Borax kills cockroaches as soon as the insects consume it.
Borax is another name for boric acid, a strong chemical that has insecticidal, fungicidal and herbicidal characteristics. This makes borax a popular in-home material to keep around to fight off unwanted weeds, mold and insects. Borax is safer than other pesticides since it doesn't evaporate into the air and spread around the home, but it must still be used carefully as an insecticide. Does this Spark an idea?
How Borax Works
The poisonous qualities of borax work against insects from the inside. When an insect eats borax, the poison breaks down their sensitive digestive systems, resulting in near-immediate death. Therefore, most recipes for borax as an insect repellent call for it to be mixed with food that will attract and appeal to the insects. The smell of borax alone will not drive most insects away, but once it becomes clear that the area has been trapped with poison, the insects will stay away. Or you will kill the entire infestation with the borax-food mixture.
Borax for Ants
Ants are easily attracted by sweet-smelling and sweet-tasting foods, so mixing in borax with sweets is a sure way to lure and kill ants. Combine 1 to 2 tsp. of borax into sweet syrup and spread the mixture in areas that you know you have seen ants or you suspect there are ants. The ants will feed on the sugary syrup, and may even take some of the sweet treat back to the hive with them. Consuming the borax-laden syrup will kill the ants.
Borax for Cockroaches
Apply the same mixing method for cockroaches, except use granulated sugar. Mix equal parts sugar and borax powder together and spread them where cockroaches have been seen. The powders look a lot alike so make sure you keep them separate. The roaches will feed on the sugar and the borax will kill them from the inside out.
Borax Safety
Borax can cause skin irritation, and so should be handled with the utmost care. When you are mixing and spreading any material that contains borax, wear protective gloves and safety goggles. Keep your hands away from your face, especially sensitive areas such as the nose, eyes and mouth, until you are able to wash your hands after use.
Borax Warnings
Even though borax is not quite as dangerous as other pesticides, it is still a poison that can do serious harm if not treated carefully. Do not store borax near food products or anywhere that it could be confused for a food product. Keep the borax away from pets and children. This can be tricky when you are spreading borax-laden syrup and sugar around your home; consider treating one area at a time and quarantining the children and animals from that room until the infestation is over and you can thoroughly clean the baited area.
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