There’s a heated discussion on whether baking soda actually kills bed bugs, or if you should call for professional help to exterminate them. Unsurprisingly, cleaning companies all state that baking soda for bed bugs killing is a myth, and that you should immediately contact professional pest control. However, there’s lots of evidence of the contrary. Millions of people have successfully got rid of the bed bugs by using backing soda.
In this post, I will describe how the process works, and what you should know when choosing baking soda for killing bed bugs. When dealing with a bed bug infestation, time is a very important factor in solving the problem. The more you wait to start the treatment process, the more bed bugs have a chance to feed and multiply. The new generations grow up in just a few weeks.
It may come as a shock to discover that you have bed bugs living in your home. It may be difficult to accept and process. Deciding what is the best way to get rid of them is even more complicated. The first thing you need to know is you have to act fast because that the longer you wait the more they bite and disrupt your sleep at night. While searching for the best ways to kill the bedbugs you may come up with some do-it-yourself home solutions. Baking soda is undoubtedly a budget-friendly and popular method. It has a lot of controversies and some people don’t believe it works but I still suggest trying it and finding out by yourself.
What Are the Bed Bugs?
If you are wondering what type of best is in front of you check the image below.
Bedbugs are brown-colored small insects that have an oval shape. They do not fly but crawl really fast over carpets and beds, floors, and even ceilings. What we dislike the most are their bites that leave an itchy rash. Female bed bugs reproduce very fast and can lay hundreds of eggs over the duration of their lifetime.
Does Baking Soda for Bed Bugs Work?
So where does this belief come from that baking soda works for the bed bugs? There are several reasons why people recommend using baking soda as a bed bug killer: baking soda is a commonly used white powder that can be found in every home. We use it for disinfection, sanitation, cleaning, personal hygiene, and so many more tasks.
The most popular argument in favor of baking soda as a solution to kill bed bugs is probably its natural absorbency, which lets baking soda absorb the odor from fridges and old things. That’s why it is believed that baking soda is able to absorb surface liquids and dehydrate bed bug’s bodies. This method is similar to using diatomaceous earth to deal with bed bugs.
Another argument is that baking soda has abrasive properties and can destroy the shell of bed bugs, mainly by destroying their comparatively soft abdomen. Once an open wound is created, any bed bug is very prone to abdominal bleeding, disease, or dehydration.
After all, some people think that baking soda has the same effect on bed bugs as it has on cockroaches. There are many discussions on the Internet that after cockroaches eat baking soda, they will react chemically, that it will quickly produce gas, and burst their internal organs.
Talks aside, baking soda is really working for many homeowners, and below I‘ll explain in detail how to use it most effectively.
How to Kill Bed Bugs with Soda?
Sodium bicarbonate is a kind of salt compound, called baking soda, and its molecular formula is known as NHCO3. As the name suggests, soda consists of sodium ions plus bicarbonate ions. You can find it in mineral springs and other places in nature. It has a fine powdery appearance. From a microscopic perspective, baking soda looks like tiny crystals. If you look at each of them, you’ll see that they are sharp, but as a whole, they look soft and dusty. Baking soda is commonly used for abrasion. There are many ways to use baking soda. People use baking soda for baking, cleaning the house, odor removal, and even medicinal use, such as acne treatment. Who would have imagined that it could also be used for killing the pests?
Sodium bicarbonate is a harmless substance. It’s not only safe to eat, but it also will not harm your skin if you come into contact with it. It’s non-toxic. When it comes to bed bug infestation, many solutions use synthesized pesticides which are poisonous to people and pets, and may even hurt the eyes and skin. Baking soda is an excellent substitute because it is absolutely harmless. There are other products that may also solve your insect problem. Check out the diatomaceous earth, it’s a good alternative.
What’s the procedure to properly use baking soda to exterminate bed bugs? There are a few ways to do it.
Pile a Layer Around the Bed
When bed bugs are looking for food they must climb up the legs of the bed frame to reach you. You should stock baking soda and create a dense layer around the legs of the bed. Bed bugs will have to walk on this and soon fall prey to the harmful effects of soda. Repeat the same process with the sofa, stacking baking soda around the base. This way, bed bugs entering and exiting the area will have to pass over.
Apply a Layer
Apply a thick coating of baking soda in the area around your furniture. Don’t miss any cracks, bugs like to hide in those. Don’t forget about the carpets, sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda on top. Vacuum the remains of soda and repeat every 3 days. Indeed, a vacuum cleaner is an important component of exterminating bed bugs, because it will remove them from your house immediately. If you use it on a daily basis, your chances of successfully fighting them are larger. Neither pest control method will stop the bed bugs in a single day. In fact, it normally takes a few weeks to finish the process. Monitor your home daily during the treatment period. If you don’t see any difference in the activity of the insects after a week, change the method that you are using. Try replacing baking soda with a different product. While baking soda is a reliable method, sometimes these pests are incredibly persistent.
Make a Paste with Water
You should blend baking soda and water in a container to form a mixture of the consistency of honey. Mix it well! Apply the paste to all the places where bed bugs can be hiding. Bed bugs can choose places like mattresses, beds, sofas, armchairs, etc. When you apply the paste, bed bugs will have to pass over it when looking for you. Vacuum and remove the dried paste every few days and start over until the infestation is finished.
Swallowing by the Bugs
When the baking soda is heated, the chemical connections start to decompose, the structure changes and carbon dioxide gas is released. When a bug ingests baking soda, the gas escapes into its digestive tract, eventually tearing the inner wall and killing it.
Damaging the Exoskeleton
The baking soda crystals are sometimes sharp enough under the microscope to cut through the abdomen of bed bugs. After this, their acquired damage can lead to death.
Death by Dehydration
The powder is salty and can absorb dampness. When an insect touches it, it will take out the water and dehydrate the insect to death.
Baking Soda for Bed Bug Bites
Surprisingly, baking soda also helps to remove the itchy marks from the bed bug bites. If you notice a skin reaction to a bed bug bite, do the following:
Prepare a paste of 3 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water and rub it over the bite.
Other Popular Extermination Methods for Bed Bugs
- High-Temperature Treatment
Bed bugs cannot tolerate heat well. A study found that if exposed to a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius (which equals around 140 degrees Fahrenheit), bed bugs are killed at all stages of their life cycle.
You should wash the contaminated sheets at the highest temperature. Treating contaminated items in a hot washing machine for at least half an hour has a great effect.
- Vinegar
Does vinegar really kill bed bugs? Yes! Vinegar is another popular method that we have described in a previous post. Yes, it is very effective in eliminating bed bugs thanks to its acidity.
This acidic element is strong enough to destroy the nervous system of pests. In addition, this liquid is much more affordable compared to other bed bug treatments.
It’s non-toxic and can also be used safely in families with pets and kids. Just pour some white vinegar directly on the bugs.
Conclusion
It’s not just chemicals that kill insects. Although baking soda isn’t a chemical, it can still help to get rid of bed bugs. There are many organic and natural products that have great effects on them. Vinegar and diatomaceous earth are some of these products. Bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to control. When used accurately, baking soda will help to get rid of the bed bugs, even though not immediately. You need to carefully monitor the application, the positive side is that there are no hazardous substances in your house.
Check out our other posts about the bed bug treatment. If you are unlucky enough to notice insect infestation in your bed, try a non-toxic product first. It’s affordable, safe for you and the pets, and kills the bed bugs. Thanks to baking soda, thousands of people can finally sleep peacefully. I hope you never wake up with itchy bed bites again.