Follow these tips if you want to use rubbing alcohol to treat bed bugs
It’s every traveler’s nightmare: coming home after a trip to find out bed bugs have snuck into your luggage and made themselves a new home in your bed and furniture.
While bed bugs can be a serious pest issue, rubbing alcohol is a common DIY solution many people turn to at the first sign of an infestation.
But does rubbing alcohol kill bed bugs? We asked pest control pros how to use it and what other natural methods will get rid of bed bugs.
Meet the Expert
Jerry Eason is the owner of Diamond Exterminators.
Georgios Liakopoulos is a pest control expert at Fantastic Pest Control.
Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs?
Rubbing alcohol does kill bed bugs. It works by dissolving their exoskeleton and dehydrating their insides. However, it’s not the most effective method to eliminate a bed bug infestation since it only kills the bugs on direct contact and won’t reach the bugs hiding in a mattress or upholstered furniture.
“Rubbing alcohol can kill bed bugs, but it’s not a magic solution,” Eason says. “It doesn't eliminate eggs or deeply hidden bugs.”
The best type of rubbing alcohol to use is one with a 70% concentration, according to Liakopoulos, because 90% and 99% concentrations have less water in them.
“Water slows down the evaporation rate, so the alcohol has more time to penetrate the bed bug's exoskeleton and kill it," Liakopoulos says.
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Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs Instantly?
Adult and nymph bed bugs that come in direct contact with rubbing alcohol will die almost immediately. The rubbing alcohol works quickly to cut through the bugs’ outer layer and will kill bed bugs within 30 seconds.
However, once the rubbing alcohol dries up on fabrics and surfaces, it’s no longer effective.
“Rubbing alcohol evaporates fast, so it won't kill bed bugs that come into contact with treated areas later,” Liakopoulos says.
How to Use Rubbing Alcohol to Kill Bed Bugs
Follow these steps to kill a small group of bed bugs if you notice them in your luggage or lurking around your home.
Warning
Rubbing alcohol is highly flammable, so keep it and any fabrics saturated with rubbing alcohol away from flames and heat sources. Use rubbing alcohol sparingly and avoid soaking fabrics in it.
Fill a spray bottle with 70% concentrated rubbing alcohol.
Open the windows and doors in the rooms where you’ll be treating for bed bugs to increase the room’s ventilation.
Spray any visible bed bugs and common bed bug hiding spots, such as the seams, edges, and folds of the mattress and box spring.
Mist pillows, sheets, and blankets that have bed bugs with rubbing alcohol.
Using a cotton ball or rag, apply rubbing alcohol on the headboard and any wooden or metal parts of the bed frame.
Spray any cracks or crevices in wooden furniture near the bed or other places where bed bugs have been spotted.
After the rubbing alcohol has dried, vacuum up any dead bugs and wipe down hard surfaces with water and a cloth. Launder fabrics in hot water, if possible.
Other Natural Ways to Kill Bed Bugs
If you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol, there are a few other methods you can try to eliminate bed bugs on your own:
Diatomaceous Earth (DE): This substance kills bed bugs by scraping away their exoskeleton, leaving the insects to lose moisture and dry out. Sprinkle DE on the baseboards, mattress, furniture, and other areas where bed bugs have been seen or are likely to hide. Vacuum the areas after one or two days.
Heat: Heat is recommended by the pros as the best DIY method for treating bed bugs. An easy way to kill bed bugs with heat is by washing your clothes, sheets, and any other items in hot water and then using the highest dry setting to eliminate the bugs. Liakopoulos also recommends using steam to kill bed bugs hiding in your mattress or other upholstered furniture. “The mattress can be steam cleaned and covered with a mattress cover so that any bed bugs that remain will be trapped,” Liakopoulos says.
Cold: Bed bugs also can’t survive in extreme cold. You can freeze items that you suspect are infested with bed bugs (such as stuffed animals) to kill the insects.
When to Call a Professional
Bed bugs are extremely tough to get rid of, so don’t wait too long before calling in professional help. Rubbing alcohol and other natural methods are only effective if the issue is minor.
Eason recommends calling in an expert at the first sign of a greater infestation, such as seeing itchy red welts on your skin, tiny blood spots on fabric, or shedded skins.
“These pests are notoriously difficult to eliminate on your own, and they can spread quickly if not dealt with promptly,” Eason says.
An exterminator will inspect your home to gauge the extent of the infestation and then create an elimination plan to quickly and effectively resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take rubbing alcohol to kill bed bugs?
Rubbing alcohol will kill bed bugs almost instantly if applied directly to the the bugs. However, rubbing alcohol won’t kill eggs, so you will need to respray the alcohol once the eggs have hatched to kill the new adult bugs.
What else can I spray on my bed to keep bed bugs away?
Eason recommends spraying water mixed with essential oils to repel bed bugs. “Some oils like lavender or tea tree oil can repel bed bugs,” he says. “However, they don’t kill them, so they’re best used as a preventative measure.”
What are some other smells that bed bugs hate?
According to Eason, bed bugs tend to dislike strong odors. “Scents like mint, neem, or citrus can be off-putting to them,” Eason says. Mix a scented essential oil with water and spray the solution on your clothes and suitcase when traveling to deter bugs from hitching a ride home with you.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
