Does Baking Soda Kill Cockroaches?
Baking soda is one of the internet solutions against cockroaches. Some people say it works while others say it doesn’t. Baking soda is often seen as a solution to almost all pest problems.
Baking soda kills cockroaches when ingested in large amounts. Mixed with food, it kills cockroaches within weeks. Baking soda causes roaches to bloat which puts pressure on the exoskeleton and leads to roach death as the abdomen can’t expand further.
Baking soda is readily available in your home. The problem with it is that cockroaches don’t like its taste. Some tests show roaches might eat a small amount of it, but it isn’t enough to kill them.
Does baking soda kill cockroaches?
Baking soda can only kill cockroaches when consumed in large amounts. Roaches don’t find it tasty so they don’t eat raw baking soda. They might eat foods mixed with baking soda which may eventually lead to their death.
Baking soda is often mixed with fruits or vegetables so that it entices roaches. It might be consumed in large or small amounts, depending on how hungry the cockroaches are.
Why use baking soda to kill cockroaches?
Baking soda has a few distinct advantages when compared to other anti-roach solutions. For example, it’s very easy to use as opposed to complex roach traps. Here are a few good reasons to try it on roaches in your home.
A cheap method of killing roaches
Baking soda is very affordable. It’s more affordable than boric acid which is also more harmful to your health. Baking soda is one of the most cost-effective temporary solutions against cockroaches.
You can sprinkle a large quantity of baking soda around the house without overspending. This method is considerably cheaper than using traps and a few times cheaper than using essential oils against cockroaches.
You don’t need to pay expensive exterminators
Exterminators are needed in case of serious cockroach invasions. But most homes only have a few roaches when the people inside take action.
This means you don’t need to hire expensive contractors to get rid of just a few cockroaches as you can do it yourself.
Baking soda mixes easily with all foods which means you can use it as bait to kill all cockroaches.
Baking soda is readily available
One of the best parts about baking soda is that you already have it in your home. There are no trips to the pest control shop as you can put this idea into practice immediately.
Baking soda isn’t toxic
Another good reason to choose baking soda over other solutions such as pesticides is its non-toxic profile. Baking soda might be toxic to pets, but only when ingested in very large amounts.
You can use this solution against pests without vacating your home. Pesticides might require a temporary vacating from your home.
How to use baking soda to kill cockroaches?
Baking soda needs to be mixed with food so that roaches eat it. They never eat raw baking soda as it has no taste to them.
Use a mix of baking soda and onions
Baking soda and onions are one of the most common mixes to the pungent onion smell that attracts cockroaches. Onion is chopped into fine pieces and mixed with baking soda.
The final mix is added to particular areas around the house, especially next to cockroach nests or in areas you’ve seen roaches before.
If you can’t find roaches anymore you can place the onions and the baking soda in corners around the kitchen or under the kitchen cabinets.
The onions need to be replaced after a few days as they lose their scent and their capacity to lure in cockroaches.
Mix baking soda and sugar
Sugar is one of the preferred foods of cockroaches. You can mix equal parts sugar and baking soda so that you create a final attractive mix for roaches.
Small amounts of sugar and baking soda can be added around the house. These mixes don’t need to be replaced with onion and baking soda.
Cockroaches come and eat these sugar and the baking soda and they should eventually die, especially as they return to eat more a few days later.
How long does it take for roaches to die after eating baking soda?
It can take anywhere between a few days and a few weeks to see dead cockroaches. Baking soda acts gradually. It increases the volume of the abdomen when roaches drink water.
Since the abdomen can’t expand too much due to the exoskeleton roaches will eventually die. Almost all roaches that consume large baking soda quantities die within 3 weeks.
Mixing baking soda with dry bait such as sugar is recommended. Some decide to mix it with wet bait such as vinegar. However, this activates it rather fast without the roaches having the chance to eat it and active the baking soda in their digestive system.
Baking soda needs water to activate. Roaches tend to drink water frequently but they can also go up to a few weeks without drinking water. This is why it might take up to a few weeks for cockroaches to die after eating baking soda.
Final words
As one of the cheapest methods of killing cockroaches, baking soda is a versatile powder that mixes well with almost any type of bait such as sugar or peanut butter.
Most people recommend mixing baking soda with onions so that roaches get attracted to the smell and eat it faster.
Others recommend activating baking soda before by mixing it with a liquid such as water or vinegar.
The best methods remain those with dry foods such as onions and sugar. Both of these foods can be mixed with large amounts of baking soda and sprinkled around the areas of the house prone to roach invasion.
Baking soda can also be added to the drains to kill roaches that like high humidity and drain flies. However, baking soda is only a temporary solution, and eliminating high humidity problems and foods or food traces around the house is still recommended to limit things roaches might be attracted to.
