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Boric Acid |
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A great majority of the boric acid found in the world today is mined and refined in Death Valley, California. Borate materials are open-pit mined and then turned into boric acid through a chemical process involving a reaction with sulfuric acid. Boric acid is, for the most part, a rather innate substance with no real toxicity concerns; though it should not be inhaled or injected into the bloodstream. As a Natural AntisepticBoric acid is an amazing substance with a plethora of uses. Like iodine, boric acid can be used to treat open wounds. It can also be used as an eyewash agent if it's diluted enough. As a natural antiseptic and it's antifungal properties, boric acid has been used as a treatment for athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections. In the right kind of solution, boric acid can even be used to treat some ear infections. Of course, a doctor should be consulted before using Boric Acid as an alternative to prescription medication. As a Natural InsecticideBoric acid also has its uses as a reasonably safe household insecticide. Boric acid is the active ingredient in many commercial pesticides. To kill fleas, roaches, earwigs, and bed bugs:When boric acid is used as an insecticide it is only used against insects that tend to hide behind cabinets and furniture or in hard to reach places--on insects that crawl rather than fly, like fleas, roaches, bed bugs, and earwigs. Simply spread a light dust of boric acid around baseboards, behind cabinets, and in cracks and crevices where pest traffic is highest. The trick to using boric acid as a powder based insecticide is to make certain that the target pest is forced to travel through the dust you've put down. Boric acid powder should be vacuumed up after two weeks, and reapplied if necessary. This is particularly true if you are treating carpets to kill fleas. To kill ants and termites: Because boric acid is water soluble it can also be mixed with jelly or a fruit juice to act as a natural ant bait and ant poison. To dispense as an ant bait, boric acid should be dissolved in jar of water along with sugar (6 teaspoons of sugar for every 1 teaspoon of boric acid). The solution can then be soaked up with balls of cotton which are then put in smaller containers with holes poked large enough to allow ants into and out of the container. Ants should then be able to access the container, consume the boric acid/sugar mix and bring it home to the colony where a time delayed reaction will ensure the demise of the colony.
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Disclaimer: Neither Jonathan Hatch nor Natasha Laumei can accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property when following any advice given on this site. |
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