Not all products react with bleach in that way. I can assure you that borax is NOT one of them! It is safe to mix with chlorine bleach and detergent, which has been proven to improve the cleaning power of both. Think of borax as a maintenance product that will keep white things white.
First, make sure to keep it away from children's reach. Second, avoid using it as a cosmetic product and handle it with care at all times. This usually means wearing a mask and gloves when using it. Finally, do NOT mix Borax with any boric acid products, such as pesticides.
Borax has long been recognized for its disinfectant and deodorizing properties. Mix a 1/2 cup of Borax into 1 gallon of hot water or undiluted vinegar and clean with this solution. For a fragrant smell, add a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or lavender to the above recipe.
Can be used with bleach. Bleach is a great product for removing stains and cleaning clothing properly. By adding a cup of borax, you'll be boosting the bleach's properties in the wash cycle. Keep in mind that typical acidic solutions, such as vinegar, are dangerous to add to bleach, so stay away from that.
When chlorine bleach is mixed with an acid, chlorine gas is given off. Chlorine gas and water combine to make hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids.
Bleach's Effect on Roaches
Taking a deep drink of household bleach would kill anything, roaches included. But the same strong odor that keeps people from taking a swig of bleach repels roaches as well. So though it could work, in reality, it will not. It is very difficult to kill an entire roach infestation yourself.
Use 20 ounces of Borax for every 5,000 gallons of water in your pool (this is just an estimate as different chemical factors may require a different amount for your pool).
Borax causes irritation of skin and respiratory tract. The gastrointestinal tract, skin, vascular system and brain are the principal organs and tissues affected. It causes nausea, persistant vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, depression and renal failure.
It's helpful in getting rid of pesky bugs (including cockroaches) and killing weeds. In many ways, it's similar to baking soda. But there's one thing you should know before you add borax to your cleaning arsenal: Although it's “natural,” borax can be quite toxic, especially to young kids and pets.
While the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies borax as being noncarcinogenic, it does pose some risks, including: skin, eye, and respiratory irritation. digestive problems. infertility.
It is an insecticide and kills them on contact. It also makes treated material unappealing for termites to eat. Borax is also a digestive poison and repellent that keeps termites away. Depending on the level of borate concentrate, the pesticide can poison the termite over an extended period.
Borax can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if you ingest it by itself, and large amounts can lead to shock and kidney failure. It's banned in U.S. food products. It also can irritate your skin and eyes, and it can hurt your nose, throat, and lungs if you breathe it in.
Dr. Robin Jacobson, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Medical Center, warns families to stay away from the white powder altogether. "Borax can cause burns, especially when you touch it multiple times," she says.
Borax is also a great natural cockroach killer. Compared to most chemical pest control treatments, it's a relatively low-risk product.
Borax acts as a buffer and raises the pH of the water to a slightly basic solution, right around a pH of 8. Don't use Borax at the same time as vinegar or you'll just create a nice little acid-base reaction and make salt.
People who breathed in borax had a dry mouth, nose, and throat. Coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, and nose bleeds have also been reported. Infants are more sensitive to pesticide exposures. Some infants that ate large amounts of boric acid also had nervous system effects.
Borax is the sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2B4O7 · 10H2O) that, when dissolved in water, is hydrolyzed to boric acid and OH− anions, yielding a pH of about 9.13.
Borax is a compound used to make glass, and is found in many cleaning products. If ingested, borax can cause stomach upset and irritation in pets. In high doses, it can even cause injury to the kidneys.
The second way is to use 20 Mule Team Borax product, and an amount of pH decreaser to bring the pH back in line after addition of borax to your pool. You'll need a lot of Borax and acid to do the job. For a 20,000 gal pool, about 60 lbs of Borax, and 4 gallons of acid.
Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes! You can use baking soda in a pool for a few different things, and the same applies to vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar in a swimming pool can be used as cleaning agents, but you can also lower pool pH with vinegar or raise it with baking soda.
Sprinkle boric acid in areas the roaches frequent; when they walk through it, it sticks to them. They later ingest the boric acid, which then kills them. When using boric acid, be sure to limit your exposure; don't place it anywhere that children or pets might find it, as it's toxic when ingested.
So what smell do roaches hate? Oregano, rosemary, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and catnip are great herby options. Citrus oils work brilliantly too.
Yes, bleach can kill cockroaches through ingestion or drowning. However, it is not as potent, safe, or as easy to use as traditional insecticide chemicals specifically intended to kill roaches. By ingestion, it means that you would have to make cockroaches drink the liquid solution.