Cockroaches can easily be called one of the oldest insects on earth. They can be red or albino, large or not very large, but for humans they are equally unpleasant, and living next door to them is not at all attractive.
These pests are excellent opportunists. They enter homes in a variety of ways and can survive well in any conditions. And the worst thing is that they can multiply very quickly, and the survival rate is extremely high.
Black and red cockroaches in the apartment have always been a problem for its owners, which they wanted to solve as quickly as possible. People are ready to use all possible methods to drive away mustachioed pests. The fact is that, in addition to their aesthetically unpleasant appearance, they pose a certain danger to human health. Moving wherever they want, they carry a lot of bacteria and microbes on their paws. After which they end up on the dining table and dishes. Therefore, the fight against the Prussians is a very necessary measure. The process of expelling cockroaches is very labor-intensive and does not always end positively. Harmful insects have learned quite well to adapt to all kinds of poisons. What kind of means has not mankind invented in the fight against this scourge! And along with special drugs, traditional methods are also popular. The leading position is occupied by products whose main component is boric acid. Its demand is due to the effectiveness of its use and its composition, which is safe for humans. But in order to get rid of cockroaches in an apartment forever, you should start exterminating them as soon as they are discovered, otherwise you will not be able to do without strong and toxic substances. Today there are many different ways to do this. Let's look further at how to get rid of cockroaches in the house using boric acid.
Boric acid and its characteristics
Before using this drug to kill pests, you need to understand what it is. Boric acid is a colorless powder, somewhat similar to flakes. The powder can hardly be dissolved in water, and it is absolutely tasteless and odorless. Relative safety allows people to actively use it for their needs. Basically, acid is an indispensable assistant for humans in the fight against cockroaches. The powder is used as a poison - you can use it in its pure form, or you can prepare bait by mixing it with various foods.
Acid is sold in any pharmacy, packaged in 10 gram bags. Due to the lack of odor, the drug can be discreetly placed in the bait without scaring off the Prussians. This is the method of pest control.
Let us next consider what recipes exist with boric acid for cockroaches.
Recipes
Sometimes the classic method does not help, since the pest simply does not eat the poison. In this case, aromatic baits are made, which include boric acid and some food.
Boric acid with egg against cockroaches
One of the most common methods. The bait is obtained in the form of small yellow balls. You can cook it from both raw and boiled chicken eggs. Bait with raw egg:
- Separate the white from the yolk.
- Place the yolk and a small amount of boric acid powder into a container.
- Mix the ingredients to a thick paste.
- Roll the mixture into balls about 10mm in diameter.
- Place the resulting bait on disposable cardboard stands and place it in cockroach habitats.
Bait with boiled egg:
- Boil the egg hard.
- Cool and remove the yolk.
- Mix 10 g of borax powder, mashed yolk with a fork and a little sunflower oil.
- Make small pieces of any shape.
- Distribute the bait throughout the kitchen.
Bait with boric acid for cockroaches with boiled potatoes
To make potato poison, follow these steps:
- Boil 1 small potato.
- Cool, peel and mash it with a fork.
- Mix with acid, adding a little sunflower oil for viscosity.
- Make balls and place them in secluded corners.
You can also add boiled egg yolk to the poisonous mixture if desired.
Boric solution
Mix boric acid with water. Fill small open containers with the resulting poison and leave them under the sink, near taps and drains. For a more attractive aroma, add a little sugar or vegetable oil to the solution.
Poisonous agent with flour
To prevent the pest from smelling the boron, flour is added to the powder. Just mix boric acid with flour in equal quantities and sprinkle it in secluded places.
Powder
Sprinkle boron powder around the perimeter of the kitchen and cabinets, paying special attention to the insect's paths to damp areas. Please note that it is not recommended to sprinkle poison in heaps. Cockroaches will simply bypass the mounds of poison.
Traps
Cockroaches love bright objects, so grated crayons added to the mixture will enhance the effect of the bulk poison. When using balloons, place something bright near the bait, such as a candy wrapper.
Liquid bait with sugar
The product will help get rid of not only cockroaches, but also ants. To make bait:
- Start cooking sugar syrup at the rate of 5 tbsp. spoons of sugar per glass of water.
- When the sugar dissolves, add a packet of boric acid to the liquid and stir.
- The output is a thick mass, which is distributed into containers and placed in insect habitats.
With sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is added to the mixture for a brighter aroma. Therefore, unrefined oil made from roasted seeds is better. Add a little aromatic oil to the yolk and potato bait.
The effect that boric acid has on cockroaches
Scientists have found that this chemical has the most harmful effects on insects, being pure poison for them. After eating it, the insect after a while becomes completely paralyzed and dies from suffocation. Therefore, in order to achieve results, you need to make the pest eat the acid. To exterminate cockroaches in an apartment, one small package is enough - it’s enough to get rid of a whole horde of mustachioed guests.
Interestingly, the substance has exactly the same effect on ants.
There are several different methods to combat harmful neighbors:
- Boric acid can be used in its pure form. Use various baits where boric acid is the main component. Apply powder solutions in the form of poison.
Often it is not necessary to use a substance in the form of a poison. Practice has repeatedly shown that scattering acid in places where Prussians gather and move is quite sufficient. For example, they are often located under baseboards. Moreover, the cockroach just needs to run over the powder, and the chemical particles remaining on its legs will fall into the shelter. And when he cleans his paws, the destructive powder will enter his stomach - and the result is guaranteed. The main thing is to exclude the possibility for it to get liquid, because with large water consumption there is a chance that the insect will survive.
Let's look at how to use boric acid against cockroaches. The recipe is very simple.
Borax for cockroaches
Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a white crystalline powder that is tasteless and odorless. It has been widely used in the household. It is added to the water before washing windows, sinks, bathtubs and floors. Using the powder, mold, rust, and limescale are removed. The substance is poisonous to insects, but is safe for humans in small dosages. The principle of action of the powder is similar to boric acid. Recipes for cockroaches based on borax:
- You will need: borax - 200 g, sugar 100 g, starch 70 g. Mix the dry ingredients in a container, pour in a little water. The mixture should be thick. Balls are made from it and placed on a cardboard base. Poisoned bait is placed in places frequently visited by insects.
- Necessary ingredients: boiled potatoes and 1 egg, borax 50 g. The products are mashed to a puree. Add antiseptic powder to the mixture. The composition is used to form cakes. The bait is laid out near the nests of the Prussians. The cakes are changed after a few days so that the smell of spoiled food does not appear in the room.
Attention. It is necessary to limit the access of arthropods to water. Sinks and bathtub are wiped down every evening. Do not leave liquid in trays with indoor flowers.
The use of poisoned borax baits will not get rid of a large colony of Prussians. The poison is absorbed by adults and larvae, the eggs remain unharmed. The next generation of pests will emerge from them. Borax, like other folk remedies, is recommended for prevention. The substance quickly deals with single arthropods, does not allow them to multiply and gain a foothold in the apartment.
The fight against cockroaches requires an integrated approach. Hardy, fast-reproducing insects are difficult to remove with just one product. Chemicals and folk recipes are effective against adults; it is much more difficult to cope with offspring in ootecae. Boric acid retains its toxic properties for a long time. She will destroy the Prussians as they appear. Compliance with sanitary standards and isolation of the apartment from the penetration of arthropods will allow you to forget about the unpleasant neighborhood forever.
Instructions for use
Algorithm of actions:
- Of course, the first thing to do is buy a bag of acid at the pharmacy. Then carefully prepare for the expulsion of the mustachioed guests. Dry the sink, limiting the cockroaches' access to water. Close the taps tightly enough to avoid the slightest possibility of leakage. Hide all wet wipes and sponges. Next, spread the bait in places where Prussians mainly live.
There are many recipes for its preparation. A mixture of boric acid and yolk is very often used - it helps against cockroaches. To prepare the bait, it is customary to use only the yolk. It helps remove the smell of acid and stimulates the appetite of pests. Although it seems to a person that the drug does not smell of anything, thanks to its subtle sense of smell, the cockroach will smell it. Let's look at some simple ways to prepare deadly treats for unwanted neighbors.
Where to place bait?
For the poison to work, you need to block the cockroach from any access to water, so before baiting, remove any moisture in the kitchen:
- hide vessels with water, wet sponges and rags;
- turn off all taps;
- Wipe the sink dry.
If you are using pure boron powder, sprinkle it in all areas where cockroaches are likely to appear. Any prepared bait can be spread out:
- near the baseboards;
- next to the trash can;
- under the stove, refrigerator;
- on shelves in closets.
Pay close attention to wet areas:
- space under the sink;
- a place near a sewer drain;
- area near the toilet;
- taps and connections to them.
If you have small children or pets and you are afraid that they will eat the bait, spread the poison only at night and remove it in the morning. Adults will begin to die within a day and will be completely hatched within a month. You should not remove the bait immediately after extermination. Cockroach eggs may remain, from which new individuals will hatch. Leave the poison for about another 6 months, periodically replacing old balls with fresh ones.
Boric acid, potatoes and yolk
A very effective remedy for cockroaches. Potatoes, yolk, boric acid - its main components - simple ingredients, found in every home.
First you need to boil one egg and potatoes. Then peel the finished products and grind them into puree. Equal proportions of boric acid and yolk should be observed. Mix the resulting mass with a tablespoon of boric acid, and then form into balls. Place the finished bait in the corners and do not forget about a dry surface throughout the kitchen.
Recipe with raw yolk and sugar
So, we need some sugar, boric acid and yolk. Cockroach poisoning is done as follows. Break an egg and pour 30 grams of the substance into it. Then add 50 grams of sugar and stir until smooth. To make it easier to make balls, you can add a small amount of flour. Next, as in previous recipes, we place them wherever pests may be.
It is very important to make sure that your new “pets” are hungry and pounce on treats. To do this, you must maintain cleanliness, do not leave crumbs and other food items, and also take out the trash on time. If you don’t do this, then all your efforts may be completely in vain, and the balls will remain untouched.
Proportions can be increased in proportion to the area of the room. After the Prussians taste this masterpiece, they will die a few days later. Before this, the cockroaches become slower and begin to catch your eye even during the day.
Boric acid and yolk are excellent against cockroaches, but when using this product you must follow some rules.
Room treatment
To get rid of cockroaches, you need to carefully prepare the room for the planned event. To exterminate insects, the following measures are taken:
- preparing the apartment for pest persecution;
- preparing poison for insects;
- decomposition of bait.
Before you start killing cockroaches, you need to clean the room. Pests will be able to eat the poisoned bait if there is no food or water nearby. The balls must be placed in the favorite habitats of the parasites. The poison affects the behavior of insects. Cockroaches emerge from hiding during the day. They become leisurely in their movements. The death of insects will occur in a few days.
Rules that must be followed when using boric acid in the fight against cockroaches
The edible bait should be laid out for at least a week, and if after the lapse of time there are still untouched balls, they should be replaced with new ones.
Boric acid should never be used in alcohol form. It has a very pungent odor that will repel insects with a well-developed sense of smell.
To enhance the effect of baits, you can scatter trails of powder in places where pests are most often found. You should definitely do this in the bathroom and under the sink, as cockroaches are drawn to water.
Why do you need yolk as part of the bait?
A person does not smell the smell that comes from boric acid. It is for this reason that textbooks indicate that it has neither smell nor taste.
But cockroaches have a more subtle sense of smell than humans. They are able to capture aroma that humans cannot smell.
Egg yolk can remove the smell of boric acid, which increases the likelihood of cockroaches eating the bait. But the yolk itself is a desirable food for the Prussians.
Advantages of the substance and user reviews
An absolute advantage, judging by the reviews, is the cost of the acid, which is several times lower than other substances. Also the advantages of the substance:
- The drug helps not only to destroy uninvited guests, but also promotes their sterilization, which eliminates the possibility of their subsequent reproduction. It has no odor, which makes the substance a fairly comfortable method of pest control for households. Preparing bait does not require special skills, takes little time and does not require additional protective equipment. It poses virtually no danger to humans.
Disadvantages of the substance
So, we found out that boric acid and cockroach yolk are a very effective and fairly cheap method of fighting cockroaches. But there are also some nuances here.
For a fatal outcome, a sufficient amount of acid must accumulate in the cockroach’s body. In terms of time, this can take from 1 to 3 weeks, and this is a considerable period of time.
The obvious disadvantage of the substance is that it has absolutely no effect on insect eggs. To combat them, more powerful means are needed, such as liquid concentrates.
In addition, if you compare boric acid and crayons or gels, only individuals who have had direct contact with the powder can become poisoned. Do not forget that the insect will avoid the poison if it is poured in too large piles.
In addition, there are cases where the drug turned out to be completely ineffective due to frequent use. Cockroaches quickly get used to and adapt to the poison.
Despite its recognized effectiveness, the substance helps in about half of the cases.
Poisonous water
Cockroaches cannot live without water, so they regularly appear near sources of life-giving moisture. This is the bathroom and kitchen. Poisoned drinking bowls should be placed near the bathtub, toilet or sink. Dissolve a teaspoon of sugar in half a glass of water. Add 30 g of boric acid. Pour the poison into saucers or nylon lids. Place drinking bowls near plumbing fixtures.
If insects are accustomed to drinking from a sink, then they will go to it, bypassing the drinking bowl with poison. To force a cockroach to drink poisoned water, you need to eliminate other sources of moisture. Wash the plumbing fixtures, wipe them dry and limit their use.
Safety precautions when using boric acid poisons
Despite the fact that the drug is called “acid,” it has nothing in common with the usual understanding of this word. It is harmless to the skin and does not leave any burns.
The chemical is not considered particularly dangerous for children or pets. Previously, it was even used as an antiseptic. But it often caused allergies, and it was soon replaced by more suitable means.
If we compare it with other poisons for baiting cockroaches, we should also say about its safety for the human body. However, contact with boric acid is strictly contraindicated for children under three years of age. If it happens that a pet accidentally eats the bait, then nothing fatal will happen to it, but it is better not to allow this to happen.
Pregnant and lactating women, people with kidney failure and inflammatory skin diseases are also better off not interacting with this drug.
If the incident cannot be avoided, the person may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and headaches.
Why the method may not help
According to studies, indicators of cockroach addiction to boric acid have not been identified. This means that you can use the product for an unlimited amount of time. If a lot of time has passed after applying the composition, and the insects have not died, then the problem is in the bait.
Getting a cockroach to eat boric acid is very difficult. It has no smell, which means insects have no interest in it. In order for cockroaches to start eating it, it is necessary to resort to tricks. Experts make small balls based on powder and food products, which should attract insects. If in this case the insects remain indifferent, try changing it by sucking the bait.
When creating food baits, it is important to follow the rules:
- The products used should be very attractive to cockroaches - despite the fact that they are omnivores, there is a group of products that attract them the most. For example, eggs, vegetables, sweets, etc.;
- Insects should not be allowed to have additional food sources other than bait. Remove all food from tables, do not leave crumbs, throw away trash at night, turn off the water. If there is at least one additional food source, the processing efficiency will be reduced;
- When selecting components for preparing bait, it is important to take into account their chemical composition. Otherwise (the appearance of an oxidation reaction), the acid may lose its properties and will be useless.
Boric acid is a folk remedy for eliminating insects. However, its effectiveness is confirmed by scientific research. If all the rules are followed, the drug will help destroy cockroaches and prevent their reappearance.
Prevention of new infection
If you managed to remove pests from your apartment, it is not a fact that they will not return again. This is especially true for situations where mustachioed neighbors live in the next room. To prevent the re-infestation of cockroaches, the following recommendations should be followed:
- In a place where communications are concentrated, it is sometimes advisable to do prophylaxis using boron powder. Periodically lay out fresh bait from a mixture of acid and chicken yolk. Keep your home tidy and clean.
Preventive measures to avoid the reappearance of parasites
Even if all the cockroaches in your home are destroyed, you cannot sit quietly with your hands folded. No one guarantees that there are no these unpleasant insects in neighboring apartments.
And if they are still there, then over time the cockroaches will gradually begin to move into your apartment in search of a favorable habitat.
That is why, in order to prevent re-infection, it is recommended to take the following preventive measures:
- From time to time, you should use boric acid to treat surfaces near sewer risers, ventilation ducts, and electrical outlets that are located on common walls with neighbors;
- From time to time it is necessary to prepare a new portion of boro-egg bait and place it where cockroaches like to hide. First of all, these are surfaces behind furniture, under the washbasin, under the bathtub and in other hiding places hidden from view. Baits attract uninvited “guests”, which leads to the inevitable death of cockroaches;
- It is necessary to maintain cleanliness and order in the apartment, because cockroaches do not settle in places where they cannot find food.
