Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs?

In the previous post, we discussed how to kill bed bugs with bleach. While it is effective, there are many other DIY methods that can help you find the pests. We often get asked, “does vinegar kill bed bugs?” In today’s post, I’ll try to answer that question and give you detailed directions on how the process works.

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Can Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs?

Certainly, sprinkling vinegar straight on bed bugs will kill them, as vinegar is a strong acting acid that will destroy a pest nervous system. While this DIY remedy is reliable and efficient, it is not a remedy on its own, which means you cannot do it for severe infestations. Use only vinegar to get rid of mild bed bug infestations. Use vinegar as a natural solution to get rid of bed bugs and even protect yourself from them until you find a permanent solution.

Homemade Vinegar Spray

Homemade vinegar bug solutions are not insecticides, but they are safer and work in the early stages of infestation. I recommend products such as Walmart, Heinz Distilled, or Kroger.

Fill a medium spray bottle with white vinegar. Tighten the lid firmly.
The perimeter around the place that was contaminated must be soaked in vinegar, including holes and cracks in the walls, and narrow spaces below and between furniture. In this way, when bed bugs are sprayed, they will crawl to the vinegar-soaked area and die there.
Sprinkle the white vinegar straight on bed bugs to destroy them, or let them escape to the area where you just applied the vinegar.
Wet all bed bug-contaminated surfaces, such as carpets, window sills, furniture, walls, mattresses, and carpets in order to prevent further contamination. Spray on surfaces, corners, and floors. You need to repeat this procedure every week for a few weeks to see the reduction of their numbers.

Precaution: Never mix bleach with vinegar. This produces toxic chlorine fumes that are harmful to your health. Use these solutions separately if you have to.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Vinegar to Kill Bed Bugs?

Advantages

It can be used for short-term relief. The acidity in vinegar is powerful enough to disturb the bed bugs’ nervous system.
Vinegar is inexpensive and possible to buy almost everywhere.
Such a technique is very harmless. You can sprinkle as much vinegar as you want and no one will be hurt like you would be if you applied poisonous chemical solutions. Vinegar is non-toxic and can be used in households with kids, dogs, and cats.

Disadvantages

The smell is unpleasant and persistent. However, it fades away after a few days.
Bed bugs cannot be completely killed, they can only be suppressed. The low pH of vinegar can damage some furniture.
Such a method is not effective for serious bed bug infections.
Vinegar may be toxic to some domestic reptiles.

If you are expecting a pest control expert to handle your house or waiting for a bug spray to be mailed, using a vinegar solution will give you some time. Sprinkle the places where bed bugs like to sit most, of spray vinegar directly on them if you notice them crawling around.

Alternative Natural Ways to Kill the Bed Bugs

Apart from vinegar, there are many other non-toxic DIY methods to get kill bed bugs without a professional exterminator, and here are just a few of the ways that were used by our experts.

Apply sealant to seal cracks. Bed bugs exist deep in the walls, so closing the cracks with sealant will keep them from easily hiding and prevent them from entering your home through gaps in the walls.
Vacuum cleaning. Bed bugs like to sneak under the furniture and place their eggs on hard, cracked surfaces. Vacuuming the eggs and bed bugs will greatly decrease their population.
Clean the whole house. Bed bugs are drawn to clutter, heat, and carbon dioxide, so tidy up the space by removing useless items and keeping things tidy.
Wash the textiles at high temperatures. Bed bugs like to cuddle and hide in fabrics but will die if exposed to extreme heat. So throw all textile items (e.g. sheets, cushions, runners, curtains, rugs, etc.) in the washing machine and wash them at the highest heating level. This will kill bed bugs instantly. You can also try the steam cleaner to get rid of the bed bugs.
Use food-grade diatomaceous earth. Use it for items you cannot throw in the washing machine. Diatomaceous earth kills the bed bugs by drying their bodies. Spray your bedding, soft furnishings, and carpets with diatomaceous earth, let it sit for at least a few hours or better a day, and then remove the dead bed bugs and diatomaceous earth with a vacuum.
Spray the infected surfaces with rubbing alcohol. Similar to vinegar, rubbing alcohol will kill bed bugs if applied directly. However, it is a more powerful chemical and dangerous if inhaled. Always wear protection when working with it. Don’t forget to rinse afterward.

What to Do If the Bed Bug Bites You?

Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Although white vinegar works best as an insect repellent, consider using apple cider vinegar to heal bites. Most people experience severe itching after getting bitten, although the low pH of white vinegar is also harsh to treat the itching. Apple cider vinegar is softer, with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

What Will Help If You Have a Severe Bed Bug Infestation?

Try vinegar, but keep in mind that severe bed bug infestations will require professional help. This solution acts best if the infestation is detected early. If you have a severe bed bug infestation this may not be the solution for you. After self-isolation, bed bugs can grow more quickly. Don’t be hesitant to invite your local pest control right away.

What to Do Before You Call the Exterminator

You may still kill many bed bugs and reduce bed bug numbers by doing the following:
Put your mattress or sleeping area in a mattress cover. This will prevent bed bugs who live in your mattress from coming into contact with skin and biting you.
Vacuum clean. The sucking process kills both adults and developing bed bugs. However, it does not destroy the eggs. Newborns may even appear inside the vacuum cleaners and crawl outside. To prevent this, always empty the container or replace the bag immediately.
Do a lot of laundry at a high temperature. Bed bugs are drawn to dirty clothes, but they also prefer to hide in wardrobes, bedcovers, pillows, clothes, curtains. Wash them at a high temperature. Put all clean utensils in sealable plastic containers so that bed bugs don’t hide there.
Put non-washable items in heavy-duty black plastic bags or household trash, seal them tightly, and leave them in the sun for nearly a week. Heat eliminates bed bugs.
Make sure you clean the car, as bed bugs can stick to your things or items such as cell phones and bags.
Dispose of household waste. Contrary to popular myth, bed bugs are not interested in dirt or grime. However, mess and clutter create many hiding areas for bed bugs. They also produce great areas for the females to lay the eggs. Sorting the garbage helps to get rid of such hiding spots.

Precautions to Take When Treating the Bed Bugs with Vinegar

As we all know, vinegar is an acid. Although many of us use vinegar to clean certain parts of the home, such as mirrors, it can damage the furniture. Undiluted vinegar can cause most problems.

Since you are using high-concentration cleaning vinegar, the risk is greater. Vinegar can destroy wood, marble, stone, ceramics, and granite. If you spray it at home, be careful. Eliminating the bed bugs may cause irreparable damage to your house. It is best to use vinegar only for the carpets, on the bed, sofa, and upholstery.

High-concentration vinegar in its pure form (undiluted) can also harm the skin. You have to wear appropriate protective equipment to avoid infection. By the way, some people use vinegar to treat bed bug bites (although this should be a low-strength kitchen vinegar, just like apple cider vinegar).

Conclusion

Obviously, when asked “Do bed bugs like vinegar?”, the response is no. Bed bugs would rather avoid touching it. But does vinegar kill bed bugs?

Since vinegar is a corrosive acid, bed bugs will try to escape where you use vinegar. This is both good and bad. On the other hand, it means they will be avoiding places where they might find vinegar, so as long as you apply vinegar, your mattress will be free from bed bugs.

However, when applying vinegar, bed bugs will also run away and hide. Once you discontinue using vinegar, they will return. Since it is a contact solution, vinegar can only kill bed bugs when applied directly. You are unlikely to get rid of the invasion completely.