Discovering that you have bed bugs can be a tough issue to deal with. But figuring out how to get rid of them can be even tougher! The last thing you want for your house and family is bed bugs to stick around and feed on you.
In the process of searching for ways to get rid of bed bugs, you might have come across some DIY home remedies. We are here to discuss one of the home remedies popularly used to get rid of these nasty bugs- Baking Soda.
In this article, we’ll discuss baking soda as a method to get rid of bed bugs, its use, properties, and effectiveness. So read further to know everything about using baking soda to kill bed bugs.
Important Note: If you're tired of pests and want a reliable solution, then you should definitely consider seeking help from a professional pest control company. DIY solutions can be effective, but if you're dealing with a significant pest infestation, you don't want to rely solely on DIY methods. Pest control companies typically don't charge huge fees. You can fill out this form to receive free quotes from the top local pest control companies, and compare the quotes and see for yourself. Then, finally, your pest problems will be eliminated for good.
Does baking soda kill bed bugs?
It is commonly believed that baking soda kills bed bugs, but sadly, this is only partly true. Baking soda can kill bed bugs on contact in a variety of ways.
The chemical composition of baking soda is such that if not killed, it can cause harm to bed bugs which might keep them away from you. Baking soda might not eliminate your problem but it will help to a certain extent in steering these little creatures away from your home.
Since we’ve learned that baking soda helps, let us learn how it works and how to use it.
What does baking soda do to bed bugs?
Baking Soda can kill bed bugs only when it is in contact with them. It works in the following ways.
a) Dehydration
Baking Soda is known to be highly absorptive. On direct contact with a bug, baking soda will absorb all the body fluids of the insect to its exoskeleton, hence dehydrating and killing it.
However, baking soda dissolves in moisture, rendering the bugs harmless. So, a greater amount of baking soda will probably do the work.
b) Internal injuries
Baking Soda is a highly abrasive chemical. Due to this, it can cut into the hard outer body of a bug, get inside, and cause internal bleeding and injuries, killing the bed bug.
Again, a high amount of baking soda should be used because a lesser amount will just stick to the body of the bug, causing no harm.
c) Ingesting
If a bed bug ingests baking soda then it is most likely to get killed due to its high abrasiveness. Ingesting would damage and rupture the internal organs of the insect, finally, killing it.
However, this is very unlikely to happen because bed bugs have a great sense of smell, they would not ingest any unfamiliar thing since they feed on only blood.
How to use baking soda against bed bugs?
Firstly, you should identify and know all the hiding places of these little insects. They could be hiding in the smallest of cracks, furniture, walls, mattresses, pillows, bedding, curtains, kitchen, etc. Carefully examine and find out all their hiding places.
Now that you’ve identified where the bed bugs live, there are three very simple yet effective methods to use baking soda to eliminate bed bugs. Let’s find out!
1. Paste
Take baking soda in a bowl and pour some amount of water into it. Mix it well till the mixture turns into a thick paste. Now use a brush to apply this paste to the hiding places of bed bugs.
Cover all the cracks in your walls and furniture with this paste. You could use duct tape to seal the crack after applying the paste. Check every nook and cranny of your house and apply the paste wherever required.
2. Sprinkle
You can’t apply the paste to your carpet or curtains, so here is what you can do! Instead of making a paste, take dry baking soda powder and sprinkle it in your house. You can sprinkle baking soda in all the corners, near the foot of your bed, curtains, carpets, mattress, pillowcases, etc. You can repeat both these processes every week to ensure success.
3. Piling
Do you wonder how bed bugs get up to your bed? Well, when you’re asleep, they steadily crawl the sides of your bed and reach you. But what if something got in the way? It will surely prevent you from these blood-suckers at night.
Here is what you can do! Just pile a thick layer of baking soda at the foot of your bed. Once a bed bug tries to crawl up, it will fall into your trap and become a victim of baking soda’s harmful effects.Â
Is Baking Soda an effective method to kill bed bugs?
There is no scientific evidence that baking soda works against bed bugs!
Using baking soda will only be a partial solution to your problem and it will NOT eradicate the bed bugs from your home completely.
To eradicate the bugs completely, you can use baking soda in combination with some other home remedies!
Baking soda is still a good go-to option as it is a benign chemical, unlike pesticides and insecticides. It is not at all harmful to humans in case of contact or even ingestion. Many chemicals used for pest control can cause allergies, burns, or irritation to humans and pets, so baking soda is a relatively safer option.
Other Methods to get rid of bed bugs
Before directly using your chemical-based spray can, there are a number of other effective methods that you can try.
Firstly, to eliminate the bugs, you can reduce their hiding places. This can be achieved by clearing up the clutter in your home! You could take the first step by keeping your home neat and tidy. You can then identify and cover all the cracks and crevices in your walls and furniture by using duct tape.
Next, you can regularly wash your sheets, pillowcases, mattress, and blankets or get them dry-cleaned.
You can always use a steamer to steam clean your house. This is an effective and easy method to kill bed bugs with heat.
In addition, you can try vacuuming your couch, carpets, curtains, etc. And if needed, you can always call pest control for help.
Final Words
If you’re ever unfortunate enough to encounter bed bugs, this article will surely help you!
Since you know all about this chemical-free, harmless method, there is no reason not to try it out! If you’re using any other method, then baking soda can surely be an extra step to take.
We hope you’re victorious in this battle against these little vampires! All the best!
