A lot of people quickly grab store-bought sprays and toxic chemicals when they wish to get rid of bugs. But what if the greatest way to get rid of pests is in your kitchen?
Baking soda is a basic white powder that can keep bugs away without chemicals.
This common household item has been getting a lot of attention lately since people want to handle their own insect control. It’s a good thing to do. When blended with simple substances like water or sugar, baking soda is an inexpensive and eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemical treatments. It’s also safe to use around dogs and kids, which isn’t true for a lot of other insecticides.
Let’s talk about how and why baking soda works, as well as which pests it works best on.
How to Get Rid of Bugs using Baking Soda
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a natural substance that is a little rough, dries things out, and is alkaline. People use it a lot to clean, get rid of scents, and even fix small health concerns. But when it comes to pests, it can be fatal for very specific biological reasons.
This is how it works:
Gas Build-Up in Insects: Ants, cockroaches, and bed bugs can’t break down gas the same way mammals can. When they eat baking soda, which is frequently mixed with sugar or something else that attracts them, it reacts with their stomach acid and generates carbon dioxide gas. It kills these bugs because they can’t let the gas out, so it builds up inside them.
Desiccation: Bugs can dry out when baking soda breaks down their waxy outer layer. This messes up their water balance, which can kill them by making them thirsty.
Baking
What sorts of bugs can baking soda kill?
Baking soda can be surprisingly effective at getting rid of many common household pests. These are the ones you should go after:
🪳 Roaches
Cockroaches are attracted to sweet foods, so it’s not hard to induce them to come to a mix of sugar and baking soda. Place small bowls or bottle caps full of the mixture in dark areas, like under sinks, behind the fridge, and anywhere else you’ve seen roaches. If they consume it, it will start to kill them from the inside.
Ants
Like cockroaches, ants are likewise attracted to sugar. Put equal amounts of baking soda and powdered sugar together and sprinkle it along ant trails or at spots where they can get in. The ants will bring the concoction back to their colony, where it will change the behavior of other ants and make them fewer.
🪰 Bugs in the Bed
Baking soda isn’t the only thing you need to get rid of bed bugs, but it can help as part of a bigger plan. Lightly sprinkle it over mattresses, carpets, and baseboards to kill pests and dry them off. Wait 24 to 48 hours, then vacuum it well.
Other Spiders 🕷️
Some bugs, including pill bugs (roly-polies) and even fleas, stay away from baking soda because it is harsh and dries out. It doesn’t always kill all pests, but it’s still an important tool for keeping them away and getting rid of them.
Baking soda might help you get rid of pests.
Baking soda is beautiful since it’s so easy to use. Here are some easy things you can do:
A combination of sugar and baking soda
You need the same amount of baking soda and sugar.
Put it in shallow containers or small bowls near places where bugs are likely to be.
How It Works: Baking soda kills bugs that are drawn to sugar.
The Method of Sprinkling
Use: Lightly dust the corners, baseboards, under sinks, and behind appliances.
Use a fine sieve or sifter to spread the mixture out evenly.
You should reapply every few days and vacuum up any additional as needed.
Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda with a little water to produce a paste.
How to Use: Put it in places where bugs like to hide, such cracks, crevices, or along windowsills.
To make it work even better as a bug repellent, you may also add a drop of peppermint oil.
Why choose baking soda over chemical sprays?
Not dangerous: Safe for kids and pets.
Cheap: It costs a lot less than other insect control items.
✅ Doesn’t carry harmful chemicals into the house, thus it’s good for the environment. It’s easy to find because most homes already have it in the pantry.
Things to think about.
Baking soda is great for small infestations or keeping bugs away, but it might not be enough to get rid of a huge, well-established insect problem. If you have a lot of bedbugs or cockroaches, it’s best to employ both do-it-yourself methods and pest control services. Baking soda solutions may not work as well on spiders and bugs, so you may need to try something else.
Baking soda is an excellent technique to get rid of a common problem in the home because we are becoming more aware of what we bring into our homes, such food and cleaning supplies. It’s simple, safe, and very powerful.
Don’t go to the chemical aisle the next time you notice a line of ants or hear the sound of cockroach legs skittering behind your cupboard. Take the bright orange box out of your kitchen. The world, your house, and your health will all be thankful.
