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Does baking soda kill bed bugs?

With varying degrees of success, baking soda can kill a bed bug by dehydrating it. There is no scientific evidence to back this up, and baking soda is not the solution to getting rid of all bed bugs.

Baking soda bed bug treatment

Even if it might not always work, many people will try to use baking soda to get rid of bed bugs. The following method may be used to test out this theory:

  1. Sprinkle baking soda around the areas that bed bugs typically inhabit, such as the mattress and the area around your bed.
  2. A few days later, vacuum it up and repeat the process.
  3. Although this may work occasionally, it is not guaranteed to get rid of bed bugs entirely.

What does baking soda do to bed bugs?

There is no proof of its absolute effectiveness, but baking soda is said to dehydrate bed bugs, causing them to die off. The idea behind this is that baking soda breaks down when it comes into contact with water. Therefore, it is said to absorb the thick fluids found on a bed bug shell causing them to dehydrate. The small granules of baking soda can also supposedly cut into a bed bug shell and cause internal bleeding. Even if baking soda is effective enough to kill a few bed bugs, it will not work to get rid of an entire infestation.

Are at-home remedies capable of controlling bed bugs?

As with all pests, there is a lot of information on the internet about how to get rid of them with items you have right at home. Although all may have varying degrees of success in killing off several bed bugs, they typically won’t work to get rid of the infestation entirely. Some of these include talcum powder, moth balls, rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil, diatomaceous earth, and even ultrasonic devices. To get rid of a full-blown infestation, it’s best to get professional treatment.

Here’s why baking soda won’t get rid of bed bugs

If you’re successful in using the above methods, you may not be free of bed bugs just yet. Without professional bed bug treatment, it can be extremely hard to kill all bed bugs from your home. Bed bug eggs and nymphs may still be around in the tiniest cracks and crevices. Lingering bed bugs at all stages of life have to be removed by a bed bug exterminator. 

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