We’ll be discussing the different uses of baking soda for pest control.
Baking soda is among the most common household items that have many uses. It can be used on plants, for food, odor control, as a cleaning agent as well as for pest control.
One of the most important things about its use is that it’s natural and isn’t toxic to plants, the environment, and humans as well as animals.
Baking Soda for Pest Removal
Baking soda is popularly used in food as a leavening agent.
Also known as sodium bicarbonate, It is white in appearance and has a salty taste. This base mineral has a wide range of uses. Its composition consists of a little bit of cornstarch as well as an acid mineral.
However, we are only interested in discussing its uses for pest control.
Baking Soda Pest Control Options
Baking soda insecticide can be used as a natural pest control remedy against a wide variety of pests. These include roaches, bed bugs, slugs, ants including a wide variety of undesirable bugs.
Although baking soda has been proven to be effective on pests, you’ll need to know just how to apply it.
Does baking soda attract bugs or does it repel and keep them away? Find out.
How Baking Soda Kills Pests
When baking soda is ingested by insects, it releases carbon dioxide bubbles which is fatal and poisons or kills them. Not only will baking soda kill when it’s ingested, but it’s also effective when it comes in contact with the body of pests.
Baking soda consists of tiny granules that can cut through the body of pests thereby causing internal bleeding. Certain pests such as bed bugs have a waxy layer on their shell that serves as protection against dehydration.
When baking soda comes in contact with it, it absorbs the surface fluids on the waxy layer, thus causing dehydration.
There are several ways to make use of baking soda. One includes direct application while another includes preparing a bait which may include mixing it with sugar or other substances.
Bed Bugs
One of the most dreaded household pests to have is bed bug infestation.
These can make life unbearable as they feed on blood. The feeding habits of bed bugs mean they will keep you awake through their bites when you should be resting.
The first thing that comes to mind is how to get rid of them fast.
Baking soda is among the most common and versatile products found in most households. It can also be used to provide much-needed relief from these blood-sucking bugs.
So, how can it be used?
Procedure
There are several ways to achieve baking soda bed bug control, including piling, paste sprinkle, and bait.
While bed bug treatment using baking soda will help get rid of them, there’s no guarantee it will eliminate it, especially when not properly used.
Piling
When bed bugs infest your home, most of them are likely to be found around your bed.
However, others will need to travel to and climb up your bed to get to you. To prevent this from happening, pile baking soda in a thick layer around the legs of your bed.
This should also be repeated for the base of couches and wherever you want to keep bed bugs away from. To reach the beds, bed bugs will have to plow through the piled baking soda.
This, in turn, exposes them to the deadly effects of the compound.
Making A Paste
Baking soda can also be used in paste form for pest control. You only need to pour a sufficient amount into a bowl and mix with water until paste forms. Its thickness should be similar to that of honey.
Now, get a brush and paint the paste wherever you suspect bed bugs might be hiding.
Sprinkle
The most common form of baking soda application for pest control is sprinkling.
This fine powder is sprinkled in a thick layer around all furniture and other areas of the home you suspect bed bugs to hide. The objective is to ensure bed bugs can’t move out without plowing through the thick layer of baking soda.
After sprinkling, it should be allowed to stay overnight and be vacuumed the next day. This can be done repeatedly until there’s a noticeable improvement.
Preparing A Bait
When using baking soda for other types of pest problems such as rat infestations, it can be prepared in the form of bait. This is because It will need to be made inviting enough for rats to consider ingesting it.
In preparing a bait, sugar is added and mixed with some water.
Sugarcoating makes it irresistible and eventually eaten by rodents. It soon takes its toll on rats when the mixture comes in contact with the acids in the rat’s stomach.
This produces carbon dioxide gas which cannot be expelled, thus eventually killing the rat.
Baking Soda And Insect Control
Does baking soda kill insects? Yes.
Whether you have roach, ant, slug, rat, or bed bug problems, baking soda can be used effectively against such pests. The process for using this compound may vary depending on the type of pest problem being faced.
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Ants
A bait is prepared using equal parts of sugar and baking soda.
Ants get easily attracted to sugar and will waste no time swooping on your bait. Once ingested, the effects of the baking soda kick in. It reacts with the acid in their digestive system which is very toxic and kills them in no time.
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Roaches
Roach extermination can also be done using this natural method. Similar to ant control, a roach bait is prepared by mixing equal parts of sugar and baking soda. While the sugar serves to attract roaches, baking soda does the job of killing them.
Once ingested, it becomes poisonous when reacting with the acid in their digestive system.
When making this bait, it should be mixed in a shallow bowl and placed around areas where roaches are common, especially the kitchen area.
This process can be repeated until there’s a clear improvement in your pest situation.
Using baking soda for roaches has proven to be effective. As we’ve seen, it can either be used alone or as bait by mixing it with other substances like sugar. This provides natural relief in addition to being inexpensive.
It can also be used together with other pest control methods.
FIND OUT: Does Baking Soda Kill Termites?
Baking Soda Use in Pest Control – Safety Considerations
This is an important aspect of pest control. Baking soda, in this case very harmless.
It is used around the home for several purposes including personal hygiene as well as a cleaning agent. This can be generously applied for the best results.