Does Borax Kill Roaches? Your Complete Roach-Free Guide!

Does Borax Kill Cockroaches?

Yes, borax can kill cockroaches, but it won’t attract them by itself. You need to mix it with other stuff to make it enticing for them. We’ll share some simple recipes in the guide. 

How Does Borax Kill Roaches?

Borax sticks to roaches when they walk on it. When the roaches go back to their hiding spots, they try to clean themselves by eating the borax.

This is because roaches are omnivorous and will eat almost anything, including their own feces, dead bodies, or dirt.

Borax does not only affect the outside of the roaches, but also the inside. The borax goes inside the roaches and weakens their exoskeleton, which is their hard outer shell.

It also dehydrates them by taking away all the water inside them. Roaches cannot survive without water, so they dry up and die.

>> Read more: What do roaches like to eat? What Attracts Cockroaches?

How to kill cockroaches with borax?

Borax and Peanut Butter for Roaches

Peanut butter is delicious to roaches and the smell alone is enough to attract them out of their hideouts. You can mix borax with peanut butter so that it blends well to get rid of roaches. Here is what to do:

1. Put 3 tablespoons of borax in a bowl.
2. Add 60ml of warm water and mix to form a thick paste.
3. Add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to the past and mix them until they blend well.
4. Scoop the mixture and leave it in where the roaches will find it. If they eat it, they will die after some time.

You can also use this to get rid of cockroaches in potted plants at home by applying the past on the inner walls of the pot just above the soil. When roaches it, they will die and this will also help in killing those that are good at hiding.

Borax and sugar for cockroaches

Roaches love sugar and they will always consume it in large quantities. Simply mix 3 tablespoons of borax with 2 tablespoons of sugar and spread it near their hiding areas. When they feed on it, they will die after some time.

Roaches will crawl on the borax while eating sugar. After that, they will go back to their hiding areas and this will help in killing the rest. You will end up finding only dead roaches after some time.

Borax and minced meat for cockroaches

We have always used minced meat to trick cockroaches into eating borax. This gives perfect results in killing roaches around the house. Here is how to easily make roaches eat borax using minced meat:

1. Get half a cup of minced meat
2. Place this in the microwave for about 3 minutes to help in drying and spicing it up
3. Ensure the meat is dry even if it means airing it out because we do not want any water on it
4. Get the minced mead and use a spoon to spread the particle in a way that they are scattered
5. You can also buy powdered meat if available near you
6. Mix the meat with ¼ cup of boric acid powder
7. Place this where the roaches love to crawl and let them eat it.

>> Read more: How do roaches get in your Microwave.

Borax and water for cockroaches

Yes, you can mix borax with water to kill roaches by making a strong concentrated solution of borax and just a little water to dissolve it. However, this dilutes the borax and makes it less toxic to the roaches. Here is how to make a borax water spray at home for cockroaches:

1. Add 5 teaspoons of borax in a bottle spray
2. Add a cup of warm purified water and shake gently to mix well
3. Spray this directly on the roaches and use it to clean their hideouts
4. This will kill both the small and big cockroaches on contact

Adding borax powder to moping water is also a good suggestion because once your water is soapy, it will help in sanitizing and killing any crawling insects in the house. It is advisable to clean in the morning so that you have the whole day to aerate the house.

Keeping the house supper clean will also discourage reaches from breading into your house because they will have nothing to feed on. Spraying borax mixed with water will also work but will not be as effective when compared to direct ingestion.

Baking Soda and Borax Cockroach Killer

Roaches, though resilient, are not invincible. Combining household items like baking soda and borax can become a formidable roach killer. Baking soda’s efficacy lies in its ability to cause gas buildup in a roach’s digestive system, leading to its eventual death. Combine it with borax, and you’ve got a potent mixture that’s lethal for these pests.

Egg Yolks

Egg yolks, rich and tempting, can be turned into lethal cockroach bait when combined with borax. A simple recipe that proves deadly to roaches is mixing 1/4 teaspoon of borax with one raw egg yolk.

It’s a covert way of inviting the pest to its demise, while they think they’re enjoying a delicious meal. 

Cocoa Powder 

Who doesn’t love the rich aroma of cocoa? Apparently, not just humans but cockroaches too. Cocoa powder’s sweet allure is irresistible for roaches. This makes it a splendid choice as bait, especially when mixed with borax.

Place it strategically, and the roaches will be drawn to it.

Borax Balls for Roaches

Imagine a savory treat that roaches can’t resist but which also spells their doom. That’s exactly what borax balls for roaches are. By cleverly mixing the roach’s preferred foods with borax, you create a delectable yet deadly bait.

For instance, a popular recipe consists of one tablespoon of onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon of borax powder, and a mixture of three tablespoons of either flour or sugar combined with cornstarch. The result is a savory borax ball that roaches find hard to resist.

Place these balls in areas roaches frequent, and watch as they unwittingly consume their last meal. It’s a simple, efficient, and effective way to combat these unwanted invaders.

How long does it take for borax to kill cockroaches?

It takes 2 days for borax to kill cockroaches if ingested in large amounts. However, it may take 3-4 days if they take it in small quantities but regularly. The duration it takes will depend on the quantities ingested.

This is why spraying them with borax may take time unless you do it directly. Borax will also kill roaches if they come into physical contact with it. If you find a way of directly spreading a lot of borax on them, then it will work well.

This is best done if you know their hideouts.

How Do You Get Rid Of Roaches Naturally? 

If you prefer eco-friendly and less chemical ways to deal with pests, especially those stubborn roaches, you’re not alone. Roaches can be tough to beat, but natural remedies can help. With the right approach and some persistence, you can control roaches naturally. 

One well-known natural solution involves making a special dough. All you need is equal parts of boric acid, flour, and sugar. Roaches can’t resist the tempting mix of sugar and flour, and when they indulge, the boric acid does the trick – it ensures they won’t be walking away. 

>> Read more: Boric acid cockroach: Quick Guide to a Roach-Free Home.

Which Is Better To Kill Roaches: Borax or Boric Acid? 

Deciding between borax and boric acid for dealing with roaches can be a bit confusing. Both are known to be effective roach killers, but the choice depends on your situation and what you prefer. 

Borax, often used in laundry or as a fertilizer, can indeed kill roaches, but it’s not mainly made for pest control. On the other hand, boric acid is specifically designed as a pesticide and has a strong track record in this role. 

Conclusion

When it comes to battling household pests, the question isn’t just Does borax kills roaches, but how effectively and naturally it can do the job. 

For more insights and tips on tackling pests, don’t forget to explore other informative blogs from Pestweek..

Calina Mabel

Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.

All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.