Just the thought of bed bugs makes me squirm! It’s natural to panic if you see bed bugs in your home. What do you do? How do you get rid of the pesky bugs? You find yourself reaching for the nearest thing – Lysol.
Will a household cleaner and disinfectant like Lysol actually solve a bed bug problem? We’re going to find out!
Contents
Will Lysol Kill Bed Bugs?
Lysol is registered as a cleaning product, so its ingredients are public knowledge. They are:
- Ethanol
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Lactic Acid
- Hydrogen Pyroxide
Lysol is designed to kill germs and bacteria, and it does a great job! Unfortunately, unless you can directly douse every single bed bug with Lysol, it will not solve your bed bug problem.
In fact, the bed bugs will probably get one whiff of Lysol and hide. Most likely, you won’t be able to find any bugs to actually spray. Bed bugs are really good at evading humans.
Lysol is also unable to penetrate the exoskeleton or shell of bed bug eggs. In a few weeks, those eggs will hatch, and there will be more bed bugs. In short, Lysol will not rid your home of bed bugs.
How Can I Use Lysol for Bed Bugs?
Lysol may not be helpful in killing bed bugs, but it can be used as a short-term deterrent. Bed bugs don’t like the smell or taste of Lysol. You could spray your bed in order to scatter the bed bugs for a little while, but it won’t get rid of them. Also, the bed bugs may find a new corner of your house to inhabit once they evade the Lysol.
Is Lysol Hazardous?
Using Lysol in high concentrations to try to kill bed bugs can be dangerous for people. High levels of Lysol can burn your eyes. If you inhale Lysol, it could harm your nervous system. It can be especially dangerous for pets and children. Lysol is also flammable, so avoid spraying it near an open flame.
Lysol is perfect for its designed use as a cleaning agent if used in low quantities. Keep it around for cleaning and disinfecting, but find a different solution for bed bugs!
How Do I Get Rid of Bed Bugs?
In order to completely clear your house of bed bugs, it’s best to call in the professionals. They will have the tools and knowledge to make your house bed bug free.
There are some steps you can take to clear your bedding and mattress of bed bugs in the meantime.
- Wash and dry all of your bedding on high heat to make sure the bed bugs don’t survive.
- Remove your mattress from your box spring, and thoroughly vacuum both.
- Mattress encasement. A bed bug proof mattress encasement, such as this one will keep the bed bugs from munching on you. It will also trap them, and they’ll eventually starve to death.
In Conclusion
To sum it up, don’t waste time trying to kill off bed bugs with Lysol. Not only is it ineffective, but you could harm yourself and your pets with high concentrations of Lysol. Call your local pest control company to get rid of your bed bug problem once and for all.