Boric acid is the best roach killer remedy that has been tried and tested over the years and deemed very effective by many users. Despite the fact that it’s a pesticide, it’s mostly classified under natural remedies as opposed to a commercial roach killer. See more about Boric Acid.
Well, boric acid is made from a combination of boron and water. Boron is a naturally occurring chemical substance in the soil. Precisely why this remedy has very low toxic levels and can be used in a home where there are young kids and pets.
Before we get into the mistakes you might be making in its application, you should know that this acid kills roaches by seeping slowly into its body through the skin, once a roach comes into contact. Technically, the roach poisons itself because they will lick their bodies, to clean themselves and end up ingesting the chemical. Once the boric acid is in the body, it goes right to the nervous and digestive systems and causes a break down that lead to immediate death.
Have you used boric acid before and wondered why it seems not to be working despite the good reviews? Chances are, you might be making the following mistakes.
Ignoring safety measures
At the end of the day, boric acid is a pesticide and as such, you should take great caution during your application, to prevent health risks to your kids and pets.
We recommend always using gloves when handling the acid. Moreover, place your baits in areas that are inaccessible to the rest of the family and lastly, wash off any utensils, countertops, and furniture that might have come in contact with the powder during your application.
In case you suspect that anyone has accidentally ingested this acid, you should seek professional help or better yet, rush them to an emergency room immediately.
Applying in the wrong locations
Having roaches in your home does not warrant that you go applying the boric acid on just any surface. Understanding the roaches is vital because you will know the high traffic areas in the house. These are the exact spots you need to apply the roach killer, among other common areas like under sinks and cabinets, behind appliances and between any cracks and crevices.
If you place this acid in areas that roaches are unlikely to visit, you will not only be wasting the product, but your money spent on the purchase as well.
Applying too much
Roaches may not be many things, but they sure are intelligent. If they see a pile of powder on a surface, they will definitely walk around it, avoiding any contact. This is the reason why you should always limit your application to a very thin layer on the surfaces we have mentioned.
Since they only need to come into contact with the acid and not necessarily ingest it, the small amounts of powder will do the trick. After the application, you should barely be able to see the powder on a surface; that how little of it you need to eliminate these disgusting creatures.
A few tricks we can recommend is covering part of the squeeze bottle to only leave out a small opening. Alternatively, you can purchase a bulb duster that will come in handy to dust some powder off and leave the desired amount on any surface. Do not forget to always shake the bottle before application to break out any lumps of the powder that may have formed.
Combining boric acid with other roach killers
There are times you will use boric acid and be so frustrated since instead of seeing dead roaches, they seem to be multiplying. This might make you purchase alternative killers to double up on the treatment. Don’t!
Using other remedies like glue traps will only reduce the effectiveness of the boric acid, and bring counterproductive results. Your goal is to have the roach that came into contact with the acid back to the nest because once it’s dead, other roaches will feast on it, which spreads the infection. Glue traps will trap the roaches, and they can’t go back to their nests, which restricts the domino effect.This is definitely not what you want.
Focusing on boric acid as a one-step solution
Not all combinations with boric acid work against your desired results.Keep in mind that you should not only focus on boric acid as a roach treatment but try to incorporate other techniques that work.
Roach baits, for instance, make for a great combination with boric acid, and fast track your plan to get rid of these pests. This is because the bait will lure roaches out of their nests, only to come out and step on the acid and die.Another great remedy you can pair up with your boric acid is Diatomaceous Earth (food grade)
Impatience
The moment you discover the presence of roaches in your home is the very moment you decide that you want them gone in every means possible. You cannot expect to apply your boric powder today and start seeing results immediately; patience is key. Do not be start getting frustrated and seeking out alternative methods until a couple of days are over.
Usually, with boric acid, you may start seeing dead roaches lying around after about a week. Until then, resist the urge to begin on another treatment plan as you will only be wasting time and money.
Wrapping up
Most people swear by boric acid because it’s very affordable, odorless, won’t stain your surfaces and when properly applied, has quite a high success rate.
This does not mean that it works for everybody. If you strongly feel that boric acid is not working for you, it may be time to discontinue its use and purchase other effective ones like roach baits or sprays. Eventually, you will find out what works for you.
If you have been making the above mentioned mistakes, now you know why boric acid has been failing you. It’s time you focused on the right application if you want these creatures out of your life.
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