The thought of bed bugs gives a nightmare and goosebumps to all of us. Bed bugs are one of the most challenging pests to deal with because they infest beds and other furniture and leave you with itchy skin and painful welts on the exposed part of your body. They are blood-sucking insects that hide at any spot, are small in size, reproduce faster, and give you a challenge to find and eliminate them. The primary concern is that these bed bugs have become resistant to most insecticides. If you are looking for an affordable and effective way to eliminate bed bugs, vinegar is the best option. Let's gather information about "does vinegar kill bed bugs"?
Identify the Bed Bugs
Before you begin the process of dealing with bed bugs, it's essential to confirm their existence because these bugs resemble baby cockroaches, lice, and carpet beetles. Take a bug to the local extension office to identify if these creatures are bugs. A few identifications are as follows that confirm their infestation:
- These are flat or fat, oval-shaped, and wingless pests. Adults are the size of an apple seed.
- Adults are ¼ inch long and red.
- Baby bugs have irregular black patches and are yellow to light tan.
- The bed bug's egg size is of the pinhead and is white.
Cause of Bed Bug Infestation
There are many possible reasons for bed bug infestation. Bed bugs come home from regular trips to hotels, motels, and cruise ships or by leaving your luggage near an infected chair. Once these bed bugs enter your homes, they find secret hiding places like under the sofas, couches, or any place near the bed, from where they can crawl in the night to bite you.
Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs?
Yes, a strong vinegar solution kills bed bugs as it contains acetic acid made from the fermentation of alcohol. Vinegar damages the nervous system of bugs, causing death. The best variety of vinegar is white vinegar, which is known to repel bed bugs because of its pungent smell. There is no scientific evidence that can prove that vinegar keeps the bud bugs away forever; rather, vinegar is known to keep the bugs away temporarily.
Things to Consider Before Using Vinegar to Kill Bed Bugs
- Vinegar is acidic, so protect your eyes and skin by wearing protective gear.
- Buy white vinegar with a minimum 5%acidity because selecting the right vinegar is half the task achieved.
- You can dilute vinegar with a bit of water to reduce the pungent smell.
- While spraying vinegar, always spray it near the hiding spots.
- Observe the area for dead bed bugs after spraying vinegar.
Steps to Make Vinegar Spray at Home to Kill Bed Bugs
Homemade vinegar spray is a safe option that works in early infestation. Let's go through the methods to make it.
- Buy white vinegar from any brand of your choice(Walmart, Heinz Distilled, or Kroger Brand).
- Take an empty spray bottle(Uline or UPC bottles) and fill vinegar.
- First, spray vinegar on the infested area in the cracks, holes, crevices, or any space under the furniture to ensure bed bugs scatter and die.
- Spray vinegar directly on the bed bugs to kill them or send them away from the infested area.
- Soak all the infested areas (window sill, wall, furniture, mattress, and carpets) to prevent bug infestation in the future. Repeat the process every week for many weeks to reduce their numbers.
Tips: Mixing a few drops of essential oil in vinegar will improve the scent, use vinegar in undiluted form for more effectiveness(if you can tolerate the pungent smell), and never mix vinegar and bleach because it will release toxic chlorine gas causing damage to your health.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Ground Moles With Vinegar?
Pros and Cons of Using Vinegar to Kill Bed Bugs
| Pros | Cons |
| The acidic nature of vinegar gives relief from bed bugs | The smell is pungent and lasts longer |
| It is affordable and easily available | Many times, vinegar gives temporary relief from them as bugs run away and hide somewhere |
| It's a safe option to get rid of bed bugs because no matter how much you spray, it won't harm anyone | Pieces of Furniture may get damaged due to the low pH of vinegar |
| It might not be effective in case of a major infestation |
A Few Other Solutions to Control Bed Bugs
Apart from using vinegar, there are other solutions as well to control bugs such as sealing cracks with caulk to prevent their entry, vacuuming the furniture to ensure they come out, wash all the fabric items in the washer at the highest heat settings, and spray alcohol near the infested area (don't use if there are kids and pets at home).
Conclusion
After reading the article, you must have gathered information about bed bugs in your homes. Using vinegar to get rid of bed bugs will help you repel them and keep them at bay. Vinegar might not be a permanent solution for bed bugs, but using it regularly will surely keep bugs at bay.
