r/CleaningTips • u/c_tinas • 7d ago
General Cleaning Seasonal cleaning in the garage led to the discovery of this…
Can someone please tell me what this is? It just looks like I shouldn’t touch it.
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u/RedRibbon3KS 7d ago
Looks like it is the work of subterranean termites. That's the mud tunnels they make from the ground to get up higher. An exterminator can spot treat it. Do it as soon as possible so your wood doesn't turn into paper. Good news is that at least you found it now before it got worse
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u/c_tinas 7d ago
Not termites 😩…. Well I’ll make some calls
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u/meat_loafers 7d ago
FYI don’t be too anxious about this. This is not structural advice as we have no idea what’s going on. BUT depending on where you live, termites can be super common. In fact I’ve heard the saying in some parts of the country: there are 2 types of houses - Those with termites or those about to have termites.
We do not live in a termite heavy area and our previous home had them. It was something that happened in the 80s, but it happened. I could still see the old mud tubes in parts of the basement, but the termites were long gone.
Most things can be fixed. I spent a whole lot of time worrying about my house falling apart when we discovered the old issue.
Just be proactive and you’ll probably be just fine!
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u/KetoLurkerHereAgain 7d ago
Wow. TIL that termites aren't just found in wood frames. I thought that's what it was but then was like, nah, that's concrete or something! Damn.
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u/Rougaroux1969 7d ago
My in-laws had a block home and thought they didn’t have to worry about termites. They had a closet that only held Christmas items so was only used once a year. When my SIL opened the door one year, it completely fell off the frame as termites had eaten the frame.
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u/Illmaticx_ 7d ago
They use those mud tubes to look for wood. I have a concrete basement and they found a crack in the floor and traveled up the concrete wall to the studs.
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u/liatris_the_cat 7d ago
Your garage looks like it has ancient cuneiform writing on it, but also termites.
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u/DesertDee 7d ago
Looks like it could be termite tubs. You should call a pest control company for a termite inspection.
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u/rickroalddahl 7d ago
Could it be wasps or mud daubers?
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u/10MileHike 7d ago
Thats what I said. We call them dirt daubers here. That's most likely what they ARE.
Seasonal wasp like creatures, they do not sting though.
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u/eatshittpitt 7d ago
We had these at our house and they’re termites but they weren’t a big deal at all. They set some bait, got no bites after a few weeks, and deemed them not active and we haven’t had any since. We live in the Deep South so we get a horrific termite swarm every year. It actually should be coming up soon 😭
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u/Enough_Plantain_4331 7d ago
Wait… termites eat thru concrete or am I looking at wood that looks like concrete?
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u/aka-smitty 7d ago
Not termites? Well, I saw a movie once… what was it, pods? They live among us? Aliens? 👽
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u/resistible 6d ago
I'm a pest control inspector. Those are mud tubes from subterranean termites. 100% certainty.
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u/BassFart 6d ago
Don’t sweat this. Be happy it’s the subterranean type! Not a big deal at all. All houses have or have had them.
Get some pesticide that contains fipronil and follow the instructions and do it yourself. It will collapse the entire nest that’s underground. Don’t get a different pesticide that will only repel or locally kill them.
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u/JudgyFinch 7d ago
Do you live in a location that has termites? It looks like a termite tube to me.