This article reviews 20 Mule Team Borax Pest Control, a crystalline product made from borax used for cleaning and controlling insects like cockroaches, ants, and bed bugs.
So how does 20 Mule Team Borax kill insects?
- The 20 Mule Team Borax works by dehydrating the insect’s exoskeleton and causing them to die. The active ingredient in 20 mule team borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate, also known as borax or sodium borate (boric acid).
Does 20 Mule Team Borax Kill Bugs?
Borax is a powder that, when insects crawl over it, damages the water-containing waxy exoskeleton) that prevents dehydrating.
The insect’s exoskeleton is used to retain water and without it, the insect will die from dehydration – thanks to 20 Mule Team Borax.
Borax is a type of insecticide, which is mixed with other baits that can control certain bugs like cockroaches and ants. As the insects groom themselves, they ingest Borax and die.
- You can mix 20 Mule Team Borax with food for ants and roaches such as honey, syrup, sugar, jelly, or peanut butter. Also, for wasp-control, you may mix Borax with hamburger meat (grounded).
- Luckily, if kept in a dry place, 20 Mule Team Borax will be effective for a long time.
Borax is a chemical combination of oxygen, boron, and sodium – and it’s a crystalline mineral that comes from borax.
- So, in summary, 20 Mule Team Borax will control a number of bugs/ insects including wasps, cockroaches, bed bugs, and ants.
- Boric acid and borax are both excellent natural ways to kill pests.
Boric acid is available in a multitude of stores but may be easier to find if you purchase it online. Borax can also be found at most grocery or hardware stores.
Is 20 Mule Team Borax Similar to Borax?
When you hear the phrase “20 Mule Team” you’re most likely thinking of the borax brand.
Is 20 Mule Team Borax pure Borax?………
Borax is not the same thing as 20 Mule Team Borax.
Borax is a type of boric acid that contains 97% boron, and it’s mined from dried, ground-up ore deposits taken from an open-pit mine in California.
- 20 Mule Team Borax, on the other hand, is made by evaporating salty water to make crystals which are then crushed into coarse powder for sale.
- It may look similar but they’re chemically different compounds with different properties and uses in-home products.
Is 20 Mule Team Borax pure Borax?
The mineral Borax is found in the ground and mined by 20 Mule Team ®. The company combines this raw material with water to create 20 Mule Team Borax for consumer use.
Borax versus Boric Acid
Boric acid and borax are both chemicals that can be used to kill bed bugs. Borax is a natural mineral, while Boric Acid is made synthetically in labs and has more effective insecticidal properties than borax.
Boric acid usually comes as small crystals which are mixed with water before being sprayed or dusted onto surfaces where the insects live or travel such as furniture or carpets.
- The mixture should not make contact with people’s skin because it may irritate some individuals’ skin causing mild rashes and burns on those who have sensitive skin.
There are many everyday uses for borax, which includes;
- Fertilizer
- Hand soap
- Detergent booster
- Antacid
- Removing difficult stains from fabrics and carpets.
On the other hand, boric acid is used in;
- Insecticide or Pesticides
- Paint and varnish remover.
- Eye drops
On toxicity, both boric acid and borax are only toxic if ingested but are dangerous to kids and pets.
In the body, boric acid is converted to hydrochloric acid and absorbed by tissues while Borax reacts with stomach acids.
- However, both substances can irritate the skin in high concentrations or when touched for a long period of time so it’s best to use gloves when applying these substances.
- Both are used as antiseptics
How Does Boric Acid Work?
The most common use of boric acid is to make pesticides; you can get in traps, powder form, liquid form, or tablet form.
- Boric acid has insecticidal properties and ravages their exoskeletons absorb into their bodies, causes stomach poisoning, and interfering with the metabolism.
Boric acid is often the preferred pest control because its finer grain is more lethal to pests, and it has a nice taste (to the bugs).
The microscopic particles of boric acid can stick to pests when they come into contact, whether through a trap or by walking across it. And while cleaning themselves, they ingest the boric acid.
Boric acid is usually used in 5% concentration in traps. However, dust or finer powders incorporate 98-99% boric acid and are more effective at repelling insects.
Which Pests does Boric Acid Kill?
The only insects boric acid will affect are largely those that groom themselves and will ingest it when they do so. Boric acid can kill a range of pests, including
- Ants
- Silverfish
- Carpet beetles
- Cockroaches
- Moths
- Fleas
- Flies
- Spiders
- Bed bugs
- Ticks
The boric acid kills by interfering with the insect’s exoskeleton (the shell that covers its body). The insects then ingest this poison when they clean themselves and die from stomach poisoning.
- It is also used as an ant deterrent in households to keep dry food products free from infestation. It causes them irritation on contact or ingestion which leads to death if not washed off quickly enough.
Your Pest Control at Home
While boric acid is generally safe for humans to eat, it should be treated carefully and used only as bait or in pesticides.
Boric acid is often overlooked as a household pest control option. 20 Mule Team Borax for pest control an excellent choice because it doesn’t leave behind residue, has no odor.
- One caveat is that if you have kids or pets in your home, you might want to either store these products on high shelves and behind closed doors or not use them at all.
Most pests can be treated by DIY pest control at first, but in order to solve the problem fully some will require professional help.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an affordable and safe way to control common household pests, borax or boric acid is a very good choice.
- So, can I use 20 Mule Team Borax for pest control? The answer to your question is: Yes. Boric acid is a chemical that can be used in place of pesticides and other harmful chemicals like lead paint or termiticides.
However, there are a lot of misunderstandings about boric acid and borax; some people can be mistaken on what substances they are and how they can aid your pest control.
I hope you’re able to use the information in this blog post to control pests where you live.
