How To Kill Bed Bugs (DIY Products. Part 2)
More and more often, people try a DIY solution using home remedies to control bed bugs before contacting a pest control professional. But, which home remedies for bed bugs actually work? And what can you do to help stop them from spreading? Here, we dig into which methods can be effective:
SET TRAPS; Traps are not an effective way to exterminate a bedbug infestation, however, they’re an excellent way to determine whether you have them or not.
TALCUM POWDER: talcum powder is a popular home remedy for bed bugs, but there is no scientific evidence to support the idea of talcum powder to getting rid of bed bugs by dehydration. This is because the powder is not sharp enough to penetrate a bed bug’s exoskeleton.
BAKING SODA, SALT, ESSENTIAL OILS OR VINEGAR; Among other household products, these are the most popular ones believe to kill bed bugs. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that neither one of them is a successful home remedy to eradicate a bed bug infestation.
The theory is that (in the case of baking soda); baking soda can absorb those surface fluids and cause the bugs to dehydrate. The problem with this idea is that baking soda doesn’t absorb fluids much, if at all . The absorption properties of baking soda are limited to odors and certain acidic chemicals.
Another theory is that baking soda is simply so abrasive that it can cut open bed bug shells. Comparisons are often made with diatomaceous earth (DE), which is similarly abrasive and is capable of cutting into a bed bug’s shell as well. The discussion of abrasive powder cutting into a bed bug is a bit exaggerated – diatomaceous earth (DE) cuts into a bed bug’s shell, yes, but not by very much.
ULTRASONIC DEVICES: The idea behind this home remedy for bed bugs is to use ultrasonic devices, typically those that you plug into the wall. The high frequencies of the sound waves emitted from the device are believed to be uncomfortable for bed bugs, forcing them to leave the area. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this theory whatsoever.
VACUUMING: Vacuuming is an effective DIY bed bug treatment. Unlike other home remedies, this process can help remove both adult bed bugs and nymphs as well as the eggs. It is important to remember to empty the vacuum in an outside trash can to help reduce the possibility of them returning. However, like most DIY pest control solutions, vacuuming will not fully eradicate bed bugs from your home, but it can help reduce the numbers.
STEAM: Steam treatments, when properly and directly applied, kill all life stages of bed bugs, including the eggs. However, is not that simple; first, you have to keep steam heat on the area for an extended period of time.
Second, the steam works better at higher temperatures (it is recommended to use a steamer that produces a dry steam with a pressure of 40 psi or higher). That’s why you need to use a high-quality steamer, a professional one.
A professional steamer is different from clothing steamers and from carpet shampooers that utilize steam or heat. Neither of those gets as hot as a professional steamer, and they do not get hot enough to exterminate bed bugs. And finally, steam will only kill bed bugs in places where the steam can reach. So, even though steam cannot completely exterminate an infestation of bed bugs by it’s own, it’s a good way to reduce the amount of bed bugs in your home, and also, combined with other methods, can help to reach a full eradication.
MATTRESS ENCASEMENT: These are large, zippered covers that completely enclose your mattress. They’re designed to trap pre-existing bed bugs, and prevent new ones from reaching your mattress. So, in one way, mattress encasements can stop bed bugs from biting you. However, bed bugs usually do not only stay in the mattress, they will move to other areas of your home, hence you will still get bitten and the infestation will not be eradicated.
FREEZING: Freezing infested items is an effective home remedy for bed bugs. For this bed bug home remedy to be successful, the temperature of the freezer must remain at or below -5°F , and the items should be left in the freezer for at least 18 days as bed bugs are known for surviving during that period of time. However, like with most home remedies, it is not a foolproof solution to fully remove bed bugs from your home. But it is an effective way to help reduce the number of bed bugs in your home, and to remove them from infested items.
