What chemicals kill bed bugs? Expert tips and home prevention
Bed bugs are small but dangerous insects from the true bug family that feed on blood, making their presence highly unwelcome for humans. Signs of an infestation often include itchy bites on the skin, an unpleasant sweetish odor, and blood or dark spots on bedding.
If you notice these tiny pests in your bed, mattress, furniture, carpets, or similar areas, don’t delay – call professional bed bug exterminators who have the proper tools and treatments to eliminate them.
Below, we’ll review which chemicals are effective against bed bugs and why household remedies often fail to deliver the desired results.
Table of contents
What are bed bugs and why is it important to exterminate them?
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on human blood and are most active at night. While you may not feel a bed bug bite right away, the effects usually appear later: red spots and intense itching at the bite site. In some cases, the skin can also swell. This not only affects sleep quality but also causes significant discomfort.
There are two main types of bed bugs: outdoor bed bugs and common bed bugs. The common bed bug is the most problematic, as it settles inside homes and quickly becomes a serious issue in everyday life.
Why is professional bed bug extermination important?
Every year, the bed bug population continues to grow. This is largely due to their ability to quickly adapt to environmental conditions and develop resistance to chemicals. Outbreaks of bed bugs are increasingly reported even in developed countries, despite the presence of professional pest control companies.
Representatives of Sterilus explain this adaptability: “In most cases, the same type of chemical is used against bed bugs in a given region, and over time they become resistant to the active ingredient in those products. In such cases, it becomes necessary either to increase the concentration or to switch to different chemicals.”
It is clear that fighting bed bugs requires specific knowledge and expertise. Household remedies and over-the-counter products are rarely effective when it comes to controlling these pests.
What chemicals eliminate bed bugs?
According to the EPA, there are around 300 registered products designed to exterminate bed bugs. Some of these can be used by the general public, while others are restricted to trained professionals.
These products come in different forms: powders, sprays, aerosols, popular smoke treatments, as well as high-concentration solutions. In some cases, professionals use a combined approach, applying multiple methods of bed bug extermination for better results.
Since bed bugs are resistant to many household remedies, special chemicals – insecticides – are used to exterminate them. These include pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, insect growth regulators, and others.
Pyrethroids
This group includes active ingredients such as permethrin, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin. They are among the most popular choices for fighting bed bugs. These chemicals work by paralyzing the insect’s nervous system, which eventually leads to its death.
Neonicotinoids
This group includes active ingredients such as imidacloprid and acetamiprid. These chemicals act on the insect’s nerve receptors. They can be an effective option if bed bugs have developed resistance to the previously mentioned insecticides – pyrethroids.
Insect growth regulators
This group includes hydroprene and pyriproxyfen. These chemicals do not kill bed bugs immediately but effectively disrupt their life cycle. They prevent the insects from developing and, most importantly, from reproducing, which gradually reduces and eventually eliminates the population.
Organophosphates
These are very strong poisons. While highly effective, they are used much less frequently because of their toxic effects on both animals and humans.
In some cases, combined treatments are applied, where several active ingredients are used together. This approach helps prevent bed bugs from developing resistance and ensures faster extermination.
Why don’t household chemicals often work against bed bugs?
As Sterilus experts point out, people often try to exterminate bed bugs on their own using household or traditional remedies. However, these days such methods are practically ineffective – even professionals need to return to the site multiple times and carefully target the bed bug life cycle according to regulations.
Why is this necessary? “The vast majority of chemicals do not affect bed bug eggs, so once the nymphs hatch, they must be treated again with insecticides,” the specialists explain.
There is also another negative effect. According to Sterilus representatives, when people buy bed bug products from supermarkets, they often make the situation worse. These products contain the same active ingredients that professionals use, but at much lower concentrations. The result is that bed bugs are essentially “vaccinated,” gradually building resistance to the stronger professional-grade chemicals.
What can you do at home to prevent bed bugs?
We’ve already established that eliminating bed bugs requires professional knowledge and specialized treatments. However, there are still a few things you can do to reduce the risk of these insects appearing in your home. Bed bugs are not fans of cleanliness, so by keeping your home tidy and organized, you make it less attractive to them.
What you can do:
- Regularly sort through stored items and throw away anything unnecessary.
- Clean your furniture, including the inside.
- Vacuum and wash floors frequently, paying special attention to baseboards and gaps.
- Change your bedding often and wash it at high temperatures.
- Clean your bed, mattress, and storage boxes under the bed.
- Consider getting a steam cleaner – it can be quite effective against bed bugs.
However, keep in mind that bed bug extermination at home can only help when the infestation is still small and hasn’t yet spread widely. To make prevention more effective, it’s important to understand where bed bugs come from and the ways they enter your home.
When should you call in professionals?
Bed bugs are difficult to detect and reach. On top of that, they reproduce quickly and may develop resistance to treatments—especially if those treatments are used incorrectly. Eliminating them requires knowledge, time, and effort. That’s why professionals recommend that once you notice bed bugs at home, you shouldn’t delay or try to handle the problem on your own. Instead, you should immediately contact licensed bed bug extermination specialists.
Bed bugs are not just pests – they are a serious health concern. Extermination is essential, but because of their resistance to common treatments, professional intervention is often the only effective way to get rid of them.
[i] https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/pesticides-control-bed-bugs