Why baking soda?
It’s abrasive and disrupts insects’ internal systems. When pests ingest or come into contact with it, baking soda causes dehydration and death. Plus, it works as a repellent on many surfaces. Combined with other ingredients, it can attract pests and then eliminate them — all without breaking the bank!
How to use baking soda against common pests:
Cockroaches
Ingredients:
- 1 part baking soda
- 1 part white sugar
Instructions:
Mix well and place small amounts on lids or shallow plates. Put them in corners, under sinks, behind the fridge, or anywhere you’ve seen cockroach activity.
Why it works:
Sugar attracts cockroaches, and baking soda reacts with their stomach acid to kill them — no poison needed!
Ants
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions: Mix and place along ant trails near baseboards, entrances, balconies, or kitchen corners.
Extra tip: Seal cracks with silicone or vinegar to stop ants from coming back. Baking soda kills ants from the inside, even the queen if she carries it back to the nest.
Spiders
Repellent spray:
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 2 cups water
- Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
How to use: Mix in a spray bottle and spray around windows, doors, baseboards, and damp corners.
