How to Kill Bed Bugs?
You can kill bed bugs using one of the sprays or dusts available in the market. Choose one or more of these insecticides on the affected area. It is recommended to use more than one of these products for maximum effectiveness.
The mattress and its surroundings all need to be sprayed, including the area under the mattress such as the baseboards and the sides of your drawers. Then, you can continue with chairs around your bed, windows, door frames and the bottom area of dressers.
Also don’t forget to spray beneath the furniture you have in your bedroom, behind headboards, loose plaster and bedsprings. You need to spray almost everything except the bedding or areas where people sit or lay down.
Instead, you need to put clothes and bedding in sealed plastic bags, wash them and also put them in a drying machine on high temperature. There are products that can be applied to parts of the furniture that people use on a regular basis but most of them cannot.
This is why you need to focus on the more hidden, less obvious spots with the spray. Bed bugs spend most of their time hiding so you are not going to see them on the functional parts of the furniture anyway.
How to Kill Bed Bugs with Heat?
Bed bugs and their eggs can be killed by consistently applying heat to them. You can kill them by exposing them to a temperature that is often referred to as the thermal death point. It turns out that bed bugs have no chance to survive if they get exposed to a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) for 90 minutes.
Raise the temperature to 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) and they are going to die in 20 minutes. This is only true for adult bed bugs, as their eggs still need to be exposed to the same temperature for at least 90 minutes. This is great news for those who have a clothes dryer at home.
Bed bugs are able to infest shoes, clothes, bedding, stuffed animal toys among other things. All you need to do is to put the infected items into the dryer and give it some time to work on a high setting.
How to Kill Bed Bugs at Home?
Killing bed bugs at home is easy, you just need to pick an effective method against them. First off, you need to remove all the bedding and other cloth-based stuff from the room and put it in the washing machine. Once the washing is done, you need to dry them with a drying machine on the highest setting.
There are plenty of powders available in the market that are specifically made for killing bed bugs. If you are looking for a more natural solution, then you can use diatomaceous earth or essential oils.
Another solution is to run a steam cleaner through the infested area, since the steam is so hot that it can kill bed bugs in minutes. Diatomaceous earth in powder form can be used just like any other powder, just make sure the whole infested area is covered with it.
Essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil or thyme oil can be mixed with distilled water. Put 6-10 drops in the water and it is ready to use.
How to Kill Bed Bugs Fast?
Considering that bed bugs die very fast when they come in contact with hot steam, using a steam cleaner is probably the fastest way to kill them. The best thing about steam is that it can easily reach cracks, crevices, gaps and any hard-to-reach hiding place where bed bugs find shelter.
They only need to be exposed to hot steam for a few minutes. Steam can get as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit and that is more than enough for bed bugs. Being exposed to a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit can kill them in about 90 minutes.
How to Kill Bed Bugs on Clothes?
If you find some bed bugs in your clothes, the best thing to do is to throw them in the washing machine as soon as possible. Then, once the washing is done, take them out and put them in the drying machine. You need to set the machine on the highest possible setting and let the clothes sit there for about 90 minutes.
This way, you can guarantee that all the bed bugs will die in there. A temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit is already lethal for these insects. A typical drying machine is capable of way more than that.
How Long in Dryer to Kill Bed Bugs?
A typical drying machine on the highest setting can kill off all bed bugs in about 20 minutes. For these insects, being exposed to a temperature of at least 118 degrees Fahrenheit can be deadly. On that temperature, they can’t survive for longer than 90 minutes.
How to Kill Bed Bugs on Mattress?
First off, you need to remove all the bedding and pillows and throw it in the washing machine. Once the washing is done, put them in the drying machine and set it on the highest setting. In order to kill 100% of the bed bugs in your bedding, keep the drying machine running for about 90 minutes.
The next step is to use essential oils or diatomaceous earth in powder form. You can put 6-10 drops of lavender oil, lemongrass oil, clove oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil or thyme oil in a bottle of distilled water. Spray this mix thoroughly on the mattress, both the top and the bottom side.
Or you can just pour diatomaceous earth powder on it. Make sure the whole mattress is covered with it and that you don’t breathe it in. You can remove the powder later with a vacuum cleaner. Another way to go about it is to treat the whole mattress with a steam cleaner.
Steam is hot enough to kill off all the bed bugs that come in contact with it for a few minutes.
How to Kill Bed Bugs in Couch?
First, make sure to remove everything you can from the couch and its surroundings. Put all the cloth-based items in the washing machine and then in the drying machine on the highest setting. The other option is to go through them with a steam cleaner.
Then, bring in a vacuum cleaner that has a bag and vacuum through it as thoroughly as you can. Pour all the dirt and bed bugs from the bag into a plastic bag and throw it into the trash. Then, use the steam cleaner to kill the rest of the bed bugs in your couch.
Steam can get as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit which will surely kill the insects. You can also spread diatomaceous earth in powder form on the couch before using the vacuum cleaner.
How Cold to Kill Bed Bugs?
Killing bed bugs by reducing the temperature turns out to be harder than killing them with heat. These insects have a high tolerance against cold, making them able to enter a semi-hibernation stage. They do this by changing the freezing point of their bodily fluids such that they require a colder temperature to freeze.
This way, it can take them several days until they die after constantly being exposed to winter-cold temperature. According to research, bed bug adults, nymphs and eggs need to be exposed to a temperature as low as 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 16 degrees Celsius) for at least 80 hours.
This way, you can guarantee that all of them will die. If the temperature would reach minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degree Celsius), bed bugs would only be able to survive for up to 48 hours. In fact, putting infested items in a plastic bag and placing them in the refrigerator for a few days is a great way to kill bed bugs.
How to Kill Bed Bugs Naturally?
You can kill bed bugs in a natural and chemical-free way by using diatomaceous earth in a powder form, essential oils or by steam cleaning. Diatomaceous earth is completely safe, you just need to make sure not to breathe it in.
It is highly effective when it comes to killing bed bugs, just like essential oils such as lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil, peppermint oil, lavender oil and thyme oil. 6 to 10 drops of one of these oils need to be mixed with distilled water.
Then you can spray the mix all over the infested area. Steam cleaning is also very effective, as steam can get as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more than enough for killing bed bugs. Moreover, steam can get into the smallest of gaps and cracks, finding and killing all the bed bugs that are hiding.
How Long Does It Take to Kill Bed Bugs?
Although there are highly effective methods such as using essential oils, steam or diatomaceous earth, it is unlikely that you are going to get rid of all bed bugs in a single day. It usually takes a couple of weeks to get rid of bed bugs completely.
This is mainly because these insects are really good at hiding. If you were able to catch them all in the room, it would take up to an hour to kill them. Unfortunately, they tend to hide in cracks, crevices and under the carpet and furniture, which makes it hard to get to them.
How to Kill Bed Bugs Home Remedies
Home remedies for killing bed bugs include using diatomaceous earth in powder form, steam cleaning or essential oils. The diatomaceous earth powder has to be spread thoroughly on the mattress, carpet, furniture or other infested areas.
From essential oils such as lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, lavender oil or peppermint oil, you can create a deadly mix against bed bugs. Only 6-10 drops are needed for a bottle of distilled water, which can be sprayed all over the infested area.
Steam cleaning is another option, which is very effective at killing bed bugs since it can get as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is more than enough, not to mention that steam can easily make its way into crevices, cracks and other places where bed bugs usually hide.
How to Kill Bed Bugs in Car?
A highly effective way to kill bed bugs in a car is to get some diatomaceous earth in powder form. This is a strong pesticide against these insects that basically dries them out. It does so by absorbing all the possible fluids through the exoskeleton of bed bugs.
Don’t shy away from applying this powder to the whole interior of your car. After this treatment, make sure to thoroughly wash your car so that there is no diatomaceous earth powder is left. Also, make sure it doesn’t get in your nose or mouth while applying.
During a hot, sunny day, your car can get hot enough so that all the bed bugs die in it. They need to be exposed to a temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 90 minutes. You can also raise the temperature by sticking plastic garbage bags or dark fabric to the windows.
How to Kill Bed Bugs in Carpet?
Before you kill bed bugs in your carpet, you need to make sure that everything else is removed from the room. These insects are likely to spread and find various hiding places in your room. This is why you need to spray all the furniture you have first and remove them from the room.
Make sure to either throw all the smaller items such as bedding and clothes into the washing machine, then in the drying machine. If you can’t wash or spray it, then make sure to put it in a plastic bag. The next step is to thoroughly steam-clean your room.
Then, take a double-sided tape and place it on all the cracks you can find, the outside of the room and the edges of your room. For the next step, either buy some bed bug carpet powder or diatomaceous earth in powder form.
Spread one of the powders on the carpet and on the bottom part of it too. After that, bring in a vacuum cleaner that has a bag and thoroughly vacuum the room without removing the double-sided tape. Don’t apply any brush to the end of the vacuum cleaner.
How do You Use Alcohol to Kill Bed Bugs?
Alcohol is the solution to many problems, yet it is not the most effective method for killing bed bugs. Rubbing alcohol like isopropyl can kill bed bugs, but only under certain circumstances. Also, it is one of those methods that can quickly go wrong.
Alcohol can destroy an adult bed bug’s outer shell and their eggs as well. It not only destroys the outer shell but also dries the insect out once it has made its way through the shell. Now the reason why alcohol is not very effective is that it has to be sprayed on the insect in order to take effect.
Bed bugs are really good at hiding and you are not going to have the chance to spray it on them. They hide under the mattress, along seams, in cracks and various gaps. If there is any activity near them, it will make them go away.
Moreover, it has been proven via research that even if you would use 91 percent isopropyl alcohol, you would not be able to kill more than half of the bed bugs.
How to Kill Bed Bugs in Hair?
Removing bed bugs from your hair is easy, although it can take some time. The best shampoo to choose for it is lice shampoo, as it is deadly for bed bugs. You can also buy medicated dandruff shampoo and mix it together with a small amount of rubbing alcohol.
Washing your hair only once won’t be enough. The best way to go about it is to wash it for several days, once each day. You will need to leave both of the abovementioned shampoos on your hair for about 20 minutes after washing.
In case you have bought a shampoo specifically against bed bugs, then follow the instructions on the bottle. Rinse your hair so that there is no shampoo left on it. Then, either let it air dry or use a towel. The towel you use has to be thrown into the washing machine right after using.
How to Kill Bed Bugs with Essential Oils?
There is a range of essential oils that repel bed bugs and can be used against them. You can buy lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, clove oil, lavender oil and thyme oil as well. Of course, you need to buy these in their pure form.
Once you have one of these, take an atomizer or spray bottle, fill it with distilled water and ad 6-10 drops of the oil you chose. A great preventive method is to spray it all over your luggage whenever you are about to travel somewhere.
You can also prepare a blend to use on yourself by taking a quarter of a cup of jojoba, almond or grapeseed oil and adding 6-10 drops of repellent. Tea tree oil, lemongrass oil, thyme and lavender oil are all safe to use for this purpose. They are surprisingly good at disinfecting and treating bed bug bites.
The abovementioned oils are not only great at repelling bed bugs but are also quite effective at killing them.
How Long do You Dry Clothes to Kill Bed Bugs?
You need to dry your clothes for up to 90 minutes in order to kill bed bugs. A temperature of at least 118 degrees Fahrenheit is required to kill bed bugs in 90 minutes. Of course, the higher the temperature, the less time is needed for killing them.
How to Kill Bed Bugs with Hair Dryer?
A typical blow dryer can consistently produce hot air with a temperature of around 150 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it has to be aimed directly at the bed bug in order to kill it. In a bedroom, this is nearly impossible because these insects often hide in cracks, door frames, baseboards, under the mattress, along seams, etc.
They know exactly how to hide from sight. Because of that, a hair dryer is not the right equipment for killing them. It can only work if you catch the bed bugs first and make sure they can’t go away while you use the hair dryer. We recommend you to use a high-pressure steamer instead.
Those devices can produce steam that is as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It can penetrate through clothes, bedding, furniture, mattresses and other soft materials.
Featured image source: Flickr
