Woodworms, the Natural Tricks to Eliminate Them and Protect Your Furniture

When you’re decorating your home, you might opt for a modern look, but sometimes, to add warmth and uniqueness, you choose an old wardrobe or a vintage bedside table. These special pieces, usually made entirely of wood, can make the space feel cozier. However, since these pieces of furniture are made purely of wood, if not treated adequately, they can be affected by woodworms.

vintage furniture

Woodworms are insects that can cause serious damage to wooden furniture and other objects, such as doors, windows, and floors. They eat the cellulose found in wood, which can lead to significant damage. As they feed, they create small holes in the wood and leave behind a fine powdery substance.

Fortunately, there are many natural ways to fight woodworms and protect your wooden furniture from harm. Let’s explore these remedies together.

10 Tricks to Fight Woodworms

Lavender is a natural insect repellent. Woodworms really dislike its scent, making it a fantastic option. You can create little lavender sachets and place them in your clothes or inside closets. If you place these sachets where woodworms are present, they’ll be deterred from coming near.

Woodworms are bothered by the strong and unpleasant smell of citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. Cut some citrus peels and position them close to the furniture infested with these insects. This will help keep them away.

Cloves have natural properties that repel insects, which is great for safeguarding cabinets from woodworms. Put some cloves in cotton bags and place them in your drawers and cupboards. This will help keep woodworms away from your furniture.

a board with many insect holes

A natural method to protect furniture from these insects comes directly from Japan. Mix 10ml of Japanese cedar oil with 10ml of vodka and 5ml of water. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and use it to rub the furniture. This method can help protect your furniture from woodworms.

Cinnamon and bay leaves are two more natural repellents against woodworms. Put bay leaves and cinnamon sticks into bags, and then place these bags inside drawers and cabinets that are affected by woodworms. This will help keep bugs out and keep your furniture safe.

Garlic is a very powerful pesticide and very useful in the fight against moths. To use it, simply plant some garlic and place it near the furniture you want to protect.

wood board affected by woodworms

And More

Cypress wood emits a potent scent that these insects dislike. You can purchase chunks of cypress wood and place them where there are woodworms, such as in closets. Another option is to use cypress wood essential oil. Apply it to the furniture to keep it protected from woodworms and their damage.

Patchouli essential oil is another natural remedy to deter woodworms from your furniture. You can add a few drops of patchouli essential oil to a diffuser or make a spray by mixing the essential oil with water.

Eucalyptus and horse chestnut are two more natural solutions to repel woodworms. I recommend placing branches of eucalyptus and horse chestnut in drawers and wardrobes to deter insects from approaching.

bunch of horse chestnut

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