Borax was once thought of as a crystal with magical powers. It was believed to keep milk from souring, and even thought to cure epilepsy. The Dial corporation, which makes 20 Mule Team Borax, is quick to note that no such uses should even be considered today. And while the company does not proclaim any flea treatment benefits of borax, the product can kill fleas because it contains boric acid, which is used in many pest control products. The boric acid in borax works by simply drying out the flea, the way salt dries out material. The chemicals work by breaking down the cell wall of the flea.
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Using Borax
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Vacuum all carpets, floors and upholstery. Then sprinkle borax on carpeting and upholstery. It can be spread using a sieve or shaker. Sweep the area to lodge the borax deep into the fabric fibers where fleas hide. Vacuum immediately or let it sit for several days as long as humidity isn't high. Continue to vacuum daily until the flea infestation is gone. This treatment lasts approximately a year.
Killing Larvae
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The same method of applying borax to the home will kill flea larvae as well. Borax acts as an intestinal poison to the larvae. Do not use borax to kill fleas if you have animals in your house that clean themselves, such as cats. These pets will ingest the poison and suffer adverse affects. Diarrhea and even convulsions can occur.
Borax Limitations
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If you simply sprinkle borax in an empty room and leave it there it may have no impact on fleas. Fleas are stimulated by heat and motion; they do not hatch if there is no activity. For borax to have an impact, vacuum the room every day, and the borax will work to dehydrate fleas as they begin to hatch. If left undisturbed, fleas can wait for up to a year to hatch. The vacuum will pick up fleas and larvae, so make sure to remove the bag from the home once vacuuming is complete.
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