Salt burning: is it effective against bugs?

Salt burning: is it effective against bugs?Salt burning is one of the natural methods used to get rid of insects, and to repel certain bugs. But should you be setting your table salt on fire?

by Francois Jansen

14-11-2023 16:53

in Culture

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs. Image by flickr

Salt burning is one of the natural methods used to get rid of insects, and to repel certain bugs. But should you be setting your table salt on fire, and is it really effective against most of the insects that you don't want in and around the house?

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Here's more about natural insect busting methods, and why salt might not be the best way to solve your home bug problem.

Burning salt According to Firefighter Insider, salt can burn with a yellow flame when thrown into a fire.

Table salt is sometimes recommended to destroy flea infestations, or to get rid of garden slugs and frogs because of the unpleasant and damaging effect it could have on their skin.

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Some people recommend that the common household ingredient gets burned or set alight, which is said to act as a natural way to avert bugs from the household. Unfortunately, 4SafetySupport.com says that this isn't the best way to get rid of most household bugs.

ALSO READ: Malaria outbreak in Gauteng: 1105 cases and 10 deaths reported in 2023

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While it sounds like a great idea, burning the household ingredient might not do as much against pests as you'd think.

There are much better methods for getting rid of midges, flies, and mosquitoes than having to set your condiments and spice-rack on fire.

What do I do with salt? This doesn't mean sodium is useless when it comes to repelling bugs.

It just means that you shouldn't necessarily try setting the ingredient on fire. Fumes are potentially harmful to humans, too, and you might cause more harm to the home than intended.

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Use sodium as a carpet sprinkle to kill bugs like fleas; salt can also be used against slugs, although too much salt can cause plants to die off too.

Other natural bug repellants Healthline.com says that natural ingredients like citronella sprays and oils can be a good, natural way to repel certain types of insects. Insects also don't much enjoy the scent of mint or plant called the beggar's tick (or knapse k rel' in Afrikaans).

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Anti-bug sprays are also available from most pharmacies and stores in South Africa, and it could become more important as malaria has already been seen in the country this year.

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