Does Clorox bleach kill bed bugs? Here is what you should know if you intend to use bleach for bed bugs.
Most homeowners facing infestations will want to do whatever it takes to eliminate their bed bug problems. This includes using any method they think works.
Can Bleach Kill Bed Bugs?
The sad reality is that bed bug infestations are challenging to deal with.
You’ll likely become overwhelmed by the pest problem when using ineffective methods.
You only want to use treatments that work. Bleach use has been promoted as a treatment strategy for bed bugs that work. However, similar claims about home remedies tend not to work as advertised.
So, does bleach kill bed bugs? Will it give you any relief from these parasites?
We’re going to find answers to this question.
About bleach
Laundry bleach is one of the most common products found in households. It’s used for removing soils and stains, whitening and brightening fabrics, and disinfecting surfaces.
None of these uses suggests bleach can be used for pest control. Nevertheless, that isn’t reason enough to discard it as a possible bed bug killer.
Bleaches are sodium hypochlorite laundry formulations that aren’t toxic when used for purposes they were meant for. However, our focus is to find out whether laundry bleach will do one of those things it isn’t initially designed for; pest control.
There are quite a few chemicals contained in household or laundry bleach. It has around 5.25 to 6 percent sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO).
This is mixed with small sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and calcium hypochlorite in water. All of these chemicals give bleach its cleaning properties.
Bleach is Corrosive
Bleach is meant to be used in a certain way. Outside of that, this product can be corrosive. Even so, it’s still widely used without causing any health risks.
It only needs to be used as advised on the product label. Now, the corrosive nature of laundry bleach gives some hope about its possible exterminating effect on bed bugs.
Since it’s corrosive, it may kill bed bugs. This and a lot more will be discussed shortly. Remember, you need quick solutions to your bed bug issues.
Any delay will only worsen the problem.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the main point of discussion.
Will Bleach Kill Bed Bugs?
Bleach can kill bed bugs when sprayed directly on them.
Here, bed bugs have to be directly sprayed for them to be killed. You shouldn’t expect these pests to die simply by spraying the areas around them.
SEE: Bed Bug Laundry Soaps & Detergents
Even when sprayed directly, there’s no certainty that bleach will kill off all bed bugs and their eggs.
If you must have the desired effect with bleach, then you should ensure the solution is strong enough to kill them.
Using pure or undiluted laundry bleach to kill bed bugs will be impractical as it could destroy certain types of fabrics or surfaces.
Plus, you may not have enough bleach to go around.
A 1: 1 ratio of bleach to water should serve your needs. Having diluted your bleach, knowing where these bugs hide should be your next focus.
Bed bugs could hide in crevices, cracks, mattress seams, wall sockets, decorative hangings, carpets, couches, etc. Itessentialant to learn about their hiding spots before using this treatment.
Bleach For Bed Bugs: There Is No 100% Assurance
Even when bleach kills these bugs, you have no assurance that it will do the job effectively. This is due to multiple reasons.
One of these is the efficacy of the application.
Also, bed bugs treated with bleach are likely to survive the ordeal. They must temporarily move away only to return with a bang.
Bed bugs are among the most difficult pest issues to deal with due to the ability of these bugs to stay out of sight. They’re nocturnal parasites that only emerge when it’s dark and when a host is asleep.
Figuring out their hiding spots can be a bit challenging for most people.
You’ll need to have an appreciable level of understanding about bed bug behavior to have any real chance of eliminating these bugs with your DIY bleach treatment.
Sometimes, your bed bug problems might worsen when not handled properly.
How Bleach Kills Bed Bugs
When sprayed directly on bed bugs, laundry bleach reacts by oxidizing their outer shell or body. Remember,r we said, bleach is corrosive due to its sodium hypochlorite content.
For this treatment to have the desired effect on bed bugs, it’s necessary to spray them directly with it.
A school of thought believes bed bugs are killed by suffocation when laundry bleach is used.
According to such accounts, its strong scent overwhelms these pests by messing up their respiratory systems. We cannot approve of disproving such a claim.
You’ll have to make your findings of whether such a claim validate.
The DIY Approach to Bed Bug Treatment is Very Flawed
The adoption of DIY approaches and treatments isn’t as effective as many would want to believe. Bed bugs being challenging to get rid of further compounds the problem.
Most people using this treatment method mostly get mediocre results.
This does little to solve the problem. So, what can you do to get rid of bed bugs as fast as possiblIndeednly? The DIY or bleach-use method won’t be one of them.
You might want to call for professional pest control to have accurate results.
Professional Bed Bug Control Trumps All
Experience has shown that having trained professionals handle your bed bug problem significantly helps resolve the issue. Bed bugs are exterminated within the shortest time possible using the most effective strategies.
Pest control technicians aren’t only skilled in this regard and experienced and understand bed bug behavior. They know where to l at and the scope of treatment, among other things.
All of that knowledge and experience come to bear on every bed bug extermination job they perform.
Don’t count on bleach to resolve your bed bug problem. Although laundry bleach kills these bugs, it makes fewer fixable tissue holes.
You might only end up worsening your infestation problem through its use.