Baking soda is an incredibly versatile household staple, often used in cooking, cleaning, and even personal care. However, one of its lesser-known but highly effective uses is pest control. This simple, inexpensive powder can help you get rid of common household and garden pests without resorting to harmful chemicals. Whether you’re dealing with cockroaches, ants, mice, or garden invaders like snails and slugs, baking soda can be an excellent solution. Below, we’ll explore the best ways to use baking soda to eliminate pests naturally.
How to Use Baking Soda for Pest Control
1. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are among the most persistent household pests. Baking soda can kill them, but they need to ingest it first. Since cockroaches are not naturally attracted to baking soda, you must mix it with a sweetener to lure them in.
What You Need:
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of sugar
Instructions:
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- Mix the baking soda and sugar in a bowl.
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- Sprinkle the mixture in areas where cockroaches are likely to appear, such as under sinks, behind appliances, and near food sources.
- When the cockroaches consume the mixture, the baking soda reacts with water inside their bodies, creating gas and expanding, ultimately killing them.
2. Ants
Ants can be a nuisance, but baking soda provides an effective way to eliminate them.
What You Need:
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of sugar
Instructions:
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- Mix equal parts baking soda and sugar.
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- Sprinkle the mixture in areas where you’ve seen ants, especially near entry points or along their trails.
- The sugar attracts the ants, while the baking soda disrupts their digestive system, leading to their elimination.
3. Mice and Rats
Rodents are unable to expel gas, which makes baking soda an effective way to eliminate them.
What You Need:
2/3 cup of baking soda
2/3 cup of sugar
2/3 cup of flour
Warm water
Instructions:
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- Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly.
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- Slowly add warm water until you get a dough-like consistency.
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- Roll the mixture into small balls and place them in areas where rodents are active.
- Once ingested, the gas buildup in their stomachs leads to fatal consequences.
4. Fleas
Fleas can be challenging to eliminate, but a combination of baking soda and salt works wonders.
What You Need:
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of salt
Instructions:
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- Mix equal parts baking soda and salt.
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- Sprinkle the mixture over carpets, rugs, and furniture where fleas might be hiding.
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- Use a brush to work the mixture deep into the fibers.
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- Let it sit overnight, then vacuum the area thoroughly.
- Dispose of the vacuum contents outside immediately to prevent reinfestation.
5. Bed Bugs
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