With one in five people encountering bed bugs or knowing someone who has, knowing the best ways to rid your home of the pest is essential. Bed bugs can wreak havoc on a home since they live in such large colonies. They spread quickly and need to be handled quickly.
Bed bug powder is a great way for homeowners to get rid of bed bugs. It’s a non-toxic way to kill off any bed bugs that are in your home.
This guide will go over the signs of bed bugs and how you can use bed bug powder to eliminate them from your household. Keep reading to learn more.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, brown insects that live off of the blood of humans or animals. They’re similar in size to an apple seed. After they’ve fed, their bodies turn a reddish color and get larger.
They don’t fly but they can move fast over ceilings, walls, and floors. A female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs over its lifetime.
Bed bugs can get into your home through clothing, used couches and beds, luggage, and other household items. They can fit into tiny spots as they live in large groups. They usually stay in areas where people sleep or sit so they can easily access them to bite.
Over a period of time, the bed bugs will start to spread. They can even go into nearby rooms or other apartments.
Bed bugs aren’t a reflection of the cleanliness of your home. They live off of blood, so they can be in immaculately cleaned homes.
Bites from bed bugs are typically painless to start, but eventually, turn into an itchy welt. Bed bug bites can occur on any exposed skin. They don’t have a red spot in the middle of the bite like a flea bite will.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
If you wake up feeling itchy, you may have bed bugs. Take into consideration if you’ve recently gotten a used couch, bed, or other furniture recently.
Other signs of bed bugs include:
- Bed bug eggshells, shed skins, or fecal spots where the bed bugs hide
- Rusty or dark spots of a bed bug’s excrement on your mattress, sheets, walls, and/or bedclothes
- Bloodstains on your pillowcases or sheets
If you’re worried you have a bed bug infestation, remove all of the bedding and look for signs of the bed bugs. Look in your box springs as well for bed bug signs. You can also check the area around your bed.
Using Bed Bug Repellant Powder
You can use bed bug powder to kill bed bugs. It’s a cheaper alternative to calling an exterminator to remedy the issue. While it’s effective, there are certain things to keep in mind when using it.
Don’t sprinkle the powder all over your room and carpet. Bed bug powder isn’t as effective in an open area.
It takes up to two days for the bed bug powder to affect the bugs. If you sprinkle it all over the carpet, you’ll have a big mess to deal with. It’s also not safe if you have pets or kids in your home to use it in that manner.
Where to Sprinkle Bed Bug Powder
Focus on the crevices and cracks where you notice the signs of bed bugs. Sprinkle the powder in those areas. Sometimes bed bug powder comes equipped with a nozzle that makes it easier to get the powder into those small areas.
Treat cracks in your walls, door frames, and wooden furniture. Those are other common areas for bed bugs to linger.
What’s It Made From?
The active ingredient in bed bug powder is diatomaceous earth. It’s very effective for killing bed bugs.
The primary component of diatomaceous earth is silica. It draws fats, oils, and water out of a bed bug’s body. This results in them becoming dehydrated and they die.
Another reason it’s effective is the fact diatomaceous earth grains are jagged and sharp. They can crack and pierce the skin of a bed bug. That helps speed up the dehydration process.
One thing to keep in mind is that diatomaceous earth doesn’t kill bed bugs immediately upon contact. It will kill them over a period of days.
Formulate Your Attack Plan When Using Bed Bug Powder
Being prepared for bed bugs is half the battle. When dealing with bed bugs and any of the chemicals you’ll use to kill them, make sure you have proper safety equipment. This includes:
- Eye goggles
- Gloves
- Dust mask
You’ll also want to decide where to focus your treatment efforts. Look for signs of bed bugs so you know where to apply the bed bug powder. Determine where other small areas are that bed bugs might be lurking so you know ahead of time where to put the powder.
Apply the bed bug powder precisely so you get it into the area you’re targeting. You don’t want to waste a lot of the product by spraying it around.
Before you get started using the bed bug powder, you’ll want to vacuum everything. After you vacuum, change the bag in your vacuum or the canister outside. Some of the bed bugs may still be alive.
Since bed bug powder takes a few days to kill the bugs, you’ll want to find another place to stay. It’ll help you avoid getting bit at night while you try to sleep. You’ll also feel better knowing you’re not sleeping in a home infested with bed bugs.
If you do decide to stay somewhere else, ensure there are no bed bugs in any of the belongings you bring to another place. You can also place bed bug traps to ensure you capture the bugs.
Find the Bed Bug Treatments
A bed bug infestation can be a stressful experience. Exploring different treatment options, like bed bug powder, can help you kill them.
Contact us today for more information on how to rid your home of a bed bug infestation or a free quote.