By monmouth
Quoted from "Kitchen Hints From Heloise":
Here are two home-made recipes guaranteed to curb your roach problem. Note: Boric acid can be harmful to pets and children if ingested in a large amount at one time or in small amounts over a period of time. Please keep away from little ones!
Heloise's Famous Roach Ball Recipe
You can set out these "tasty" treats in your cupboards for roaches anytime that you suspect infestation. Be sure to keep them out of the reach of children and pets, however, Boric acid can be bought at drugstores, pharmacies or grocery stores.
¼ cup shortening or bacon drippings
1/8 cup sugar
8 ounces powdered boric acid
½ cup flower
½ small onion, chopped (optional)
Enough water to form a soft dough
Mix the shortening and sugar together until they form a creamy mixture. Mix together the boric acid, flour, and onion and add to the shortening mixture. Blend well. Add water to form a sift dough, Shape the mixture into small balls) about ½ inch or so in diameter) or break into small blobs. Drop them into open plastic sandwich bags (to roach balls moist longer). Label the bag clearly so everyone in the house knows it is roach poison. Replace the dough when it gets hard.
Heloises' Famous Dry Powder Roach Recipe
Mix equal parts of boric acid and flour, cornmeal, OR sugar. Use the mixture to dust infested areas. Roaches will walk through it and then ingest it when they groom their legs and feelers.
I'm a little confused why people are saying that boric acid is poisonous, It can be used vaginally for yeast infection (empty capsules available from your local pharmacist can be filled with boric acid and inserted into the vagina) If it is safe to use there, then I would imagine it is safe to use anywhere!
Based on mammal median lethal dose (LD50) rating of 2,660 mg/kg body mass, boric acid is poisonous if taken internally or inhaled. Also, long term exposure to boric acid is thought to contribute to cancer.
The best suggestion here is the Torro. I have used it for years and it's never failed me. In your case, I'd take the face off the socket, attach a small square of paper towel to the inside of it, and put a drop of Torro on the square. Then just put the face back in place and the ants won't come in anymore. They'll take the Torro back to the nest and it'll kill the whole colony.
I use powdered cinnamon it works, kind to pets and children just sprinkle where the problem is.
Better yet, just get some Terro. It's only about 3.49 for two small bottles, and a drop the size of a dime will kill hundreds. They come and feed on the drop like cattle at a watering hole, and then when they are done, the drop looks like it hadn't been touched. Know why? They have all gone home to die.
If it is inside the electrical outlet box, pets and kids won't be able to get to it. Take the outlet cover off, place a little boric acid inside, then replace the cover.
If boric acid is safe for pets (as recently posted), why do sites say to keep it away from pets when using as a pest deterrent? I'm really interested, since I've been using it for ants, and I have 2 cats and a dog that I want to keep safe.
Susanmajp from Arkansas/Oklahoma
By Michele
I know a lot of people mention reading the warnings on the bottle. That's fine, but you need to remember companies put those warnings on there for themselves, not for you. They don't want to get sued if something goes terribly wrong with your use of the product. They can just say, "well, we warned you". So the warnings probably make things sound worse than they really are. (06/06/2006)
By Allison
By Carla B.
By Grandma Margie
By susanmajp
Roach Bait:
Mix shortening and sugar until creamy. Mix boric acid and flour together. Combine the two mixtures and pour enough water to make a dough. Place balls around the house where roaches are and they will eat it and die. I also found out that it still works after it dries up into a hard ball!
Silverfish Bail:
Mix well and place in shallow containers near hiding spots. (06/08/2006)
By scruggle
By Dot
By Selena
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