Can Lysol kill bed bugs? The good news is that it does. However, for this to happen, it needs to come in direct contact with the bugs.
The problem here is, bed bugs will need to be flushed out from their hiding spots to get sprayed with Lysol.
Lysol is a major cleaning and disinfecting product available in liquid solutions for hard and soft surfaces including air treatments and hand washing. Now a lot has been said about the effects of this cleaning product on bed bugs.
Here, our focus will be to provide answers to the question of whether Lysol does kill bed bugs or not.
Lots of arguments have been made that border on the efficacy of Lysol on bed bug extermination. While some users believe it’s good enough, others think it isn’t.
Will Lysol Kill Bed Bugs?
It depends on who you ask and also the methods used for bed bug treatment. Effective treatment using Lysol will give better results than one which isn’t thorough enough.
This article will be providing a guide on how best to use Lysol to get rid of your bed bug problem.
Lysol Disinfectant Spray
Lysol disinfectant spray is the primary product to consider when treating bed bugs.
This is a home disinfectant made from chemicals and used to kill both bacteria and germs in homes and shared spaces. The best part is while disinfecting your home, this product can also help resolve your bed bug issues.
When using for bed bug extermination, it should be used or sprayed in generous quantities. Not only will Lysol kill bed bugs through suffocation and irritation on their outer body, but their eggs are also destroyed as the chemicals react on them.
As such, surfaces used by bed bugs to hide must be drenched in Lysol. That means getting enough supply of it. It also brings into consideration its cost-effective nature.
In other words, is using Lysol for treatment of bed bugs cost-effective?
Thorough Inspection is Necessary
The key to effectively using Lysol for bed bug control is by conducting a thorough inspection.
For other treatments (those using other chemicals or methods apart from Lysol), confirming the presence of bed bugs is enough to begin treatment. Such may include heat treatment or fumigation.
However, with Lysol, bed bugs will need to be killed by spraying directly onto their body. This makes it more difficult as you’ll have to inspect all possible locations or hideouts. Also, you’ll need to have an understanding of bed bug behavior.
Stacking the odds in your favor will help in no small measure to defeat bed bug infestations.
Before the inspection, you should get a torch. Bed bugs are known to be very resilient and can stay in hiding for weeks until their next meal (some blood supplied by you) is available.
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How to Find Bed Bugs
The first signs of bed bug presence begin with itchy bumps found on the skin.
You’re also likely to find bloodstains on couches and your bed. These are in the form of rusty or reddish stains. Dark spots resulting from bed bug excrement are also seen.
Tiny eggs and eggshells are also seen in addition to shed skins by nymphs. You may want to use a magnifying glass to observe more closely.
Other hiding spots to search include the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions as well as the folds of curtains.
Bed bug inspection should include drawer joints, electrical receptacles, and appliances, in the head of screws, junctions where wall and ceiling meet, under loose wallpaper & wall hangings, and along the edge of an electrical outlet.
Get a credit card to help you probe tight spaces and crevices too.
How to Kill Bed Bugs With Lysol
The best way to have guaranteed success while using Lysol for bed bug control is by doing it the right way.
The right way involves a systematic method that increases the likelihood of flushing them out or exposing them before spraying with Lysol.
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Clear Unwanted Junk and Sort Out Your Laundry
Bed bugs find ample hiding spots with more clutter lying around the room.
To prevent or eliminate these hiding spots, you should clear all unwanted junk. This should be followed immediately by sorting out your laundry and washing all dirty clothes using hot water. Hot water is specified here because these bugs won’t be able to survive it.
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Thorough Vacuuming
During a bed bug infestation, there will be lots of shed skin, eggs, and tiny bugs lying around. Vacuum all dry surfaces including couches, carpet areas, furniture, computers, and shelves, etc. This sucks out the bugs and reduces their population.
When disposing of the content or dirt, it should be done carefully. Spray Lysol onto the vacuumed content after disposal. This way, it ensures they don’t spread to other areas or return.
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Apply Hot Steam Treatment
Your mattress(es) and pillows are hot spots for bed bug activity. These should be treated with hot steam, after which they should be securely encased with an impenetrable material such as a plastic bag.
Doing so prevents bed bugs from returning.
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Applying Lysol Spray
All the above measures have been taken in preparation for applying Lysol on affected areas.
The bed bugs remaining should be treated with a generous application of Lysol spray. Infested areas or hideouts must be drenched to ensure they suffocate or react to kill these bugs.
The eggs are also destroyed in the process while also killing other types of insect pests. This must be carefully done to not leave out other areas. This action may need to be carried out for several days to ensure bed bugs don’t stand a chance to return.
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Spray on Targeted Surfaces
Targeted surfaces should be sprayed with Lysol. These will include furniture, frames, cracks, and crevices, and any other area they could use to hide.
In this article, we’ve been able to confirm Lysol not only as a great disinfectant but also an effective bed bug killer. This can be used in the household treatment of bed bug problems.
Summary
It is a fact that Lysol kills bed bugs. Though there has been a lot of skepticism about this claim, it doesn’t change the fact that it will kill these pests.
You will need to swing into immediate action when a bed bug problem is identified. This is because they reproduce on a rapid scale. Your Lysol will come handy when this is noticed.
The chemical contents in Lysol are highly reactive on bed bugs. This also includes their eggs.
When sprayed on them, bed bugs suffocate. Plus, it also kills them instantly. You only need to identify their hiding spots.
This is followed by spraying Lysol on them. The spray reaches tight areas too. Not only are you taking charge of the situation, but you are also disinfecting your home.