Using Baking Soda to Kill Bed Bugs
Have you ever tried to deal with a bed bug problem in your home? If so, then you know all about how difficult this process can be. Bed bugs are resilient, and they’re really good hiders. Notoriously difficult to kill and get rid of, there are some tried and true methods for safely killing bed bugs.
Baking soda is just one natural method that you can use in your home. But, does baking soda work? Let’s dive into this topic a bit more before you start sprinkling it in every crack and corner of your home.
Using Baking Soda to Kill Bed Bugs
A bed bug’s body has a very waxy shell that helps them retain moisture. If you were to damage this coating, the bed bug would likely die from evaporation of this moisture. Baking soda is a salt, and baking soda can absorb moisture really well. If you were to place baking soda down on an area that had bed bug activity and they came into contact with it, this could result in the bed bugs drying up and dying.
The only downfall would be having to leave the baking soda in an area for a number of days. You want to make sure that they are going to come into contact with it at some point.
Baking soda also has a very abrasive texture. That’s why it makes a really great natural cleaning product. You can even use it to exfoliate your skin. With the same concept as baking soda causing dehydrating of bed bug’s skin, the baking soda could be placed in an area where the bed bugs would get their bodies scratched up by it. The underside of a bed bug is very soft, Climbing in and out of baking soda could do some damage.
Bed bugs could also ingest the baking soda when they move through it. This would have the same effects but from the inside-out. It could also create a gas inside of their bodies in addition to being abrasive and dehydrating. The gas created by the baking soda could result in internal organs bursting. It doesn’t sound pretty, but it sure does sound like it would work.
Baking Soda Bed Bug Trap
Unfortunately, you might be relying on bed bugs accidentally ingesting the baking soda. Because of its unpleasant taste, the baking soda should be mixed with something like sugar to make it more palatable. This could attract the bed bugs to the area where the baking soda has been placed.
Baking soda has been used to kill bed bugs, but this might not be the most promising treatment option out there. It has potential because of its ability to dry out their bodies and cut them because of the abrasiveness of baking soda, but it doesn’t always work.
Please keep in mind that there are no studies that prove the effectiveness of baking soda or baby powder for getting rid of bed bugs. You’re better off using baking soda along with other methods to get the results you’re looking for. This is true for any treatments for bed bugs. Because they’re so hard to get rid of, combining these methods together can be beneficial.
