How to Get Rid of Termites on Antiques

Protect your irreplaceable antiques by getting rid of termites before they cause permanent damage. Termites cause more than $1.7 billion in damages each year in the United States, according to the University of Arizona. The continental U.S. has approximately 46 different species of this destructive pest. Termite colonies populate quickly, which makes it harder to control them as their colonies get larger. Quick and efficient control is necessary to get rid of termites on antiques permanently.

1 cup boric acid powder
Hand duster
Dish detergent
Soft cloth
Warm water
Distilled water
Termite bait blocks

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the areas in and around your antiques. If termites are infesting your antiques, they are probably infesting other parts of your home. Look for mud tubes near windows or doors. Mud tubes are made of mud and feces, approximately 1/2 inch wide.
- 2
  Insert 1 cup of boric acid powder into a hand duster. Shake the hand duster to mix the boric acid with the air inside the duster.
- 3
  Squeeze a thin layer of boric acid powder over the interior and exterior surfaces of the antiques. Boric acid attaches to the exteriors of the termites, which brings the boric acid directly to the termite colony.
- 4
  Leave the boric acid powder on the surfaces for two weeks. It takes time for the termites to bring the boric acid powder back to their colonies.
- 5
  Wash the boric acid powder off your antiques, using dish detergent, warm water and a soft cloth. Rinse the surfaces of the antiques with distilled water and wipe them dry. Distilled water neutralizes the surfaces of the antiques.
- 6
  Place termite bait blocks inside the drawers of antiques and along the baseboards where your antiques are located. A termite bait block disrupts the reproductive cycle of the termites, which destroys the whole colony.

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