Does Borax Kill Mice?

Borax, a salt formed from boric acid, is essentially the same as the acid.  Does borax kill mice? No, it doesn’t. However, it has other effects on mice that we will see in the article. Borax and boric acid are both present in powder or crystal form and are odorless, tasteless, and colorless.

Borax is mostly used as a pesticide, anti-bacterial, flame retardant, and more significantly, in the making of monofilament fiberglass. On top of that, it is included in cosmetics, household cleaners, laundry detergents, and fertilizers. While borax is formally known as sodium borate, the other names of boric acid are boracic acid, hydrogen borate, and orthoboric acid.

Like borax, boric acid does not kill mice. However, research has it that the acid has a negative effect on the reproductive system of a pregnant mouse. The acid may cause a malformation or even death of the fetus – the unborn baby of the mouse.

Boric Acid And Mice

As implied in the immediate portion, boric acid affects female mice. Apart from that, it affects the sperm motility of the male mice and their testicular function. But, the compound does not kill mice. This is regardless of whether you give it in high doses and over long periods. So, the compound is an ineffective thing when matters of infestations come up. While people regard it highly as a powerful repellent, that is not the case. Actually, mice do not really care about it; neither do they notice its presence.

The Pests That Borax Eradicates

As mentioned in the kicker, borax is a salt that comes from boric acid and goes by the name sodium borate. The uses of boric acid and borax as pretty much the same since the two are essentially one. Borax is used in different applications like fire retardants and as an insecticide. Borax can be utilized in some varied ways to take care of the following pests:

Borax 101: The Pests That It Can Eradicate
Ants Cockroaches	Fleas Silverfish

How about we expound on the information provided in the table? Let’s get the ball rolling:

1. Ants

Both carpenter and pavement ants can become a nuisance in a home. The larger of the two ant breeds is the carpenter ant, which prefers to build its nest in floorboards, wooden furniture, and other timber. The pavement ants always invade because of one reason: food. So, they like getting into kitchen cupboards and pantries, and other places where food or moisture can be found. If you have an ant infestation that you need to eradicate, get borax, and line it on the entryways, where the ants are likely to pass through. To prevent any ants from accessing the building, fill any cracks or entry holes in the doorways, floors, and walls.

2. Roaches

The common cockroach types that tend to become home pests include the American cockroach, the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, and the oriental cockroach. The American and oriental varieties prefer dark and damp places like basements. The ones that prefer kitchens and bathrooms are the German cockroaches. The brown-banded types will live and develop anywhere in a building. To deal with a roach infestation (of whatever variety), you need to apply a thin line of borax on walls, baseboards, trims, and cabinets. The roaches that cross the sodium borate lining will meet their death. Also, new roaches will not enter the other side.

3. Fleas

If you don’t know what fleas are, here’s something brief: they are tiny insects that love jumping. Also, it is challenging to see them with the naked eye. The only source of food there is for fleas is blood. However, they don’t discriminate between any species. More often than not, they will feed on any host they find, and the hosts include both people and pets. To eliminate a flea infestation, ensure that you sprinkle borax powder across your floor regardless of the type (tile, cement, carpet, and hardwood). Let the borax remain for between one and two days before you go ahead and vacuum it.

4. Silverfish

Silverfish will infest the following things: boxes, wallpaper, starched clothing, and book bindings. If you do not know what these critters are, here’s something: silverfish are insects that lack wings and have long antennae with tapered bodies. They eat paper and surfaces similar to paper. They do that by chewing shapeless and irregular patches on the surface. To eliminate or contain a silverfish infestation, apply some fine borax powder on the infested areas. Line the insides of cardboard boxes, bookcase shelves, and the walls of your laundry room. Taking charge of the situation ensures that the silverfish do not cause more damage to your household belongings.

Uses Of Boric Acid

You may have realized that this article is jumping up and down, back and forth. One moment we’re talking about borax, and the other, we are on boric acid. Such is this moment. So, if you cannot use boric acid to take care of a mice infestation, what exactly is its purpose? The following points will show you the utility value of boric acid in places such as commercial buildings, hospitals, and houses:

FINE POINTS: HOW BORIC ACID IS USED
Brief	Extended Explanation
As an antiseptic	It is used to treat and heal minor cuts and burns.
As an insecticide	Acidum boricum is included in many different insecticides to terminate and eliminate roaches, hoppers, termites, and ants, but only if the targets eat it.
As a fire retardant	In the production of products such as furniture and plastic, hydrogen borate is added. It works to prevent a fire’s buildout.
As a precursor	As a precursor, this compound combines and reacts with many other chemicals to form new compounds, such as borax.
As part of textile fiberglass	For curtains and tire cords, this is the main element of formation.

Let us explore and extend the same discussion in the following section. The way boric acid works is highlighted and boiled down. Keep going!

Boric Acid 101: How It Works

Like many other pesticides, boric acid works its way around the central nervous system of its victim. On top of that huge function, boric causes abrasive damage to an insect’s stomach. So, what products use boric acid?

A. Dusts

Indeed, this is an easy jump to take on since, to begin with, boric acid is a finely-ground powder. Pesticide dust is typically utilized in small cracks, tight spaces, and tough-to-reach areas. Also, they perform best when used in low-traffic rooms like basements and attics. These are places where the pests can come into contact with the dust quickly.

B. Liquid Baits

Since boric acid has fine consistency, it can be folded into gel baits, which are used to lure pets such as termites and ants away from your home area. In the process of luring out the pests, boric acid actually poisons them. The workers who are part of a colony will eat a bit of the bait then take it back to the colony. This way, they will poison all the other members.

C. Granules

To ward off different pests, granules of boric acid are used. Actually, they are perfect to use in high grasses and turf since they have pebble-like consistency. If you are attempting to rid your home or office of nuisance animals or crawling pests, this is your to-go product.

When Should You Look At Utilizing A Product That Has Boric Acid?

Since boric acid is a naturally occurring element (or compound, not so sure), many people are more inclined to use it for pest control than a lab chemical. On top of that fact, boric acid is very available both as an active ingredient in a pest control product and on its own. Because of its versatility, it continues to hold its place in an ever-changing pest control marketplace.

Can Boric Acid Eliminate Bed Bugs?

As mentioned multiple times in this boric article (get it?), the acid effectively deals with pests, especially when the pests ingest it. But bed bugs operate differently – they usually get their fill by sticking to a human host and sucking their blood. Looking at that, it means that boric acid will not be as effective at bed bug elimination as it would be at dealing with pests like ants, which nibble on any bait they find.

Is Borax Toxic To Humans?

If the product is used as directed by the manufacturer or distributor, it is very safe for humans to use. Since to err is human, many boric acid accidents happen. If you mistakenly touch, inhale, or ingest the compound, you will likely experience some symptoms. Those who have accidentally touched or eaten boric acid have not suffered significant side effects. This is according to the NPIC, or the National Pesticide Information Center.  If accidental borax ingestion happens, here are some of the symptoms that are likely to manifest: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach aches, convulsions, and skin and eye irritation.

How Boric Acid Reacts With Babies

Experts recommend that boric acid be kept out of reach of children. So, it would help if you did not expose young children and babies to the compounds. Since their bodies are small and at a higher risk of contamination, ensure that the product is safely stored.

In the 1960s, there were reports of the acid being used as a disinfectant. Then, they were mislabelled as ingredients in some baby formulas. As a result, many babies lost their lives.

Is Borax Toxic To Cats?

While boric acid is an effective pesticide, it is not a strong one. Thus, it is considered ‘less harmful’ due to the slow and low speed at which it works to eliminate pests. That shouldn’t make you think that it won’t affect your feline friend. In fact, if your cat gets exposed to too much borax or boric acid, you should make a quick trip to a vet. The signs that the cat is likely to exhibit include vomiting, depression, weakness, ataxia, seizures, and diarrhea.

Is Borax Toxic To Dogs?

Like cats, the toxicity level of borax is relatively low. However, overexposure to the compound could lead to harmful or even deadly consequences. The dog is likely to show the following symptoms: skin and eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, retching, tremors, ataxia, bloody stools, seizures, and decreased urination.