Borax To Kill Fleas
Borax is not as common as the white, powdery baking soda that we all have in our kitchen shelves. But, it is also a versatile product that has several applications, especially in beauty products, laundry and cleaning tasks. When we talk about home uses of borax, fleas killing is the first thing that comes to homeowners. Before we discuss about using borax to kill fleas outside and inside homes, let’s take a look at the chemical composition and basic info regarding borax powder.
What is Borax Powder?
The term borax is derived from burax, Persian word used used for borate salts. Borax is used to define boron mineral or boric acid salt, which appears soft, white or colorless crystals. With chemical formula, Na2B4O710H2O, it is also known as disodium tetraborate sodium tetraborate, or simply sodium borate. In nature, this mineral is formed due to repeated evaporation of lake water. The naturally occurring borax mineral forms the base compound for making borax powder. It is sold in almost all grocery centers, and you will find it in the detergent section.
How to Use Borax to Kill Fleas?
Fleas are nasty, blood suckers that infect pet dogs and cats. These parasites often become household problem, as they drop down in hiding places for laying eggs. In such a case, using borax powder to kill fleas work by dehydrating them. A word of caution regarding safe borax uses is, this white colored, water soluble powder causes irritation to skin, eyes and throat (when inhaled). Hence, while handling borax crystals or powder for controlling fleas, make sure you wear safety gloves, dust mask and protective eye glasses. The following are some tips on how to use borax to kill fleas.
* As a first step for flea control, locate the areas that are highly prone to flea infestation. You should inspect the carpets, bedding, pet enclosures, lawns and home surrounding. Check those areas around the house, where your pet dog prefers to rest or sleep.
* The thick carpet fibers serve a perfect hiding place for flea eggs and larvae. They even spend in the carpets for a long period, until favorable condition arrives. For such a problem, applying borax is an excellent step towards killing fleas in carpet.
* While applying borax to kill fleas in carpet, break the clumps (if any) and strain through a mess. If required, conduct a spot test to check if this boric acid salt causes fading of carpet or not. If it doesn’t cause discoloration, continue using borax.
* Spray borax sparsely all over the carpet, and use a broom to make the powder penetrate deep inside the fibers. Leave borax powder in the carpet for at least 2 days, making sure that pets and children do not enter the room.
* This treatment period is important for getting rid of fleas effectively. Then, vacuum clean carpet twice to remove traces of borax powder, and throw the bags. Repeat these steps after every 2 weeks to get rid of fleas effectually.
* In case, you notice flea eggs in the infested sites, use borax and salt to kill fleas completely. Sprinkle the salt before applying borax powder, as this will cause dessication of the eggs. Following this, use borax for killing flea larvae and adults.
* Speaking of using borax to kill fleas in yard, it is rather a challenging task, as the treatment area is open and large. You can proceed for it during sunny days. Before applying borax for fleas, allow lawn to dry by stopping irrigation for 3 days.
* In a plastic tub, mix 2 parts each of borax and diatomaceous earth with one part salt. Sprinkle this mixture all over the lawn, and rake the area properly. Leave for 3 days; during this time, keep your pets out of the yard. Water lawn to wash off the chemicals.
Once you open the borax powder package, you need to use within two to three years. To increase its shelf life, always keep it in a dry place, out of excess moisture. The best part with using borax to kill fleas is that it is very convenient to use, provided that you avoid direct contact and inhalation. What’s more, this effective insect killing powder is safer and less expensive, as compared to other chemical based insecticides sold in the market.
Helping Your Dog Get Along With Other Family Pets
If you have, or are planning to have, a multi-pet household, one of the first things to consider will be the breed of dog you want. Some breeds of dog are friendlier than other breeds and include poodles, beagles, cavalier spaniels, and retrievers. These breeds, among many others, will be more likely to accept another dog or pet in the home, while other breeds may present some problems. Always remember that all dogs are individuals and you will find variation in personality in all breeds.
Some dog breeds were developed to participate in dog fights and these breeds may be best in single-pet households – pit bulldog, Tosa, Fila Brasileiro, and Akita are all dog breeds that have a high level of dog-to-dog aggression, and they are often aggressive to other pets as well.
While some hunting dogs, such as Labrador or Golden Retrievers are calm dogs that will accept all pets, some breeds still have a high prey drive and will hunt and chase smaller pets in the home, such as cats, rabbits, and Guinea pigs. Afghan hounds and Dachshunds will never be trustworthy around smaller pets, and this should not be held against them, it is simply their innate nature.
If you are bringing a dog into a household where there are already cats, or are adopting a cat, you should remember that the cat will probably be terrified of the dog, regardless of the dog’s docility. Some dogs have absolutely no interest in bothering cats, while others will look forward to a good chase. However, except in extreme cases, it shouldn’t be difficult to get your dog and cat to at least be respectful of one another.
A puppy, naturally, will be easier to train to accept a cat. Because the personality of the pup is still developing, familiarity with cats at an early age will lessen the chances that the adult dog will act aggressively towards them.
Regardless of the age of your dog, however, keep the dog and cat separated to begin with. The cat will probably be frightened of the dog and must be allowed to become accustomed gradually to it. Keeping the animals in separate rooms, but allowing them to sniff at one another through a gate is a good way to promote tolerance, and hopefully friendship.
When the cat and dog actually meet face to face, have both of them on a leash, they will be much easier to control. Make sure that you reward with treats for good behavior, and don’t bother yelling if things go wrong, it will only make the situation more emotionally charged.
If the pets involved will be two dogs, keep in mind that dogs of the same sex are less likely to get along than opposites. A male and a female dog will be more likely to become friends than two females, and two males may actually fight.
The size of the dog will also have a bearing on how the adjustment will go, regardless of whether you are introducing a puppy or kitten. Regardless of how friendly and tolerant the dog may be, large or giant dogs can inadvertently harm smaller pets when trying to play with them.
Dogs can be taught to accept and even be friendly to ferrets, birds, rabbits, and other small pets, but still should never be left alone with them. You should always cage small animals if they are going to be alone with the dog when you are not present.
As it has been scientifically proven that dogs have the same set of emotions that humans do, and that their brains respond in the same way, it’s not too surprising that jealousy is among the emotions dogs can feel. Dogs have been living with humans for tens of thousands of years and have shaken off much of their old canine loyalties and transferred them to people.
Some dogs are so attached to their owners that they will even be jealous of inanimate objects, in much the same way that a child may become jealous of the telephone if mother talks on it too much. Never make light of jealousy in a dog, especially in a large breed, as it can result in attacks on people or other pets.
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