steps to polishing your wood yourself:
- Pick up polish at your local store.
- Put on all protective gear in a well-ventilated area.
- Clean the wooden surface.
- Wipe it down with wax remover.
- Apply a few layers of wood polish.
When you polish the wood and add protective layers, these layers will keep termites away. They can sense chemicals on wood and will steer clear of it.
Keep Old Wood Away
Something as simple as putting your old wood away or getting rid of it can help keep the termites away. Old wood is a breeding ground for termites and can attract many other pests as well.
If you have extra wood and you don’t want to save it for future projects, make sure you store it in a dry place well off the ground. This will keep the wood dry, and termites won’t want to feed off the dry wood. It’s not a part of their meal plan.
Add A Physical Barrier
Adding a physical barrier always helps, whether you put your furniture inside or on a platform. Anytime you remove the furniture from just sitting on soil, you will be protecting the structure from moisture and pests getting to it.
Here are some ways you can put a barrier between your furniture and the increased chance of an infestation:
- Set the furniture on pavement or cement.
- Set the furniture on a deck.
- Place the furniture in a graveled area.
- Have the furniture in an enclosed area.
- Put the furniture in the house.
Although some of these barriers don’t seem like much, this can be the difference between attracting termites or keeping them at bay.
Treat All Wood Products
It is always the best preventive manner to treat any wood products around the home, which means your home. The last thing you want is the structure of your home becoming infested with termites and ruining it.
Make sure to keep all your structures treated properly. You can add stains to keep away termites or add other treatments that protect against many other pests. You don’t want anything to find itself rent-free in your home or furniture.
Declutter Your Home
If you are worried about termite infestations, try decluttering the area or your home. Adding clutter can attract pests. Termites will eat many types of material. These materials include:
- Books
- Wood
- Bamboo
- Drywall
- Cardboard
When you have a lot of clutter, it makes it easier for the termites to thrive. It also makes it difficult for you to notice if a termite swarm has infected your home and your furniture.
Fix Leaks In Your Home
Water causes unwanted moisture in your home and can dampen nearby wood. This type of environment is perfect for termites, and it is exactly what they seek out. To prevent them from showing up, fix those leaks and make sure that you dry out anywhere the water may have reached.
You don’t want any of your wood to be damp. If you suspect some of the wood had been exposed to the water, you will need to check the wood. It could be damaged, and this can also cause mold to grow.
Outro
Termites are one terrible pest to deal with. There are many things you can do to prevent and rid of. Just remember that termites only worsen over time and can destroy any structures made of materials that attract termites.
You have many choices to get rid of termites, whether you would like to go natural or hire an exterminator. Remember that prevention is always better than reacting to a swarm infestation.