It’s that time of year again when creepy insects and rodents are out and about in our homes and yards. The usual suspects like cockroaches, ants, and mice have been making themselves known, but there’s a solution that can take care of them with just one use.
Borax, in particular, is often used in cleaners and can be your best friend when it comes to dealing with ants, silverfish, cockroaches, fleas, and mice.
Ants
Both pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) and carpenter ants (Camponotus spp) can become pests in the home. Carpenter ants are larger and prefer to build their nests in wooden furniture, floorboards and other timber.
Carpenter ants invade in search of food and can get into kitchen cabinets as well as other parts of the house where moisture or food may be found. Eliminate ant infestations with borax by filling any entry holes or cracks in walls, floors and doors.
Cockroaches
Eliminate cockroach infestation by applying a thin line of borax to walls, trim, cupboards and skirting boards. Any that cross the line will die and new cockroaches will be prevented from entering.
Rats, mice and other rodents
Both rats and mice can infest a house, in places where plenty of food and water can be found. These pests can burrow into walls and cabinets to create safe places to hide and nest.
Create bait with ground up dog or cat food and borax and fill mice holes or near areas where they are likely to hang out. The rodents, will bring the bait to their nest, exposing the rest to the borax.
Other insects
Fleas (Siphonaptera) are tiny insects that are difficult to see with the naked eye. The only food source for fleas is blood and they will feed on any potential host, including humans and their pets. Spray borax on all floor surfaces, including hardwood, tile, carpet and cement, to eliminate flea infestations. Allow the borax to sit for 24 to 48 hours before vacuuming.
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) infest papers, boxes, bindings, starchy clothes and upholstery. They have a conical body and long antennae at both ends. These wingless insects eat paper and similar surfaces by chewing them. To eliminate an infestation, apply fine borax powder to infested areas.
