No, as the experts warn, bed bugs are unable to walk through baking soda, so placing it as a deterrent would do no good. It is far more efficient to follow the steam-cleaning method for a recent infestation – or seek help from professionals for a larger-scale problem.
The idea: Since it is an abrasive compound that absorbs moisture, the DIY goal is that a bed bug will not be able to digest it if it consumed it. Because of this, it would damage or rupture the bed bug's internal organs and kill it.
Method: Sprinkle baking soda around the areas that bed bugs typically inhabit, such as the mattress and the area around your bed. After a few days, vacuum it up and repeat the process.
Diatomaceous earth is a passive way to kill bed bugs. It often requires some time for results to show (usually between 2 to 4 weeks, and sometimes longer). That's because bed bugs must come into direct contact with the powder for it to work.
There is no scientific evidence that baking soda works in getting rid of bed bugs successfully. In fact, baking soda breaks down when it comes into contact with water therefore the idea of it being able to absorb fluids is questionable. It is not guaranteed to fully remove a bed bug infestation completely.
Bed bugs hate scents such as lemon scents, cinnamon oil, neem oil, spearmint, and silicone. They will hide from you when you use these smells.
Any efforts to kill bed bugs using baby powder may do nothing more than irritate the pests or cover up their musty scent. Not only will you likely be disappointed in the results, but you could make matters worse.
Baby powder doesn't kill the bed bugs, but the talcum makes the bed bugs slide, preventing them from exiting any sort of trap. Talcum powder provides a drying effect to bed bugs which works as an eliminator, but it does not have the capacity to kill these nasty pests completely.
Heat – Bed bugs use sensory structures on their antennae to detect body heat. Body Odor – Bed bugs are also attracted to the various odor molecules produced by our bodies. Body odor is also why bed bugs are twice as more likely to be attracted to dirty laundry than to clean laundry.
Vinegar is often used as a contact type insecticide, which means that you need to spray it directly unto the spotted bed bug to make it effective. Vinegar offers short term and limited effects on your fight against bed bugs. It is not so effective as a stand-alone treatment against serious cases of infestation.
Wash it off with warm water. Apply toothpaste to the site of the bites. The menthol within toothpaste is an anti-itch agent.
Generally, it's recommended to leave the baking soda on a mattress for 30 minutes to an hour. But for a deeper clean, let the baking soda sit for 24 hours.
If you can't put your mattress out in the sun and fresh air, baking soda is the next best thing. Sprinkle a layer over the entire top of the mattress and leave for several hours (or better yet, apply before an overnight trip). Baking soda will break down acid and absorb any remaining moisture or odor.
Lemongrass is an effective home remedy used for keeping bed bugs at bay. The compounds in lemongrass will not only repel bed bugs, but also kills them off by increasing the acidic condition inside the insects. Spray lemongrass in affected areas until your bed bug problem is no more.
Wear a suitable dust mask when using this product during prolonged exposure. Bed Bugs: Disassemble the bed frame and remove bedding. Do not apply product to bedding. Apply this product to the bed frame, mattress and box spring.
Prevent bed bugs from moving onto furniture by coating the legs of furniture with petroleum jelly (like Vaseline), or by wrapping the legs with double-sided tape.
Not only does the powder keep the bed cool, but it also absorbs any sweat and gives it a refreshing, fragrant smell. Whether it's spilled milk or coffee, it is often difficult to completely remove smells after a spill - especially on carpet.
DIY treatments include high heat, bleach, alcohol, and diatomaceous earth. Rubbing alcohol, salt, baking soda, and boric acid are not effective. Certain essential oils repel bed bugs but won't kill them. Diatomaceous earth is an effective passive method of bed bug treatment.
If you don't have baking soda, you can use baking powder, at three times what the recipe calls for. So if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of baking soda, you can use three teaspoons of baking powder.
Deodorize Your Mattress
For best results, leave the baking soda there for 24 hours and catch some sleep on the couch—or go on that overnight trip you've been fantasizing about.
Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. Sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are other names for baking soda. Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.
However, you can outsmart these pesky bugs by placing interceptor traps under the legs of your bed to trap the bed bugs. This is a great way to confirm that you have an infestation and keep the bugs off your bed until you can seek treatment.