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.
Necessary Precautions
Boric acid is relatively harmless, but it can cause a pestilence. But if the drug gets into the human digestive tract, into cracks or scratches in the skin, it can cause severe poisoning. Accordingly, when preparing poison, it is necessary to observe safety precautions:
- Work in rubber seals.
- Protect your mouth and nose with a gauze bandage to prevent accidental inhalation of the powder.
- Place the poison in places where children or pets cannot reach it.
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.
Preventive measures to prevent the reappearance of pests
After exterminating the parasites, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures to prevent the secondary occurrence of cockroaches in the home:
- Close the path for pests to enter your home: use fine-mesh mesh to block ventilation, seal windows by installing mosquito nets on them, close drain holes in the sink, shower and bathtub.
- Take care of the sanitary condition of your home: do not accumulate unwashed dishes or waste in the trash can, and systematically carry out wet cleaning in the rooms.
- Monitor the water supply and prevent the formation of high humidity, which attracts parasites.
- Regularly, especially in the summer, carry out preventive cleaning of rooms using poisons from cockroaches.
In a private home, it is quite easy to completely exterminate insects. However, in an apartment building, especially one equipped with a garbage chute, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures at all times to prevent cockroaches from infesting the premises again.
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.
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.
Preparatory stage before processing the premises
Treating a room against cockroaches must necessarily be preceded by a preparatory stage.
- First of all, all rooms should be cleaned to deprive insects of food. It is necessary that the bait be the only source of food.
- After each meal, be sure to remove the remaining food so that there is no food left on the table. You can store food in containers or in the refrigerator. You should not leave crumbs on the table, otherwise they will attract parasites.
- The trash bin must be kept clean. Take it out and wash it every night.
- For cockroaches, water is more important than food, so it is important not to give them the opportunity to drink. Keep plumbing and water pipes in good condition. Wipe the sink, washbasin or bathtub until it is completely dry each time you use it.
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.
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.
Product effectiveness
Borax is not capable of destroying a large colony of cockroaches that have settled inside a living space. The action of the acid is targeted and does not affect the nests and offspring of parasites.
The product does not provide a long-term effect, like modern chemical preparations that have proven themselves in the fight against insects.
Borax is suitable for killing cockroaches that crawl around the apartment in search of food.
Sodium salt is ideal for destroying a small group of parasites, preventing their further reproduction, and is also an effective prophylactic agent.
In other cases, when the problem has become large-scale and you have to fight not with a few individuals, but with an entire colony of Prussians, borax will not be a salvation. Acid can be used as an additional agent.
To eliminate a massive infestation of parasites, it is better to seek help from professional exterminators.
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.
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.
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.
How to avoid the return of cockroaches
If cockroaches have left your apartment, this is not a reason to relax; perhaps they have simply migrated, going to the neighbors. At first, the mustachioed will still visit their habitable home, expecting to find the same conditions of a prosperous and comfortable life. Therefore, preventive treatment of square meters is not just necessary, but should be present by default.
