Wooden furniture brings a cozy and fashionable feel to your house, but it can also attract unwanted guests like insects, termites. These small bugs eat away at wood making furniture weak and shortening how long it lasts. The upside? If you take care of your furniture often and form smart habits, you can shield your wooden items before termites move in.
Here's what you can do to keep termites away from your furniture and maintain its good looks:
1. Look Often
Give your furniture a once-over every couple of months. Watch out for clues like small holes on the wood's surface wood that sounds empty when tapped, sawdust or bits of wood near where pieces join, or white ants (termite workers) crawling around. Spotting these signs helps stop big damage.
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2. Keep Furniture Free of Moisture
Termites like damp places. Don't put wood furniture where water builds up—next to pipes that leak, walls with dampness, air conditioning units, or spots with lots of moisture in the air. If you see paint coming off, mold growing, or wet patches, fix these water problems right away. Use machines to remove moisture from the air or make sure rooms with high humidity have good airflow.
3. Use Proper Finishes & Treatments
Put protective coatings on wood surfaces, like varnish, paint, or wood sealers. These make a shield that termites struggle to get through. You can also try termite-repelling treatments: borate mixtures neem oil, or store-bought wood protectors. Consult with an expert to learn how to caare for old or detailed carved items.
4. Keep the Wood Off the Ground
Placing furniture on soil or ground gives subterranean termites easy access to wood. Use legs, risers, or concrete pads to create a physical gap between furniture and damp flooring or soil.
5. Choose Good Wood
Some types of wood resist termites better than others—like teak, cedar, cypress, or redwood. When buying new furniture, opt for treated or long-lasting wood. In areas known for termite activity, stay away from softwoods.
6. Clean & Maintain Well
Dusting and cleaning help with more than just looks—they're good for hygiene too. Insects can be drawn to wood debris (sawdust, particle build-up). Use dry or damp cloths to wipe furniture. Don't soak cleaning cloths. Fix chips or peeling finishes to protect exposed wood.
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7. Set Up Protective Barriers & Surroundings
Set wood furniture next to metal flashing bases, stone, and concrete. These materials can make a difference. Also, tend to the zone that surrounds your home: trim back foliage and wood mulch that comes near the walls, make sure to keep the firewood stored away from the premises, and ensure that wood does not touch the soil close to the foundation.
Why is it Important
Unlike other forms of damage, termite damage can not be located until it is too late. You may face a handful of issues with your furniture and your house will be expensive to deal with if you have not taken the prevention methods outlined above.
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