How to Protect Your Furniture from Termites

Termites are very troublesome house pests. They secretly invade homes from the ground to live and feed on wood furniture. In worst cases, some termites do cause fungus to grow although the coptotermes species consume the fungus and mould away, yet the mud trails and its nest usually possess high moisture leading to potential growth of mould.

Leaving termites untreated within your home can cost considerable damage especially in structural terms. Before the problem escalates to something serious to your family, here are some tips to help protect your home and wood furniture from termites:

Use the right wood polish

Wood polishes are meant to keep the furniture in top condition, in addition to looking good and new. Wood polish provides an extra coat on the wood surface, giving it increased resistance to moisture and other environmental agents like water. There are also some wood polishes that may contain substances that are repellent to termites, giving it the added benefit of protecting furniture from termites to some extent.

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Keep furniture away from moisture

Termites are drawn to moisture. When furniture has moisture, it is more likely that termites would flock and settle there if there is substantial food source. Moisture is also a potential breeding ground for moulds, which is generally harmful to human health. Reduce moisture by applying wood polish and using microfiber cloth for cleaning instead of water.  Be mindful of any leaks inside the house, causing the furniture to become wet.

Put furniture under the sun

In the event that a piece of wood furniture does get wet, placing it under the afternoon sun will do a neat trick. Not only will the sunlight dry the furniture completely, termites are unable to withstand extreme heat and it’s possible to kill them if they are inside.

Termite Baiting

In Singapore, the most common type of termite is the coptotermes, a species of the subterranean termite. The subterranean species build nest in the soil because they need ample amount of moisture to survive. This kind of termite species build mud tubes to work their way above-ground to search for food, often making their way to structures like homes and buildings. Underground baiting can be used for these kinds of termites.

Taking the first step to detect signs of termites infestation

Termites are not as easy to detect and identify. Firstly, they live underground or within walls and structures that made visibility a problem. Secondly, termites are often categorise as ants, partly most are confused with some labeling termites as white ants. Thirdly, their infestations are not easy to identify as mud tubes (unless we have seen before), frass that often mistaken for dusts and cracks that could be interpreted as home defects. Finally, it requires special tools and technology to detect termite activities and movements such as Microwave Technology. Such detection and home checks requires the professional service of a termite control specialist to avoid inaccurate or inadequate pest identification.

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Get rid of termites with a peace of mind

Dealing with termites on your own is stressful and tiring as the solution is not as straightforward compared to common home pests. That is why it is best to call a professional when it comes to termites infesting your home. Start protecting your home or furniture by taking the first step to conduct a thorough inspection by our team of experts so that you do not have to worry on how to get rid of termites when an infestation arises.

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