What Kills Bed Bugs Instantly?

Bed bugs are never good news! These blood-sucking parasites disrupt your sleep and leave you itchy and frustrated, sometimes even leading to acute allergic reactions! Moreover, they are notorious for being tough to get rid of. Bed bugs have developed resistance to many chemicals and treatments over the years, making them a widespread issue in big cities like London and the whole UK.

However, while getting rid of them isn’t a walk in the park, there are ways to fight back and get rid of these pests once and for all. Our pest control specialists share information on some tried and tested methods to help you deal with bed bug infestation.

Read also: How Long Can Bed Bugs Survive Without Food?

Who doesn’t love a quick fix? We can guarantee that people facing bed infestation want to achieve the best results as fast as possible! Today, we’ll explore a few “instant bed bug killers” you can try at home. However, keep in mind that instant doesn’t always mean permanent. Also, before you attempt any of the following methods, you want to be sure your home is clean and free of clutter, as this is one of the most critical steps to get rid of bed bugs.

One of the most popular and effective DIY home ingredients for killing bed bugs is rubbing alcohol. Here’s how to use it to kill bed bugs instantly:

1. Take 2 parts of 90% rubbing alcohol and mix it with 1 part water.
2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
3. Spray the infested items – mattresses, sofas, and clothing.

Rubbing alcohol is a solvent that can dissolve the outer shell of bed bugs. It also works as a desiccant, drying out the insect’s insides. The combination of dissolving the outer shell and drying out the insides of the bed bug is a lethal one-two punch.

Using rubbing alcohol does not guarantee 100% success. For instance, it can only kill adult bed bugs but not their eggs or nymphs. Moreover, it only works if there’s direct contact with the bug, meaning the hidden ones remain alive. Also, rubbing alcohol evaporates, so you must apply it multiple times to reduce the pests’ population.

Check also: What Draws Bed Bugs Out of Hiding?

Vinegar is another popular DIY bed bug treatment. Here’s how to do it:

1. Get white distilled vinegar with at least 5% acidity.
2. Add 1 part vinegar and 1 part water into a spray bottle. If you can tolerate the smell, skip the water and use only vinegar.
3. Spray the mixture onto the infested items and around the infested areas.
   NB! Vinegar can damage surfaces like hardwood floors, natural stone (granite, marble), and fabrics like silk, acetate, and rayon.

Vinegar is a powerful insecticide that can disrupt the nervous system of bed bugs and kill them. The benefit of the method is that vinegar won’t evaporate as quickly as rubbing alcohol.

As with rubbing alcohol, vinegar is not 100% effective in battling bed bug infestation. It is mainly used as a contact insecticide, meaning that you must spray it directly onto the pests to make it effective. Despite its potency to kill adult insects, vinegar only offers short-term and limited effects in the fight against bed bug infestation as it doesn’t kill their eggs and nymphs.

Read also: Do Bed Bugs Stay Together?

Considering that bed bugs crawl on beds and mattresses, it’s understandable that people would like to use non-toxic solutions to the problem. Essential oils are the third method you can try when dealing with bed bug infestation. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Pick the right essential oil: A study by Purdue University found that the substances that work most efficiently are carvacrol, found in oregano, thyme, pepper wort and wild bergamot essential oils; thymol, found in thyme essential oil; citronellic acid, found in lemongrass, and eugenol found in clove essential oil.
2. Dilute the oil: Although you can use pure, undiluted essential oils, this could be very costly, and also, the smell is quite potent and could not stand well with you. Fill up a spray bottle with 1 part rubbing alcohol, 1 part water, and 10 drops of essential oil.
3. Spray the infested items: You can use the solution on mattresses, pillows, linen closets, etc.

The compounds found in some essential oils are toxic to bed bugs and have the ability to disrupt the function of their nervous system.

As with the first two methods, treating bed bugs with essential oils is effective only when the substance is in direct contact with the pest and only kills adult insects and not the eggs or the nymphs.

There are plenty of chemical insecticides designed to kill bed bugs that are suitable for direct use by homeowners; you can find liquids, aerosols and powders. Still, before using them, it is essential to consider certain factors. Firstly, make sure that they are allowed in your area. Secondly, check the requirements for use, as some insecticides may require you to stay out of the treated room for at least 24 hours.

Moreover, there is no guarantee that the bugs are not already resistant to the insecticide you choose. If they are, you will have to deal with the same old problem of getting direct contact with all the bugs. However, some aerosols can be helpful in this regard, as their fine mist can easily penetrate most nooks and small gaps.

While DIY bed bug treatments might kill adult insects on contact, they’re far from a silver bullet. None of the methods mentioned above doesn’t destroy the eggs and nymphs and doesn’t offer a long-term solution to a full-blown bed bug infestation.

There’s one sure way for instant eradication: calling a professional exterminator. Specialists have the experience and equipment to deal with infestations. With reliable companies, you can usually choose between heat treatment and steam and spray treatment – the two most efficient methods to eliminate bed bugs and reclaim your space. So, if you want to get rid of bed bugs once and for all – don’t hesitate to contact Bed Bug Specialist.