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What Pests Can Baking Soda Help Eliminate?
Baking soda can be surprisingly effective against several common household pests. Here are the ones you’ll want to target:
🪳 Cockroaches
Cockroaches are drawn to sweet substances, making it easy to lure them in with a mixture of baking soda and sugar. Place small bowls or bottle caps filled with the mixture in dark corners, under sinks, behind the fridge, and anywhere else you’ve seen roach activity. Once they ingest the mixture, it will begin to kill them from the inside.
🐜 Ants
Like cockroaches, ants are also attracted to sugar. Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar and leave it along ant trails or near entry points. The ants will carry the mixture back to the colony, affecting others and helping reduce the entire population.
🪰 Bed Bugs
While baking soda isn’t a complete solution for bed bugs, it can play a helpful role in a multi-pronged approach. Sprinkle it lightly on mattresses, carpets, and baseboards to dehydrate and kill surface bugs. Leave it for 24–48 hours, then vacuum thoroughly.
🕷️ Other Crawlers
Some pests, such as pill bugs (roly-polies) and even fleas, can be deterred by baking soda’s abrasive and drying effects. While not as reliably fatal to all pests, it’s still a useful tool in prevention and management.
How to Use Baking Soda for Pest Control
The beauty of baking soda is in its simplicity. Here are a few easy methods you can try:
1. Baking Soda & Sugar Mix
Ingredients: Equal parts baking soda and sugar.
Use: Place in shallow lids or small dishes near pest hotspots.
Why It Works: Sugar attracts the pests; baking soda kills them.
2. Sprinkle Method
Use: Lightly dust baseboards, under sinks, corners, and behind appliances.
Tip: Use a sifter or fine sieve for even distribution.
Note: Reapply every few days and vacuum excess when necessary.
3. Baking Soda Paste
Ingredients: Mix baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste.
Use: Apply in cracks, crevices, or along windowsills where bugs crawl.
Bonus: You can also add a drop of peppermint oil to enhance repellent power.
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