Sodium Borate for Fleas

Borax or sodium borate for fleas is being used by a lot of people to kill fleas, ticks and other pests. While there are other treatments available, borax is very popular because it is cheap and effective. You only need the following to try it.

Required Materials

Vacuum
Broom
Sodium borate (also known as sodium tetraborate or sodium pyroborate)

Step 1

Find the carpeted spots where the fleas hide. If the infestation is rampant finding these spots would be easy. Fleas are most likely to hide in corners and the area where your pet goes to.

Step 2

You might want to conduct a small test first. Choose a spot on the carpet and put some borax there. Let the borax sit for several minutes. Check the carpet every now and then for damages.

Sometimes discoloration occurs, but this is rare. If there is discoloration, you cannot use or sodium borate for fleas. If there is no damage after several minutes, proceed to step 3.

Step 3

Apply the borax all over the carpet. Work the sodium borate in the carpet using the broom. Use the broom to put the borax in the fibers. The fibers are where the fleas and eggs are located.

Step 4

Leave the borax there for 24 to 48 hours. Do not let pets or children near the carpet. Avoid exposing the carpet to moisture while the borax is on the carpet.

Step 5

After 24 or 48 hours, vacuum the carpet. You should see dead fleas and flea eggs being sucked by the vacuum. If the vacuum bag is full, replace it with a new one. Vacuum the carpet several times. Dispose of the vacuum bags by putting them in the garbage can outside your home.

Tips and Warnings

Don’t let the sodium borate sit on the carpet if the area has high humidity. The reason is that borax will soak in moisture. This will make it harder to clean up. Sodium borate cannot be used on pets or people. They are not medications for pets or humans. You can get sodium borate in many hardware stores. Many of them can be purchased online.

When using the sodium borate for fleas, you may have may have to apply a lot of it. The heavier the infestation is, the more the sodium borate will have to be used. Again, you need to make sure pets and people don’t get near the carpet.