Every year, one in five households will face the problem of bed bugs.
Did you know that bed bugs are found in all 50 states, but in the 1950s they were barely present at all?
Unfortunately, as international travel and globalization have continued, the spread of bed bugs has become more and more pervasive. Bed bug infestations are now a problem in many corners of the globe, leaving homeowners searching for effective treatments.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about several common natural bed bug remedies and answer the age old question of "Does peroxide kill bed bugs?" We'll talk about their pros and cons and whether or not they will be effective in reading your house of bed bugs.
Natural Bed Bug Remedies
There are a variety of solutions and substances that people have tried over the years to get rid of bed bugs on their own. Some of these can be partially effective, however they need to be applied correctly. Here are just a few of the common options that people try at home.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth occurs naturally in sand and soil and serves as a protective material against bed bugs. It is sharp and extremely rough to bed bugs and scratches and dismantles their soft outer skeleton.
When bed bugs crawl over diatomaceous earth it shreds their exoskeleton into pieces, killing them.
This can be effective for homeowners, although it doesn't completely kill bed bugs. They can still manage to hide away from it for some time!
Do not purchase food-grade diatomaceous earth, because it will not contain enough arsenic and lead to kill bugs completely. Diatomaceous earth is generally safe to breathe, but ingestion is toxic, so keep it away from animals and children.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Can you kill bed bugs with hydrogen peroxide? Hydrogen peroxide can kill bed bugs on contact. However, it is not as lethal to bed bugs as other chemicals such as isopropyl alcohol. Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide also stains linens and clothing because it is a bleaching agent.
Many people who start out using hydrogen peroxide discover these problems and then switch to rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is plenty strong to take out various strains of bed bugs. They can also kill bed bug larva and eggs preventing future hatching in the future.
If you use rubbing alcohol, make sure to dilute it to 90% or more. It will still be effective at killing bed bugs on contact.
Many homeowners will attempt to put a diluted solution into a spray bottle, and then spray bed bugs on sight or in common hiding places, such as nooks and crannies under the bed or desk.
The problem is that inhaling alcohol can be detrimental to your health, and it is also highly flammable, so it should be used with caution.
Baking Soda
Baking soda can be an effective deterrent to bed bugs because it naturally drives them out. It will remove water from the bed bugs, and while it will not kill them, it can keep them at bay when you don't have other solutions available.
The problem is that you will have to clean up the baking soda on your linens or other surfaces afterward, and the baking soda does not kill the bed bugs.
Bleach
Bleach oxidizes the outer shell of bed bugs and kills them on contact. However it is an extremely strong and toxic chemical, so it stains materials and can be detrimental to your health when not used judiciously.
Vinegar
Vinegar has some efficacy as a treatment for bed bugs, but it needs to be used with other types of home remedies. It does not kill the larvae, for example, so homeowners will also need to vacuum or use other chemicals in addition to vinegar treatment.
Cinnamon
Some people rumor that cinnamon leaf oil kills bed bugs. However, this is generally false, as it serves only as a deterrent due to its smell.
A Better Alternative
At Vision Pest Control, we specialize in heat treatment, which we believe is the best method of bedbug removal. Heat treatment is 100% non-toxic and generally does not require you to alter or throw out any furniture or linens.
Our professionals will come to your home and set up a seal in the room you want to have treated.
They will then install portable heaters that can increase the temperature of the room up to 150°. This is sufficiently hot to kill not only bed bugs but also their eggs. However, it will leave your electronics alone and not affect their longevity.
This is a surefire way to kill all pests and larva and completely remove signs of bed bugs. It is the only method known to destroy eggs. No pesticide or home remedy can penetrate the eggs, so heat is the ultimate solution for a once-and-for-all remedy.
We also use dog verification to identify bed bug hiding areas that you may not be able to identify yourself. Dog verification has been shown to surpass visual inspection by humans after pest termination services, so we have on-staff several experienced handlers and trained dogs who can perform a complete inspection after treatment is completed.
Peace of Mind With Vision Pest Control
At the end of the day, there are a variety of natural bed bug remedies that have been used for decades in homes with a pest problem. Many of these solutions or treatments are partially effective. However, none of these treatments can destroy bedbug eggs.
Therefore, heat is the best solution for eliminating bed bugs from your home. At Vision Pest Control, we provide the highest quality efficient service to rid your home of bed bugs in a single day. Please contact us if you are interested in one of our services.