How To Use Boric Acid To Eliminate Roaches In Your Home For Good
While cleaning the pantry or organizing the fridge, it's not uncommon to catch sight of unwanted roaches. Cockroaches are drawn to our homes and apartments due to several factors, like moisture, warmth, or an untouched trail of food. They'll find their way through the cracks in our walls, doorways, basements, and even a door left wide open. While our immediate reaction might be to grab the bug spray, opting for a sprinkle of boric acid instead can help you kill off these roaches while ensuring their population doesn't grow.
Boric acid is a chemical compound that can be found in a variety of fruits and plants. Due to its natural components — like boron, oxygen, and hydrogen — it makes a great roach repellant that's relatively harmless to humans. When roaches come into contact with an area affected by boric acid, they naturally ingest the substance that breaks down their digestive and nervous system. Once the cockroach dies, other roaches consume the carcass and, as a result, die from boric acid entering their system. Not only is boric acid highly effective for targeted areas, but it also helps naturally repel roaches. We've got all the answers on the methodology to ensure your home remains roach-free.
How to use boric acid to get rid of roaches
First thing's first: Clearing out the infested area. Depending on where these roaches have chosen to make a home, remove any pots, dishes, and packaged food that may be in the way. Once the surrounding area is empty, wipe down the countertops and adjoining surfaces using water and cleaning detergent. After the affected area has been cleaned out, spread the boric acid powder around the kitchen, behind the refrigerator, and in the corners of the floor. Since roaches are nocturnal and prone to appearing when everyone has fallen asleep, the best time to pour boric acid around the house is before bed.
In the morning, you'll likely be faced with a graveyard of cockroaches. Using a vacuum, clean up the remaining boric acid and dead cockroaches before emptying the vacuum filter. Even after their death, roaches are known to cause allergies and irritate asthmatic symptoms, so it's best not to make contact with these insects. After vacuuming up the surrounding area, use a wet rag to clean up any remaining traces of boric acid.
Other uses for boric acid around the house
Besides being an effective solution to roach infestations, there are several uses for boric acid to better clean and protect your home. For example, boric acid can be a great cleaning agent for laundry that has been affected by stains, mold, fungus, and unpleasant odors — all you need to do is add a tablespoon of boric acid to your washer before starting the load. Additionally, you can clean your kitchen, bathroom, and any other bacteria-harboring spaces with a cup of boric acid. Toss a cup of boric acid into your toilet or sink and allow the product to sit for 20-30 minutes. You may choose to scrub these surfaces while you wait for your timer to go off.
If you're often faced with a grimy refrigerator, boric acid is here to save the day. After emptying the fridge for cleaning, sprinkle small doses of boric acid on the shelves, drawers, and compartments within your fridge. After 10-15 minutes, wipe the powder away using a paper towel or soft cloth. Besides cleaning the affected areas, boric acid will also remove any unpleasant odors and naturally deodorize your fridge. Don't forget to keep this household essential close by for the future!