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How to Dust a House With Boric Acid

Jennifer Simon

Boric acid can be used as an alternative to insect sprays and repellants with strong odors or toxicity. Boric acid is generally safe for use around children; it has a low toxicity level that is similar to table salt. Dusting your home with boric acid can decrease bug infestations significantly over time.

Dusting a house with boric acid should be a continuing process.

  1. Inspect areas of your house for ants, roaches, termites, silverfish or dust mites. Check cabinets and baseboards; look behind appliances and drains inside your home. Make a list of these areas and indicate whether or not they are carpeted.

  2. Purchase the amount of boric acid you think you will need for your listed areas. Depending on the size of the area to cover, you may want to purchase boric acid via a wholesaler.

  3. Clear out excess clutter from rooms you plan to dust with boric acid. Remove any children’s toys from the area, or cover them with sheets. Put on your gloves and face mask; transfer a portion of the boric acid to a more manageable container with pointed spout.

  4. Sprinkle the boric acid into the carpets and fabric furnishings in your home. Use a broom, and brush the boric acid powder into the carpet. Let the boric acid sit for at least 24 hours.

  5. Vacuum away the boric acid from the carpets and furniture surfaces. Sprinkle powdered boric acid into cabinet cracks, baseboards and between appliances. If the tip of the squeeze bottle has a fine enough tip, insert it into cracks and squirt a puff of boric-acid powder.

  6. Turn on the hot water tap and let it run for a few seconds. Once the water is hot, fill your spray bottle with 3 cups water to about 1/4 cup of boric acid; let it dissolve. Spray around cupboards and baseboards or other normally inaccessible areas.

  7. Inspect the areas that you dusted and sprayed for boric acid residue. Wash tableware and dishes that may have been exposed to the boric acid powder. Wipe down commonly touched surfaces a child or pet may access; prevent ingestion of the powder.

  8. Place boric acid around the outside foundation of your home.

Tip

Boric acid dusting indoors can be effective for up to a year, or until your next carpet shampooing or moping.

Warning

Boric acid is indicated as a safe insect deterrent to use around children, but is not intended to be ingested. Contact your physician immediately if it is inhaled or ingested.