Does Bleach Kill Bed Bugs?

Are you tired of dealing with bed bugs and searching for the most effective solution? Bleach is one of the many bed bug treatments that people often consider. But does bleach kill bed bugs? In this article, we will explore the effectiveness of using bleach to kill bed bugs and provide you with other treatment options.

Introduction

Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood. They are known for their ability to hide in small spaces and reproduce quickly, making it difficult to eradicate them once they infest a home. Bed bugs are not only a nuisance, but they can also cause health problems such as allergic reactions, skin irritation, and insomnia.

Many people turn to bleach as a solution for killing bed bugs. While bleach may kill some bed bugs, it is not an effective treatment for a full-blown bed bug infestation. Bleach can be dangerous to use and may cause health problems if not used correctly.

In this article, we will take a closer look at bed bugs, the effectiveness of bleach on bed bugs, why bleach is not a recommended treatment, and other effective treatments to get rid of bed bugs.

Understanding Bed Bugs

Before we dive into the effectiveness of bleach on bed bugs, it’s important to understand these pests. Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that are approximately 5-7mm in size. They are nocturnal creatures that feed on human blood, and they prefer to hide in tight spaces such as mattress seams, headboards, and baseboards. Bed bugs can reproduce quickly, with females laying up to 5 eggs per day, and can survive for up to a year without feeding.

Bed bugs can infest any home, regardless of how clean or dirty it is. They are often brought into homes through secondhand furniture, luggage, or clothing. Once they infest a home, they can quickly spread to other rooms and neighboring homes.

So if you ask me, is the bleach effective against bed bugs?

My first reply is yes it is. A doctor that there will be many if and buts. To clear this I have written this article.

Bleach is a killer agent for the bed bugs

The type of bleach which is regularly used in our houses as a laundry agent is Clorox. Many other types of abilities are also available in the market. But the target of this article is household readers. We will stick to the Clorox bleach which is being used in the houses.

Chemical composition of household bleach

5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution in water is the chemical composition of Clorox the household bleach used in the laundry. This solution is also available in the ultra-strength form. In the ultrasound, the concentration of hypochlorite is 6% rather than 5.25%.

The mechanism of killing the bed bugs

Bed bugs have the same problem with bleach as we humans have. This is difficult to tolerate the smell of the bleach. Because of the smell of the Bleach, the bed bugs suffocate and die. So this is a simple phenomenon applied by the application of bleach to kill bed bugs.

Slow process

Bleach is effective against bed bugs as well as viruses. In addition to this, the dust from the surface will be automatically removed. But you need to remember that it will take some time to kill the bed bugs completely. So you better understand it is a slow process.

How bleach kills bed bugs.

The active ingredient of bleach is hypochlorous. why do we apply to kill the bed bugs? We expose the bed bugs to Hypochlorous.

Stages in the Killing of bed bugs

  1. Bedbugs are exposed to hypochlorous due to the use of bleach in the laundry.
  2. Hypochlorous effects on the protein structure of the body.
  3. After some time the bed bugs start to feed the fever.
  4. The repeated fever will cause the immune system to become weaker and weaker in bed bugs.
  5. The continuous fever and attack on the protein will make the defense system useless.
  6. What is the different system of bed bugs used as it will be attacked by many microorganisms?
  7. It will continuously raise the temperature of the bed bug.
  8. A time will come when the bad boy will not be able to move
  9. After this stage, the bed bug finally dies.

How to apply bleach to kill the bed bugs

To kill the bed bugs with bleach first you require some ingredients and then you should know the process to apply those ingredients

Ingredients required for the process

  1. The bleach Clorox type in liquid form
  2. Soap for the laundry
  3. A washing machine that can handle hot water
  4. A vacuum cleaner
  5. Flashlight
  6. Bucket
  7. Garbage bag
  8. A bottle of water to spray
  9. Staple gun
  10. Plastic sheeting
  11. Scrub brush
  12. Rubber gloves
  13. The cloth that you need to wash.
  14. Bed bugs to remove (just kidding ?)

The procedure of removing the bed bugs from your home.

Step I: The Inspection

The most important thing is to find out the hideouts of the bed bugs. Try to find it in your house. Most importantly look for those on your bed and furniture.

These are usually found in the form of black spots. Secondly, their eggs are in the form of yellow or peel shells.

Step II:  Get Rid Of The Junk

If your house is full of junk. First, you need to get rid of this junk. your home should be in neat condition and everything must be in order before you start spraying your home.

If possible clean all the draws too from inside. The bed mattress should also be removed. In this way, you will be able to completely spray the bed mattress as well as the bed.

Step III: The Laundry Cleaning Corporation

Find out all the blankets in the sheaves in your house. Now clean this in the mixture of boiling water color rocks and detergent. Once the washing machine process is over. Now is the time to dry it. Try to dry it in as much heat as possible. The maximum heat will not only kill the bugs but will also kill other viruses and bacteria if left in the blankets sheets or other clothes.

Step IV: The Vacuum Cleaner

Try to use a vacuum cleaner at every place where it is possible. Try to apply it even inside the drawers. Pets show that no cushion pillow mattress carpet furniture or any other thing is left unattended.

Now is the time to clean the vacuum bag. The vacuum cleaner bag should be drained in such a bag that can be sealed properly. No deposit of place from where the bed bugs cannot find their way back to the home.

Attack with the chemical weapon

Now is a good time to attack the remaining bed bugs with the chemical weapon. And as you know that our chemical weapon is the Clorox mixture.

It comes in powder form but we need to dissolve it in the water. The reason is that it will irritate human skin. So to avoid this condition we will mix it in the water and put it in the spraying bottle to spray. On all the mattresses, furniture, and other stuff.

PRECAUTION: Do remember that bedbugs are highly intelligent. if you start spraying from the middle of the matrix bed bugs will run towards the edges. So it is better to first separate all the addresses. Start the spray from the edges and then move towards the center. In this way, the bed bugs will not find any place to run away and hide. Make sure that any folding should not be left untreated

Step V: Wet Cloth Application

After supplying the next step is the wet cloth application. Sock a clean cloth into the chloride solution and clean all the areas of your furniture and room. Be sure to wear your rubber gloves before starting this process. Otherwise, you may feel irritation on your skin due to the bleach.

Step VI: Settle Downtime

Now, this is the time to give bleach time to settle down and complete its reaction. The bleach will take at least two days to complete its action. This is the time you also need so that your house should be dry completely and you can make it in order again. If you can lock the house and get out of it for at least 48 hours. During this time the process will be complete.

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Positives and negatives of using bleach to kill the bed Bug

Pros

  • Highly effective to kill bedbugs.
  • The whole procedure can be completed in 2 days
  • Everything you did for this operation is available
  • This is a highly affordable and economical method
  • No prior professional requirements are required to complete the process

Cons

  • Highly pungent smell
  • This may cause allergies in some people
  • Irritation on the skin may occur so should be diluted properly
  • You may need to evacuate your house at least 48 hours
  • The bleach may destroy the color of your fabric
  • Furniture finish may also be destroyed

Conclusion

The killing of bed bugs through bleach is an effective process. But do remember that it is a slow process and you require a lot more patience for this to be applied. If possible, tell your neighbors to do the disinfection process with you. Otherwise, the bed bugs may run toward your neighbor’s home and may get back to you. Or your neighbor may suffer from the attack of bed bugs. If you do it jointly with your neighbors both of you will get rid of these.

Bleach may be harsh with your colors so try to buy bleach which is color safe. you may need to repeat this process after one week if there are some bed bugs still left in your house.

FAQs

Does bleach kill bed bugs and eggs?

Bleach is known to contain an active ingredient called hypochlorite, which has been proven to effectively kill bed bugs. According to Terminix, bleach is a sodium hypochlorite solution with a pH level of 11. It works by breaking down the proteins in bed bugs, rendering them ineffective and eventually killing them. If applied directly to the bed bugs and their eggs, the acid in bleach is absorbed by their bodies, leading to their demise.

What instantly kills bed bugs?

Using heat is a highly effective method for getting rid of bed bugs, and it can be utilized in various ways to treat infestations. Steam is a common form of heat that can be employed to eradicate bed bugs in carpets, behind baseboards, and on upholstered furniture.

“Bed bugs are resilient pests that require a comprehensive approach to eradicate, and while bleach may provide some temporary relief, it’s not a long-term solution for bed bug infestations.”