Simply put: No, bed bugs can't eat through plastic. Although they're notorious for their bites, bed bugs don't actually have teeth. Their “bites” are an allergic reaction to them injecting their saliva into you before they suck your blood.
Bug bugs live in plastic, and considering adults can survive approximately five months without feeding, this removal method is not effective. Not to mention that by simply placing bed bugs in plastic bags haphazardly, you risk spreading the infestation from one location to another.
But the larger point is you can't seal your entire home into a plastic bag; the bugs hide in too many other places to make the bag method effective. In addition, bed bugs' tiny stature allows them to escape through the smallest of openings. If you notice any kind of rip or tear, replace the bag and reseal items within.
We highly recommend giant Ziploc. They come in an assortment of sizes and are great to store your heat treated clothing. You can easily unseal them, access your clothing and re-seal them for an impermeable bed bug barrier. Plastic garbage bags are also bed bug proof.
Bed bugs tend to hide as close to the bed as possible, so only launder the fabrics in the immediate area – your bedding, and clothing in dressers near the bed. Hanging clothes in closets can usually be left there, but wash anything on the floor.
But, even though bed bugs easily climb on rough surfaces such as wood, fabric, and walls they are not great when they encounter plastic. Because plastic surfaces are smoother bed bugs don't have enough grip to climb up.
Hygea Natural Bed Bug Laundry additive is a necessary step when dealing with bed bugs. Bed bugs are known to hide in mattresses, covers, clothing, furniture, outlets and anywhere away from your eye. Use to treat bed bugs from clothing, linens, drapes and other washable, machine-safe items.
“To limit the risk of bed bug hitchhikers, keep your clothing inside sealed plastic bags while traveling,” Wong says. “You can also store your entire suitcase inside a large plastic bag. While nothing is guaranteed to prevent bed bug exposure, this will greatly limit your chances of bringing them inside your home.”
If there was absolutely no host available from which to feed on their blood, a young bed bug could die as quickly as within several weeks, while an adult bed bug could survive as long as 4.5 months under optimal conditions of heat and humidity before dying of starvation1.
If a friend stays overnight somewhere on their way to your home for the holidays, they could bring bed bugs to your home. If a friend has a bed bug infestation and they don't realize it, they can bring bed bugs over to your house, even during the day.
Key Takeaway: Baby powder may seem like a simple and inexpensive solution for bed bug infestations, but it unfortunately isn't very effective. In fact, there is no scientific evidence that suggests baby powder can be used to kill or even repel bed bugs from an area.
Bed bugs will hide in the smallest of spaces, namely in the linings of your mattress, sheets, and other fabrics. A plastic mattress, or plastic mattress cover, will either deter bed bugs from getting comfortable on your bed, or trap any existing bed bugs and keep them from spreading further.
Following treatment, you should install bed bug monitors under each leg of your bed to screen for surviving bugs. The interceptors are inexpensive and effectively trap the bugs as they try to enter or leave the bed. Check the traps every day for evidence, if your treatment was effective there should be no bugs.
The answer is yes – Lysol can help get rid of bed bugs. In fact, it's one of the most effective products for killing bed bugs and other types of insects. Lysol is a disinfectant that contains active ingredients such as ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol, both of which are proven to be toxic to bed bugs.
Bed bugs are nocturnal, which means they are active mainly at night. They normally bite people who are sleeping or sitting still for long periods of time. However, bed bugs will not bite every night. They only come out when they need to eat, and it could be several nights or several weeks before they need another meal.
Molded plastic offers a smooth surface that resists bed bugs. There are fewer joints then wood or metal furniture but there is still surface area on the underside of the furniture that can be a nesting area for bed bugs. Again, plastic can be “washed” after chemical treatments.
Although less common, bed bugs can also live on wood floors—particularly if there are cracks or crevices for them to hide in. The best way to prevent bed bugs from living on your hardwood floors is to do regular inspections and thoroughly clean the area.
Bed bugs can't stand the smell of tea tree oil, and once they catch a whiff of it, they will try to leave immediately. Tea tree oil can also affect the condition of their exoskeleton, so it's best to liberally spray this oil on large items in your home if you want your bed bugs to be gone.
It's best to keep the infestation localized to as few rooms as possible. This will also make remediation easier. Do continue to sleep in your bedroom after identifying a bed bug infestation. If you move rooms or start sleeping on the couch you run the risk of contaminating these other areas of your home.
Get a mattress and box spring cover
An effective way to keep bedbugs that are hiding inside your bed from biting you is to invest in a good-quality covering for your mattress and box spring. The best option is to use a cover with a good seal that zips around your mattress and box spring.
Diatomaceous earth is a great chemical-free option for getting rid of a number of pests, including bed bugs. This natural powder contains properties that can dehydrate bed bugs, absorbing their fat and oil, and killing them dead as a doornail. Spray or sprinkle in infected areas and allow it to sit for at least a week.