The 5 Best Termite Treatments for DIY Pest Control
Updated: Mar. 18, 2024
These treatments are the ultimate 'wood-erful' solution!
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When it comes to termites, prevention is the best treatment. If your home has already been infested by termites, it’s best to call a professional to get the job done—that way, you can ensure every last termite is terminated and you can start a new prevention plan.
To keep your termite-free home, well, termite-free, you can use a store-bought termite killer to keep it that way. We’ve rounded up the best termite treatments to keep your home safe from these pests—your home’s structure will thank you.
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BEST INDOOR/OUTDOOR TERMITE TREATMENT
Harris Carpenter Ant Killer & Termite Control Treatment
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BEST OVERALL TERMITE TREATMENT
Spectracide Terminate Complete Kit
Pros:
- All-in-one kit
- Quick to install
- Detects and kills termites
- Stakes last one year
Cons:
- Harmful to pets
If you’re looking for an all-in-one termite treatment kit, the Terminate Complete Kit from Spectracide, a well-known and trusted pest control brand, is the way to go. This kit detects termite activity via pop-up indicators staked in the ground and then proceeds to kill foraging termites.
It comes with 15 stakes and a digging tool, and according to the product information, it shouldn’t take longer than 20 to 30 minutes to install. Once installed, the stakes last a whopping 12 months! The main drawback is that this product is harmful to pets, so it’s not an ideal set-it-and-leave-it solution for owners of curious animals.
BEST BUDGET TERMITE TREATMENT
BioAdvanced Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Battery-powered sprayer
- Kills more than 60 different pests
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
Cons:
- Sprayer may not work the best
For a wallet-friendly price, this is one of the best termite treatments that covers substantial square and linear footage. Plus, it kills subterranean termites (the most common kind in the U.S.) and about 60 (yes, 60!) other bugs, including ants, roaches, ticks, fleas and other common household pests.
The ready-to-use formula can also be safely sprayed indoors (concentrates cannot, so read product labels carefully). Better yet, this product features a battery-powered sprayer, so there will be no more cramping and constantly switching hands when treating your yard or home perimeter.
BEST PET-SAFE TERMITE TREATMENT
Control Solutions Taurus SC
Pros:
- Safe around pets when instructions are followed
- Works in 90 days
- Lasts up to 10 years
- Kills entire colonies of termites
- Also terminates other pests
Cons:
- Requires digging a trench
- Has stipulations around application frequency
Technically, many pest control treatments are not harmful to pets once they have completely dried. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry with a guaranteed safe option. For peace of mind and termite control, Control Solutions Taurus SC Insecticide Termiticide is a quality option. The active ingredient is fipronil (at 9.1% in this product), which is the same active ingredient used in many topical flea and tick treatments for pets. As long as you abide by the label, this product is safe for use around pets.
Taurus SC will require more work than many other DIY best termite treatments. You have to dig a 6-inch trench and pour the product into it, covering it back up. However, when all the hard work is done, the treatment can last for up to 10 years, killing off existing termite colonies in 90 days or less.
BEST INDOOR/OUTDOOR TERMITE TREATMENT
Harris Carpenter Ant Killer & Termite Control Treatment
Pros:
- Safe for indoor and outdoor use
- Reaches small cracks and crevices
- Odorless
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Included sprayer might not last many uses
For an easy-to-use indoor/outdoor termite treatment, try this pick from Harris. This spray can reach tight cracks and crevices indoors. Plus, it serves as a perimeter spray to keep bugs away from the foundation of your home and from entering through small openings.
This product is also non-staining and odorless, so it won’t make your home smell like a chemical pit in the event you need to use it indoors. It’s long-lasting, too, keeping pests at bay for up to a month. The 1-gallon container comes with a trigger spray to get the job done quickly.
BEST FOAM TERMITE TREATMENT
Basf Termidor Foam
Pros:
- 1 ounce of product expands to 5 quarts of foam
- Uses highly-effective fipronil
- Kills entire colonies of termites
- Designed for hard-to-reach places
Cons:
- Not ideal for large surface areas
A direct chemical action treatment is best for spot treatments and wall voids. This pressurized foam uses fipronil to kill termites and other pests. It’s non-repellent, which means the pests don’t detect it, and that causes them to accidentally infect an entire colony—killing the termites at the source.
Thanks to the expansion ratio of 30:1, 1 ounce of product dispensed from the nozzle becomes about 5 quarts of foam in just a few seconds. This product is ideal for hot spots like bath traps, non-sealed wooden components in decks and patios, attics and crawl spaces, pipe chases and other hard-to-reach areas.
What to Consider When Buying a Termite Treatment
When buying a termite treatment, there are a few questions you’ll need to answer first.
- How large is the treatment area?
- Am I treating indoors or outdoors, or both?
- Am I treating just the perimeter, or the entire lawn?
- Can I realistically keep my pets away from the treatment until it’s dry?
- What’s my budget?
- Can I keep up with a monthly treatment or should I use something that’s longer-lasting?
- Do I also want to kill other pests?
Answering these questions will help you determine which is the best termite treatment for you. In some cases, you may need to purchase more than one product to meet all of your criteria.
How We Found the Best Termite Treatments
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
Is there a permanent solution for termites?
While some treatments will be more effective than others, there is no permanent solution for termites, which is why staying on top of treatments is so important.
How many times a year should you treat for termites?
The length of efficacy of termiticides varies. You should perform a termite treatment at the frequency indicated on the label of the product you choose. For most DIY consumer treatments, the recommendation is once per month.
Do termites go away in the winter?
Although termites may be more active during the warmer months, that doesn’t mean they’ll go away during the winter. It’s quite common to find the insects in your home during colder weather.
How long does termite treatment last?
The effectiveness of all termiticides wanes over time, but how long one lasts depends on the active ingredient, the concentration of the active ingredient, where it’s sprayed and in what quantities, how porous the treatment area is, how often it rains and other factors. Some DIY treatments last just one month, others last a year, and some, like Taurus SC, last long periods of multiple years.
Originally Published: May 16, 2023
