Borax to Kill Fleas

Borax is not as common as the white, powdery baking soda that we all have in our kitchen shelves. But, it is also a versatile product that has several applications, especially in beauty products, laundry and cleaning tasks. When we talk about home uses of borax, fleas killing is the first thing that comes to homeowners. Before discussing how to use borax for killing fleas, let's take a look at the chemical composition and basic info regarding borax powder.

What is Borax Powder?

The term borax is derived from burax, Persian word used for borate salts. Borax is used to define boron mineral or boric acid salt, which appears soft, white or colorless crystals. With chemical formula, Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O, it is also known as disodium tetraborate sodium tetraborate, or simply sodium borate. In nature, this mineral is formed due to repeated evaporation of lake water. The naturally occurring borax mineral forms the base compound for making borax powder. It is sold in almost all grocery centers, and you will find it in the detergent section.

How to Use Borax to Kill Fleas?

Fleas are nasty, blood suckers that infect pet dogs and cats. These parasites often become household problem, as they drop down in hiding places for laying eggs. In such a case, using borax powder to kill fleas work by dehydrating them. A word of caution regarding safe borax uses is, this white colored, water soluble powder causes irritation to skin, eyes and throat (when inhaled). Hence, while handling borax crystals or powder for controlling fleas, make sure you wear safety gloves, dust mask and protective eye glasses. The following are some tips on how to use borax to kill fleas.

• As a first step for flea control, locate the areas that are highly prone to flea infestation. You should inspect the carpets, bedding, pet enclosures, lawns and home surrounding. Check those areas around the house, where your pet dog prefers to rest or sleep.
• The thick carpet fibers serve a perfect hiding place for flea eggs and larvae. They even spend in the carpets for a long period, until favorable condition arrives. For such a problem, applying borax is an excellent step towards killing fleas in carpet.
• While applying borax to kill fleas in carpet, break the clumps (if any) and strain through a mess. If required, conduct a spot test to check if this boric acid salt causes fading of carpet or not. If it doesn't cause discoloration, continue using borax.
• Spray borax sparsely all over the carpet, and use a broom to make the powder penetrate deep inside the fibers. Leave borax powder in the carpet for at least 2 days, making sure that pets and children do not enter the room.
• This treatment period is important for getting rid of fleas effectively. Then, vacuum clean carpet twice to remove traces of borax powder, and throw the bags. Repeat these steps after every 2 weeks to get rid of fleas effectually.
• In case, you notice flea eggs in the infested sites, use borax and salt to kill fleas completely. Sprinkle the salt before applying borax powder, as this will cause desiccation of the eggs. Following this, use borax for killing flea larvae and adults.
• Speaking of using borax to kill fleas in yard, it is rather a challenging task, as the treatment area is open and large. You can proceed for it during sunny days. Before applying borax for fleas, allow lawn to dry by stopping irrigation for 3 days.
• In a plastic tub, mix 2 parts each of borax and diatomaceous earth with one part salt. Sprinkle this mixture all over the lawn, and rake the area properly. Leave for 3 days; during this time, keep your pets out of the yard. Water lawn to wash off the chemicals.

Once you open the borax powder package, you need to use within two to three years. To increase its shelf life, always keep it in a dry place, out of excess moisture. The best part with using borax to kill fleas is that it is very convenient to use, provided that you avoid direct contact and inhalation. What's more, this effective insect killing powder is safer and less expensive, as compared to other chemical based insecticides sold in the market.