Using Baking Soda As A Bug Repellent
Using Baking Soda As A Bug Repellent
Baking soda has long been used to repel bugs but only in recent years is it making a comeback. The need for everyone to find safe and effective ways to fight bugs has sent people looking for more natural methods.
Baking soda is high on that list simply because it is safe for pets and humans for the most part. Bugs, however, are a different story…they hate the stuff. There are many types of bugs that baking soda works on but two main culprits…ants and roaches. Both ants and roaches are controlled quite well through the use of baking soda.
Here are some tips for both ants and roaches:
Controlling roaches with baking soda
Roaches are pretty smart and they will not go down without a fight. If you have a roach problem, you will need to be patient and persistent. No roach problem is going to go away overnight regardless of the method. That said, baking soda is the safest way to fight them off and it is quite effective.
To start, you want to gather several milk jug lids and bottle lids. The main thing is that they have a shallow lip around the edges and are not too big. A typical milk jug lid is perfect.
Mix baking soda and sugar together in roughly equal parts. Really mix it up well. Put this mixture inside the lids you have collected.
Once you have several lids prepared, search out the hidden areas that you know roaches are hiding. Inside cabinets, under the fridge and behind appliances are great spots. Place them all around and then put a lid full of water nearby.
The roaches will search out the sugar, eat some of the baking soda and then they are as good as dead. The roaches will then take some of the water and cause the baking soda to react and kill them.
`This is doubly effective because the healthy roaches will eat the dead ones and then they will also have it in their stomachs. Eventually the cycle will eradicate them in theory but it does take some time and persistence.
Fighting ants with baking soda
Ants are a bit more straightforward. They can be killed with a direct approach if you know where there are ant hills. The easy way is to simply put a bit of water and a couple of cups of baking soda directly into the mound. Wait about a half an hour or so and then place one cup of vinegar into the hole. The ants will be no more in no time flat.
If your ant problem is a bit less obvious, start paying attention to where they come and go. Find the entrance and then place baking soda around that threshold or area. The ants will probably avoid it completely but those that do try to cross will be killed in time. Ants and baking soda do not mix well at all.
These are two powerful ways to use baking soda to control your bug problems. What others do you know of that you could share?
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