Natural Pest Control: How Baking Soda Helps Keep Roaches, Ants, Spiders, Mice & Bedbugs Away

Baking soda is a simple, gentle ingredient many people already keep in the kitchen. Beyond cleaning and deodorizing, it can also help you manage unwanted pests in a natural and practical way. Hereโ€™s a friendly, easy-to-follow guide on how to use it effectivelyโ€”without any harsh or unhealthy ingredients.


1. Roaches

Roaches are attracted to food sources, so the key is to combine baking soda with something they naturally seek out.
How to use it:

  • Mix equal parts baking soda and sugar.
  • Place the mixture in small shallow lids or along areas where youโ€™ve seen roaches.
  • When roaches eat it, the baking soda reacts with their digestive system.

Extra tip: Keep the kitchen dry and free of crumbsโ€”cleanliness strengthens the effect.


2. Ants

Ants follow scent trails and return to the same spots. Baking soda helps disrupt those patterns.
How to use it:

  • Mix baking soda with a little powdered sugar.
  • Sprinkle the blend near baseboards, windowsills, or under sinks where ants appear.

Extra tip: Wipe surfaces with vinegar afterward to erase scent trails.


3. Spiders

Spiders donโ€™t like certain smells, and baking soda helps create an environment they avoid.
How to use it:

  • Sprinkle a thin line of baking soda around window frames, behind furniture, and in corners.
  • You can also place small open jars of baking soda in darker areas where spiders hide.

Extra tip: Add natural deterrents like peppermint oil nearby for added effectiveness.


4. Mice

While baking soda alone doesnโ€™t lure mice, it can work when mixed properly.
How to use it:

  • Combine baking soda with a bit of oat flour or crushed whole grains.
  • Place small portions near areas where you find droppings or gnaw marks.

Extra tip: Seal food and close any small openings in walls or cabinets.


5. Bedbugs

Baking soda helps absorb moisture in cracks and seams where bedbugs hide.
How to use it:

  • Sprinkle baking soda along mattress seams, bed frames, and carpets.
  • Vacuum after 24 hours and reapply if needed.

Extra tip: Always wash bedding on high heat for extra protection.


Using baking soda is a gentle, practical, and natural way to make your home less inviting for pests. With consistency and a clean environment, these simple methods can help keep unwanted visitors awayโ€”without the need for harsh chemicals.