How To Use Baking Soda to Kill Pests - COCKROACHES, BEDBUGS, ANTS, MICE, Etc

Summary

This video script offers creative uses of baking soda for pest control in and around the home. It details methods to effectively kill cockroaches, centipedes, snails, slugs, ants, mice, rats, fleas, and bed bugs using baking soda in various forms like powder, paste, or combined with other substances. The script also touches on baking soda's role as a fungicide and its potential effects on plants, emphasizing the importance of using fresh baking soda for optimal results.

Takeaways

• 🐞 Baking soda can be used as an insecticide but requires the insects to ingest it for it to be effective.
• 🍰 To kill cockroaches with baking soda, mix it with sugar to make it more palatable, as they are not naturally attracted to baking soda.
• 💥 Baking soda reacts with the water in a cockroach's body, causing it to expand and crush the insect from the inside due to their rigid exoskeleton.
• 🌱 Baking soda can be used to deter centipedes from climbing drains by creating a CO2-rich environment when mixed with vinegar.
• 🐌 Sprinkling baking soda on snails and slugs can kill them, but it's a slow and potentially inhumane method.
• 🐜 Baking soda can kill ants if they consume it, causing dehydration due to the expansion of the soda inside their bodies.
• 🐭 Baking soda, when ingested by mice or rats, can be lethal due to their inability to expel the gas buildup caused by the soda's reaction with water.
• 🐶 A mixture of baking soda and salt can be used to kill fleas by dehydrating them, and it can also be applied to pets' fur.
• 🛏️ Bed bugs can be killed by a baking soda paste that dehydrates them and may cause internal bleeding.
• 🌿 Baking soda can be used as a fungicide to treat powdery mildew on plants and can also encourage certain plants to bloom.
• 🌳 While baking soda can be beneficial for plants, it's important to use it cautiously as it can inhibit plant growth if it seeps into the soil.

Q & A

How can baking soda be used as an effective pest control?

Baking soda can be used in various forms such as pastes, homemade sprays, and sprinkles for pest control. It's crucial to know the right application method for different pests, including mixing with sugar to attract cockroaches or using a baking soda and vinegar rinse for centipedes in drains.

Why won't baking soda repel pests on its own?

Baking soda does not have a repelling effect on pests by itself. It needs to be ingested by pests like cockroaches to be effective, which is why a sugar is often mixed with it to make it more palatable to the pests.

How does baking soda kill cockroaches?

When cockroaches eat baking soda in powder form, it reacts with the water inside their bodies, causing the baking soda to expand. This expansion, combined with the cockroach's firm exoskeleton, leads to their bodies being crushed from the inside out.

Can baking soda and vinegar be mixed for pest control?

Mixing baking soda with vinegar is not recommended for all pests. While it works for centipedes in drains by producing CO2 which drowns them, it can stop the baking soda from working effectively for cockroaches.

How can baking soda help with centipedes in drains?

Pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar creates a bubbling reaction that produces CO2, which can help drown centipedes that are climbing up the drains.

What is the humane way to use baking soda for killing snails and slugs in the garden?

To minimize the suffering of snails and slugs, baking soda can be lightly sprinkled onto the soil around the garden, focusing on areas where they are likely to be found, to dehydrate and kill them more quickly.

How does baking soda kill ants?

Baking soda kills ants when they ingest it. The soda reacts with the water and acid in the ant's body, causing it to expand and dehydrate the ant, leading to its death.

How can baking soda be used to kill mice and rats?

A mixture of baking soda, sugar, and flour can be used to kill mice and rats. When ingested, the baking soda expands and causes a fatal buildup of gas inside the rodent's body.

What mixture can be used to kill fleas using baking soda?

A mixture of equal parts baking soda and salt can be used to kill fleas by dehydrating them. This mixture should be sprinkled on carpets, rugs, and soft furnishings and vacuumed up the next morning.

How can baking soda help with bed bugs?

Baking soda can be mixed with water into a paste and spread over common hiding places for bed bugs. The paste dehydrates the bugs and can cause internal bleeding, leading to their death.

How can you determine if your baking soda is still effective for pest control?

To test if baking soda is still effective, add a little water to a small amount of soda. If it fizzle for a few seconds or longer, it's still fresh and potent. If not, it may be time to buy a new tub.

Can baking soda be used to treat fungal infections in plants?

Yes, baking soda can be used as a fungicide to treat powdery mildew on plants. Sprinkling it at the base of plants or using a baking soda and water spray can prevent fungal infections.

Is there a risk of damaging plants when using baking soda?

While baking soda can help combat fungal infections, it should be used cautiously around plants as it can seep into the soil and inhibit growth. However, a light application around targeted plants like tomatoes should not cause significant harm.