Diatomaceous Earth Vs Borax: Which One Is Better For Roaches?

Diatomaceous Earth Vs Borax: Diatomaceous earth works much faster in killing roaches, ants and fleas than boric acid (Borax), but Borax works faster while killing bed bugsIt can achieve 100% mortality in just one week compared to two weeks for boric acid. Specifically, DE will eliminate 60% roach within 24 hours, 80% within 48 hours, and 100% mortality in one week.

In contrast, boric acid has a mortality rate of 30% within 24 hours and a mortality rate of 100% after 15 days.Overall, DE is the most effective and deadly option of the two.

Diatomaceous Earth VS Borax? This question has been answered many times in discussion forums and by professionals. But, it can be difficult for some people to figure out which is the most effective solution. However, we did some deep research and provided you with better solutions for your answers. Borax and Diatomaceous Earth are both good natural pesticides that can be used as pest control against bed bugs. In this article, we talked about the efficiency of these two chemicals for different insects, e.g., roaches, bed bugs, ants and fleas. 

Below we have provided a simple Diatomaceous Earth VS Borax comparison which will let you understand which one is better? And why is it better?

Diatomaceous Earth Vs Borax	DIATOMACEOUS EARTH	BORAX
SAFETY	Yes	No
HUMANS	Yes	No
PETS	Yes	No
PLANTS	Yes	No
APPLICATION	No	Yes
POWDER	Yes	Yes
LIQUID	Yes	Yes
BAIT	No	Yes
METHOD	Yes	No
CONTACT	Yes	No
INGESTION	Yes	Yes
EFFECTIVENESS	Yes	No
SPEED	Yes	No
HORIZONTAL TRANSFER	Yes	Yes

Borax Vs Diatomaceous Earth For Roaches: Which Is More Effective?

Below, we have provided a simple comparison of Borax vs diatomaceous earth for roaches. We hope you guys will understand the nature of these two products regarding the elimination of roaches from the house. 

Borax Vs Diatomaceous Earth For Roaches

Borax	Diatomaceous Earth
Active ingredient boric acid 98%	Active ingredient silicon dioxide
Not natural but not harmful to pet	100% natural & pet safe
100% mortality in 14 days	100% mortality in 7 days
100% pet to use around pet and humans	Safe on plants and gardens
Only requires come into contact to working	Only requires come into contact to working
Kills cockroaches by damaging stomach and nervous system	Kills cockroach by damaging exoskeleton & dehydration
Can be use use both inside and outside	Can be use use both inside and outside
It kills kill cockroaches, ants, fleas, termites, silverfish, beetles, fleas, carpet beetles, wood borers, and other parasites.	It kills cockroaches, ants, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, crickets, silverfish, fleas, carpet beetles, bedbugs, grasshoppers, slugs and other crawling insects

What Is Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous earth, known as DE, is a naturally occurring sedimentary rock. It contains fossil remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms. Diatomaceous is made of a natural substance called silica. The silica in diatomaceous earth is helpful to us in many ways.

For example, we use Diatomaceous Earth to treat high cholesterol levels and improve skin, nails, teeth, bones and hair.

Although professionals declared diatomaceous earth safe for humans, it kills insects by destroying their external structures. More importantly, it is very effective in eliminating cockroaches.

How Does Diatomaceous Earth Kill Roach?

Diatomaceous earth kills roaches by destroying their exoskeletons. It happens in two stages.

First, the DE sac and wax absorb the outer cuticle layer found on the cockroach’s exoskeleton.

Second, the cockroaches lose their water and die of dehydration once the outer layer gets destroyed.

Although DE is like any other powder for humans, for insects, its microscope, the razor, has sharp edges. When roach contacts DE, they do not die immediately. The good thing about killing cockroaches with DE is that it effectively spreads the poison to the rest of the population.

Instead, they go home with powder on their bodies. The powder then transfers to other cockroaches and kills them as well. This horizontal transfer allows DE to keep the mortality rate at Roaches 100%. 

Diatomaceous earth can eliminate 60% in your home within 24 hours, 80% within 48 hours, and 100% in a week.

Two things determine how effective DE is on insects.

1. Cockroaches should contact the DE to work.
2. DE should be dry to be effective on cockroaches.

Can Diatomaceous Earth Work When It Is Wet?

While DE will not work when wet, it will work again after the solution has dried, or you can make a slurry. A slurry is a mixture of DE powder and water.

• To make a slurry, mix eight tablespoons of DE with two cups of water in a spray bottle.
• If your infection is widespread, increase the amount of DE to 2 cups.
• Apply DE once a week for the whole month to get the best results.
• If it is raining or too humid, reapply DE outside.

What Is Borax?

Boric acid (aka Borax) is a naturally occurring compound found in seawater, plants and most fruits. Borax has been a household item for over a century. It is a natural ingredient used in household products,  e.g laundry detergent & multi-purpose cleaning solutions. It can do many things than just clean your home as it is a popular pest control product.

We use Borax to kill various insects, including spiders, mites, algae, moulds, mildew, and weeds. And if used correctly, it can be a great way to get rid of cockroaches.

How Does Borax Kill Roaches?

Borax is deadly to roach when used. Although the cockroach does not intentionally eat Borax, he does so by accident. Below are two techniques you can use when applying Borax to kill a roach.

• The first technique is to spread a thin layer of Borax, where roach lives and travels.

Roach regularly prepares himself so that he can smell food, find companions and feel threatened. They do this by running an antenna through their mouth and eyes. So while immediate contact with Borax will not kill them, they will eventually eat the boric acid on them. The great thing about killing a cockroach-like this is that it effectively spreads poison to the rest of the population. Cockroaches do not prepare themselves unless they are in the harbour area, which works well for your benefit. We recommend applying about 2 grams of Borax per square meter when using powdered Borax.

Studies show that at 2 grams per square meter, roaches have a mortality rate of 30% within 24 hours and a mortality rate of 100% after 15 days.

• The second technique is to mix Borax into food.

Here are some recipes you can try:

• Egg yolk – Boil four eggs and remove the egg yolk. Then add half a cup of boric acid and half a cup of sugar and mix until you reach a consistency like play-dough. If necessary, add more sugar to achieve the desired consistency.
• Peanut Butter – Mix 1 teaspoon of peanut butter for every two tablespoons of Borax.
• Cocoa Powder and Flour – Mix 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, one tablespoon boric acid, and two tablespoons white flour. You have to add some drops of water until the consistency reaches a dough-like texture.

Is Diatomaceous Earth Effective At Killing Roaches?

Diatomaceous earth works much faster in killing roaches than most pest killers because it comes in the form of the food grains, which attract the insects to eat it and take it to their colony. However, it is less effective than Borax, but still, it wins when we compare Borax vs Diatomaceous Earth for roaches because of its spreading speed. On the contrary, it is challenging to manipulate insects and other insects to eat the borax substance. Diatomaceous earth can achieve 100% mortality in just one week compared to two weeks for boric acid. Specifically, DE will eliminate 60% of roaches within 24 hours, 80% within 48 hours, and 100% mortality in one week

• 2x Faster than Boric Acid
• Safe on Plants and Gardens 
• Safe Around Humans and Pets. 
• It only requires contact to begin working. 
• Applicable to a variety of Insects. 
• The food Grade option ensures ultimate safety. 
• FDA approved and used in everyday household items such as toothpaste. 

Are Roaches Attracted To Diatomaceous Earth?

Yes, if we say Diatomaceous earth attracts roaches, then it is not wrong because it comes in the form of food-grade, which highly attracts insects around it like roaches, ants, fleas etc. As soon these insects eat it or make contact with it, it starts showing their reaction, and they die in some time. These insects think of Diatomaceous earth as a food substance and take it back to their colonies. 

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth:

It contains less than 2% silica which makes it very safe. Although it is important to avoid breathing, you can eat it, and it will not cause any health problems (reference). Therefore, it is safe around pets and children. On the other hand, you will be happy to know that food grade diatomaceous earth is deadly to insects, including roach, ants, fighting and other insects.

CONCLUSION:

Diatomaceous earth can achieve 100% mortality in just one week compared to two weeks for boric acid. Specifically, DE will eliminate 60% of roaches within 24 hours, 80% within 48 hours, and 100% mortality in one week. However, it is less effective than Borax, but still, it wins when we compare Borax vs Diatomaceous Earth for roaches due to its acting speed, which is 2x Faster than Boric Acid

Borax Vs Diatomaceous Earth For Bed Bugs: Which Is More Effective?

Below, we have provided a simple comparison of diatomaceous earth vs Borax for bed bugs. We hope you guys will understand the nature of these two products regarding eliminating bed bugs from your house. 

Borax	Diatomaceous Earth
A borax solution containing more than 1% boric acid can kill all bed bugs in four to five days.About 0.5% boric acid solution can kill all bed bugs in seven to eight days.	De takes longer to kill the bed bugs (between 7 and 17 days)
It kills bed bugs by damaging the stomach and nervous system	It kills bed bugs by damaging exoskeleton & dehydration
Indoor & outdoor use	Indoor & outdoor use
Active ingredient borax	Formula contains 100% diatomaceous earth
It kills kill cockroaches, ants, fleas, termites, silverfish, beetles, fleas, carpet beetles, wood borers, and other parasites.	It kills cockroaches, ants, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, crickets, silverfish, fleas, carpet beetles, bedbugs, grasshoppers, slugs and other crawling insects

How To Use Borax To Kill Bed Bugs?

It works to kill suffocation and bed bugs. Here Is the procedure of using Borax to get rid of bed bugs: 

1. Remove all beds from the bed.
2. Sprinkle plenty of Borax over the mattress, and fill a plastic spray bottle with water.
3. Fill a mattress covered with Borax with water. It helps to kill and kill the bed bugs.
4. You can also wash your bedsheets and used blankets with a borax mixture (a mixture of warm water and Borax) to eliminate bed bugs.

Efficiency:

• A borax solution containing more than 1% boric acid can kill all bed bugs in four to five days.
• About 0.5% boric acid solution can kill all bed bugs in seven to eight days.

How To Use Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Bed Bugs:

Wash your sheets and bedding in warm water. Keep your spare clothing and bedding you in a sealed plastic bags. Remove all furniture from the walls and make sure no part of your bed or bed sheets touches the wall or floor. If you are using a liquid bed bug spray, wait until all the liquids are completely dry before applying Ditomyces Earth.

Step 1: Identify the areas where the bed bugs are hidden and take any route to get to your bed. These are all possible areas where you would like to apply Diatomaceous Earth:

• Under and around your mattress
• Box springs
• On the legs of your bed
• The floor around your bed
• Surrounding furniture
• Around the edges of the carpet
• Inside any space in the walls and baseboards
• Window and door frames
• Around every room

Step 2: Spray Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth Powder on your box spring, on your bed’s legs, and around nearby furniture.

Step 3: Gently use a paintbrush or duster to spread the Ditomecius Earth evenly on each surface. Avoid puffing it with a squeeze type bottle.

Step 4: Repeat the above steps for spaces between walls and baseboards.

Step 5: To make a thick ring around your bed, pile up some diatomaceous earth so that any bed bugs living outside can climb out of it when they try to feed.

Step 6: Any diatomaceous earth applied to the floor should be vacuumed every seven days and then reapplied. It can take approximately four weeks or more to get rid of most bed bugs.

Efficiency:

Diatomaceous earth is considered to be a passive way to kill bed bugs. It often takes some time for results to appear – usually between 2 and 4 weeks, and sometimes longer.

CONCLUSION:

As we know, diatomaceous earth is a passive way to kill bed bugs. It often takes some time for results to appear – usually between 2 and 4 weeks, and sometimes longer. In contrast, a borax solution containing more than 1% boric acid can kill all bed bugs in four to five days. So in the case of  Borax vs Diatomaceous Earth for bed bugs, Borax is a better killing agent for bed bugs.

Diatomaceous Earth Vs Borax For Ants: Which Is More Effective?

Below, we have provided a simple comparison of diatomaceous earth vs Borax for ants. We hope you guys will understand the nature of these two products regarding the elimination of ants and their colonies from your home.

Borax	Diatomaceous Earth
Once the bait gets consumed, it will kill the ant within 48 hours	Its a highly effective ant killer
Depending on the size of the ants colony, it can take up to 2 weeks to eliminate the entire colony	Kills insects by dehydration within two days.
Indoor & outdoor use	Indoor & outdoor use
Active ingredient borax	Formula contains 100% diatomaceous earth
Kill not only the ant but also kills the queen	Non-toxic to humans, pets, and plants
Its a naturally occurring mineral powder that is poison for ant	Diatomaceous earth remains effective indefinitely as long as it’s kept dry
It kills kill cockroaches, ants, fleas, termites, silverfish, beetles, fleas, carpet beetles, wood borers, and other parasites.	It kills cockroaches, ants, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, crickets, silverfish, fleas, carpet beetles, bedbugs, grasshoppers, slugs and other crawling insects

How To Use Borax To Kill Ants?

METHOD	WHAT YOU’LL NEED	DIRECTIONS
BORAX AND HONEY	One and a ½ tbsps of Borax +½ cup of honey Container	Mix Borax with honey until you have a paste-like texture.Put the mix on a container and leave it near the ant’s nest or a nearby trail
BORAX AND PEANUT BUTTER	1 tbsp of Borax +1 tbsp of peanut butter in a Container	Combine borax and peanut butter Leave the mixture near the trail
SPRAY METHOD	One and a ½ tbsps of Borax +One and a ½ cups of warm water +½ cup of sugar in a Spray Bottle	Combine Borax, water, and Sugar Put the mixture in a spray bottle Spray the mixture on an ant trail
SPRINKLING METHOD	One and a ½ tbsps of Borax +½ cup of sugar	Mix sugar and BoraxSprinkle the dry DIY ant killer over an ant trail near the nest.

How To Use Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Ants:

Ditomecius earth powder can get sprayed by hand (or any other way you like) in any problematic areas where you want to kill ants and prevent them from moving in the future. ۔

Follow this basic procedure to block natural ants with Diatomaceous Earth:

• Identify ant trails. find where they are? and how they are entering your home?
• Apply diatomaceous earth along the ant’s trails – pay close attention to where they are entering your home and near your nest (if you know where it is).
• If this is practical, it can help add a light DE spray all around your home – it will prevent ants (and other insects) from entering the house.
• Check after a few days to see if the ant problem is over. If they have created an alternative route, you will need to re-install the DE along the new trail.
• When the ant problem is over, you can wash or shake Ditomasis Earth if you wish – it is wise to leave a DE barrier around your home to prevent any future interference.

Will Diatomaceous Earth Kill The Queen Ant?

No, Diatomaceous earth will not kill the queen ant directly. Queen ants usually do not leave the nest, which means their diatomaceous earth is unlikely to pass through. However, spreading the diatomaceous soil around the ant mound will kill any ant that leaves the mound. They cannot feed their queen when the workers are killed while passing through the diatomaceous earth. Therefore, if you kill the working ants by spreading diatomaceous on the ground, the queen ant will starve.

CONCLUSION:

Diatomaceous earth will typically take about 16 hours to kill red ants, and black ants are milder – they last about 24 hours. Whereas Borax takes a little more time, Every ant that eats the ant killer borax / boric acid bait will usually die within 24-48 hours. However, DE cannot kill the queen directly, whereas we can kill the queen ant using sugar solution with Borax. So, both are efficient depending on the nature of the usage. However, if an ant trail is visible, DE is the best option to pour it on the course directly. So in the case of  Diatomaceous Earth vs Borax for ants, Borax is a better killing agent for ant queen, and DE is a better killing agent if directly applied.

Diatomaceous Earth Vs Borax For Fleas: Which Is More Effective?

Below, we have provided a simple comparison of diatomaceous earth vs Borax for fleas. We hope you guys will understand the nature of these two products regarding eliminating fleas and larvae from your house. 

Borax	Diatomaceous Earth
Borax not only kills fleas, but it also kills other insects around its target. It will take a minimum of 6 hours or up to two days.	Adult fleas may die as quickly as four hours after contact with diatomaceous earth.
Depending on the size of the invasion, it can take up from 06 hours to a week to eliminate the fleas	Kills insects by ingestion/dehydration within 4 hours to 48 hours
It kills fleas by damaging the stomach and nervous system	Kills fleas by damaging exoskeleton & dehydration
Active ingredient borax	The formula contains 100% diatomaceous earth
It kills kill cockroaches, ants, fleas, termites, silverfish, beetles, fleas, carpet beetles, wood borers, and other parasites.	It kills cockroaches, ants, earwigs, millipedes, centipedes, crickets, silverfish, fleas, carpet beetles, bedbugs, grasshoppers, slugs and other crawling insects

How To Use Diatomaceous Earth To Kill Fleas:

Diatomaceous earth can be used both indoors or outdoors, and will be effective as long as it is dry. It is generally considered safe to use around pets and humans, but since it is a dust, you should still try to avoid flying around it, as it can be a little annoying. Please follow all the manual instructions when applying this or any other pesticide.

• Start by exploring areas in your home or yard where you have seen fleas or your pets spend a lot of time. Places to consider could include furniture, pet beds, floors, cracks and crevices, under the sink, and even in gardens. If the affected areas include carpets, bedding or other textiles, you may want to give the flea a perfect space to move first.
• Next, spray DE powder on the surfaces you want to treat. You have to apply it in a thin, uniform coating. If you are applying it to the carpet, apply it to the carpet using a broom to make sure it reaches the depth of the fibres. If these areas are difficult to reach, you can use Ditomecius Earth in a duster or puffer bottle.
• Leave the powder on for a day or two to do its job. Then vacuum the powder and dead fleas thoroughly. If the treated area is out of the way, it can be left there as a precaution, and it will remain effective as long as it stays dry.
• Adult fleas may die as quickly as four hours after contact with diatomaceous earth. Ensure that all the eggs are hatched and the adult and nymph are gone. Repeat this process once a week for 3 or 4 weeks.

How To Use Borax To Kill Fleas

Before using Borax for flea control indoors, it is essential to follow safety precautions. Always buy Borax from a reputable vendor.

Step 1: Vacuum the carpet thoroughly.

Step 2: Spray borax powder freely on the infected areas of giant fleas. You can use a stiff brush to make sure the powder penetrates deep into the carpet.

Step 3: Leave the Borax on the carpet for at least 6 hours or even two days – whichever is better. Do not allow children and pets to visit the treated areas.

Step 4: Vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Dispose of vacuum bags outside to prevent larvae and eggs from returning to the house.

Conclusion:

As studied showed, diatomaceous earth can kill adult fleas instantly upon contact, and it takes as low as 4 hours for the results. Hence, its efficiency seems better than Borax in this case as Borax take as low as 6 hours to 2 weeks for the visible results and sometimes longer. Diatomaceous earth can either get a sprinkle or spread in food-grade, with no health risks contrary to Borax. So in the case of  Borax vs Diatomaceous Earth for fleas, diatomaceous earth is a better killing agent for fleas; however, DE is also best, but it takes time for complete elimination.