How Does Vinegar Kill Termites?

If you are a homeowner and you suspect that there are termite species living and breeding on your property, you know that you have a serious problem on your hands. Your best option in cases like this is to contact a professional termite exterminator who can inspect and treat your home.

But, if calling a pest control expert is out of the question, all hope is not yet lost. Many homeowners try to deal with termites on their own. Among the most popular home remedies used for killing termites is none other than vinegar.

So, how does vinegar kill termites?

Vinegar is made from the diluted acetic acid. This acetic acid is responsible for the odor and flavor of vinegar. Acetic acid is the reason why vinegar can kill termites. These insects can’t digest acetic acid. Their soft skeletons can also not survive acetic acid once they come into contact with it.

When the concentration of acetic acid is higher, the vinegar solution will also be more effective at killing termites.

To be more specific, 10% of acetic acid could kill around 50% of termites in just 15 days. However, a higher acetic acid concentration of 20% can kill up to 80% of termites in just 15 days.

However, since most types of vinegar only have 5 to 6% acetic acid content, you can still use vinegar for killing termites although it might not be that efficient for the job.

Can You Kill Termites with Vinegar?

Yes, you can but it won’t be efficient enough.

Even though it is possible to use vinegar to kill termites, don’t expect that you can eliminate an entire infestation using it alone.

This is because the acetic acid content of standard vinegar is not enough.

Researchers in a certain study soaked wood pieces in vinegar for 20 minutes before giving them to termites.

The results revealed that just 14% of the termites were killed which was not really that high.

It means that vinegar-soaked wood only killed 4% more termites than their natural death.

So, although you can spray vinegar on wood to kill termites, the method is not that effective if you want to eliminate infestations.

Can You Spray Vinegar Directly on Termites?

You can kill termites if you spray vinegar on them directly but this method of extermination is not that very practical.

It takes around 15 days for vinegar to kill termites upon contact. While you can drown termites by spraying on them, killing termites with this method could take as much as 20 hours.

Direct spraying of vinegar on termites is not anyway better at killing off termites compared to spraying wood with it.

You might need to wait for a long time before you see significant results.

Can Vinegar Repel Termites?

The repellent effect of vinegar on termites is slight but its effect can only last for several days. This repellency will not last mainly because of the vinegar’s low acetic acid concentration.

Higher concentrations are going to have stronger repellency yet their effectiveness will only last for two days.

Take note that vinegar will only be efficient in repelling termites when you apply it on untreated wood. Vinegar won’t be absorbed if the wood in question is sealed or painted.

All in all, vinegar is not an effective natural termite repellent, unlike other options.

Can You Kill Termites with Wood Vinegar?

Yes, you can kill termites with wood vinegar as this is a great pesticide. A study revealed that wood vinegar can get rid of termites in just 7 days with a 2% concentration. At 8% concentration, the mortality can reach up to 100% in just 3 days if you use wood vinegar.

It is a must to remember that wood vinegar and vinegar are not the same. Wood vinegar is a type of natural product that is made of wood as well as other plant materials.

Mix 100ml water and 8ml wood vinegar to form an 8% solution for treating termites. Put the mixture in a spray bottle then apply this to infected places.

To get the best results, make sure that you only apply the solution to untreated wood. It is also recommended to continuously use this solution once a week.

Natural Alternatives to Vinegar for Killing Termites

Aside from vinegar, there are other natural alternatives that you can use to address your termite problem.

Beneficial nematodes

The beneficial nematodes are the parasites used as biocontrol for pests. These attack insects without posing any danger to humans, pets, and plants. These are fatal to termites, particularly subterranean termites. They enter the bodies of termites and release fatal bacteria that can kill termites in just 2 days.

Boric acid or borates

Borax or boric acid is an outstanding natural alternative to vinegar if you want to kill termites. This can get rid of termites on wood in just 10 days.

Essential oils

You can use essential oils to kill and repel termites that are hiding in wood around your home. Essential oils can offer a mortality rate of 70% to 100% in just 3 days. Among the most effective essential oils you can use against termites include clove oil, garlic oil, and orange oil. These oils can be sprayed directly at termites or you can also inject them into places with termite infestations.

Diatomaceous earth

DE or diatomaceous earth can kill termites by damaging their exoskeletons which can eventually kill them.

Cold treatment

Freezing termites is one way of eliminating them. Temperatures less than 25 degrees are deadly to these pests. This is done by many professionals through the injection of liquid nitrogen in infested places. Liquid nitrogen could have temperatures of up to -320 degrees that could be fatal to termites.

Heat treatment

Temperatures of more than 120 Fahrenheit are deadly to termites. This is why heat application is among the best ways to naturally get rid of termites.

While vinegar can kill termites through its acetic acid content, it might not be that efficient all the time.