Can you kill bedbugs with bleach

If they were laid in hard to reach area, they can be almost impossible to access. Bed bugs love hiding in all sorts of nooks and crannies, so you should clear the area of any clutter. Scrub down every hard surface in your home with the rag—this will line your floors, walls and furniture with bleach. In general, a bleach treatment will kill all exposed bed bugs in a matter of 48 hours. Direct exposure might kill them immediately, but it will take longer for the entire colony to die.

The bleach will dry after a day, and slowly settle in the air. As the scent permeates throughout your home, bed bugs will slowly begin to suffocate. Its scent and its chemical makeup. As mentioned earlier, the smell of bleach will start to linger in the air as it evaporates. The scent slowly wafts throughout your home, seeping into remote places where bed bugs tend to hide. These effects are similar to the effects heat treatments have on bed bugs.

Intense heat will also break down the protective proteins on the exoskeleton. With their immune systems compromised, bed bugs will be rendered immobile due to the effects of the bleach. Both rubbing alcohol and vinegar can be used to remove bed bug infestations, though their effectiveness varies.

It works on bed bugs by dehydrating the exoskeleton, then drying out the insides…. If you have children or pets around, then rubbing alcohol could cause respiratory problems if they inhale it. You would also have to keep the alcohol out of their reach, since rubbing alcohol is poisonous if ingested. In fact, a Cincinnati woman actually started a fire and burned down her entire apartment building by trying to kill bed bugs with alcohol. Finally, a professional can also help manage preventative measures to keep the infestation from happening again.

Whether you hire a professional or take care of the problem yourself will ultimately come down to three major factors: your budget, confidence, and the amount of time and energy you can devote to the project. Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Does Bleach Kill Bed Bugs? Got bed bugs? Maybe it's time to call in a pro. Get free, no-commitment estimates from experts near you.

Find a Pro. Don't deal with bed bugs alone. A pro can get rid of them once and for all. You don't have to do it yourself. A pro can get rid of bed bugs in your home once and for all. Pest problems? Find licensed pest control experts in your area and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. A study conducted in Ann Arbor Michigan tested a protein Hsp33 that reacted when in the presence of bleach. Essentially, when bleach comes into contact with Hsp33 it stops working and causes bacteria to die.

But even though you CAN kill bed bugs with bleach, you should avoid doing so in favor of more effective methods such as heat. Read Also: What are the best bed bug traps and interceptors? If you have a bunch of clothes and you think they might have bed bugs, you could use bleach in combination with the high heat setting to kill any hiding bugs. When it comes to removing them from around your home, please do not spray bleach in hopes of removing bed bugs because it will end up doing more harm then good.

Want to learn more about how to free yourself from the curse of bed bugs? Check out these other helpful guides. Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.

Below are our top 3 picks based on that review for pest removal. Connect with a local pro today Leave a Comment Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. We've partnered with Terminix to bring you exclusive discounts and priority service on pest control service. You're frustrated. Stressed out! Bed bugs, your worst nightmare terrorizing you without an end in sight. Or maybe not? But, does pouring some on bed bugs really kill them? And how would you even go about using bleach to kill bed bugs?

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