How Orange Oil Works for Effective Termite Treatment

Technician applying orange oil termite treatment to attic wood beam in the Bay Area, CA

Understanding the Science of Orange Oil Termite Treatment

Have you heard of using orange oil for termite treatment? It’s used for several insects and is a natural pest control alternative to toxic chemicals. There’s been a lot of controversy about orange oil: some say it eradicates termites, while others say it’s ineffective. However, as with most issues, the truth lies somewhere in between. Does orange oil work for termites? Here, we will discuss its pros and cons and talk about the science behind it.

What Is Orange Oil?

Orange oil is the common name for XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus, a product made of fermented oil from orange rinds. The fermentation produces a substance called D-limonene, which kills termites on contact. It’s used to treat termites directly and is popular because it doesn’t require the homeowner to move out of the house during treatment. But is it effective?

Does Orange Oil Kill Termites?

Orange oil kills termites, as D-limonene dissolves their exoskeletons. The question is whether that is enough to treat an entire termite infestation. Because it requires direct contact with termites, orange oil is often not enough to get rid of a large termite colony. What’s more, while orange oil will kill subterranean termites, it’s not a practical option for getting rid of these termites, because their colonies are underground, out of reach. It kills drywood termites because they live in the house’s wood, and a termite control expert can apply orange oil directly to their homes. When termites live in wood, a termite technician can drill holes in the wood to treat the infested areas. When orange oil is injected into these holes, it seeps into the wood, travels through the wood’s porous cells by capillary action, and kills termites and their eggs on contact.

How effective is orange oil for termites?

What makes orange oil effective is using it as part of a comprehensive plan. A termite control company will send an inspector to your home to determine the extent of the infestation. Then a plan will be customized to treat your home and your unique termite infestation. This may involve orange oil, along with other treatments that kill termites through other means. When the various treatments are combined, termites are removed from the house in short order. A company that only uses orange oil, however, leaves your home vulnerable to reinfestation and to continued damage from any termites that might have been missed the first time. The orange oil will need to be reapplied repeatedly to continue working, rather than the termites being eradicated during the first treatment.

Pros of Orange Oil Treatment

If orange oil isn’t always effective, why is it still widely used? It’s because, even if it’s not perfect, it still has significant benefits.

Orange oil is environmentally low-impact.
It can be used effectively to treat wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and drywood termites.
There is no need for the homeowner to relocate during the treatment.
Orange oil is not harmful to plants or pets.
It won’t compromise your food or medicinal supplies, so there is no need to remove these things during treatment.
There is no need to worry about roof tile damage.

Cons of Orange Oil Treatment

So, what are the drawbacks?

As discussed, it’s not effective against subterranean termites.
It is a low-toxicity product, but prolonged exposure or ingestion can cause unpleasant symptoms.
Orange oil is flammable, so care must be taken when it’s in a home’s wood.
Because it only kills on contact, orange oil won’t kill infestations that go undetected.
To apply orange oil, a termite technician must drill holes into the house’s wood components.
Orange oil won’t exterminate all of the termites with just one treatment.
Treating a large infestation with orange oil can be expensive.
Orange oil only addresses existing infestations, without leaving residual protection against future termites.

What Homeowners Need to Know About Orange Oil

Orange oil (XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus) is a natural, low-impact treatment for drywood termites and wood-boring beetles. However, it has a short residual effect—typically just 3–8 days—and is only effective when the entire infested site is treated. If the infestation extends into inaccessible areas, other methods may be needed.

MightyMite Termite’s expertise means knowing when orange oil is the right solution—and when it isn’t. We offer a range of targeted treatments and always customize our approach to your home’s unique needs.

Orange Oil for Termites in Comparison to Fumigation

If orange oil is not entirely effective, are you better off with fumigation? Not necessarily. Some exterminators prefer tent fumigation because it uses chemicals that penetrate all wooden structures in your home and kill a spread-out colony or even multiple colonies. However, like orange oil, fumigation cannot treat subterranean termites. What’s more, fumigation requires homeowners to leave their homes, board their pets, relocate their plants, and seal up food or move it out of the house to prevent contamination. Your best course of action is to consult a professional termite control company to develop a comprehensive termite control plan.

How to Look for Professional Termite Control

When you need termite control, look for a company that offers not only low-toxicity treatments and a comprehensive plan, but also transparency. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, and some termite control companies make promises that don’t quite add up. Look for a company known for effective treatments backed by strong warranties, and ask around to find one with a strong reputation.

MightyMite Termite Services Uses XT 2000 Orange Oil Plus and Other Treatments for Effective Control

For an effective, comprehensive treatment plan, start by calling the termite control professionals at MightyMite Termite Services for a free inspection. We perform termite inspections to ensure that your home is free of termites and work hard to help you keep it that way, treating termites with naturally derived, environmentally low-impact solutions. We diagnose and treat infestations with the most effective methods and unmatched warranties, solving your termite problems the first time, with an industry-best “no call-back rate.” That, combined with our experience, technology, and highly trained professional staff, makes us the leading extermination company in the Bay Area. To schedule an inspection or learn more about our services, contact us through our website.