Will Soapy Water Kill Bed Bugs

by toms /sleepless in
(Seattle,WA.)

Will a spray bottle with soapy water kill bedbugs if sprayed directly on them?

Soapy water sprayed directly on bed bugs can break down the waxy coating on a bed bug's exoskeleton, causing dehydration and death. The water should thoroughly coat the insect. Instead of water, you can try rubbing alcohol. Do not soak any surfaces.

That said, I'd prefer you go with an inexpensive insecticide tested against insecticide resistant insects such as Sterifab Spray. The Sterifab combines alcohol and a bit of insecticide. It is mattress safe, low cost and it has been independently tested and confirmed effective against insecticide resistant bed bugs.

To reduce the size of the bed bug problem, I'd also suggest using a spray that has residual or long term killing action. This way, bed bugs that you miss during treatment will be killed when they cross through the invisible field created by the spray. For this, I'd suggest either Phantom or Bedlam.

To save money, you can buy all the products you need in a bed bug kit that also contains bed bugs dust (also called diatomaceous earth or fossil dust). You can buy a bag of dust for about $5 to $10 in most hardware or garden centers. Apply with a duster and it creates a thin barrier that will kill the bed bugs when the dust clings to their outer skeleton.

So skip the soapy water. Go with a proven insecticide based product you buy through Amazon or a local Home Depot.

Also, expect to require multiple treatments. You can view detailed bed bug treatment instructions here.