Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs

If you’ve ever found bed bugs in your home, you’re likely looking for every solution possible to get rid of them. Bed bugs are scary, and they leave irritating and even painful bites on your body. There are many household products you can use to help eliminate bed bugs.

Many people wonder, “Does rubbing alcohol kill bed bugs and eggs?” It’s a great question because rubbing alcohol would be a simple solution to a frustrating problem. In this article, we set out to answer this question, so keep reading!

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Why Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs?

Rubbing alcohol works a lot like pesticide. The reason this ingredient works well at killing bed bugs is that it is a desiccant which means it draws moisture out of the things it touches.

The alcohol kills bed bugs because it dries out their body, which will disintegrate their exoskeleton. It has a similar effect to how putting salt on a slug would work. Many products you buy to get rid of bed bugs work the same way. Diatomaceous Earth dries out the bed bugs, and that is how it kills them.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Continue to Kill Bed Bugs When Left Alone?

Another point worth mentioning is that rubbing alcohol will continue to work even after you’ve finished the initial job. Once you’ve covered certain areas of the room with rubbing alcohol, it will deter any bed bugs because of the strong scent.

You can drive away a lot of pests with strong smells like rubbing alcohol, eucalyptus, peppermint, and garlic.

We’re not saying that you need to cover your entire room with rubbing alcohol, but if you think you have a bed bug problem; it wouldn’t hurt to pour some in a few cups or soak some old t-shirts in it.

What’s the Difference Between Rubbing Alcohol and Drinking Alcohol?

The main difference is the primary ingredient. Rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol while drinking alcohol is ethanol. The thing that separates these two is the concentration of alcohol in the liquid. Isopropyl alcohol is toxic, and you cannot drink it. Rubbing alcohol has a concentration of around 91%, so it’s stronger and more effective.

Drinking alcohol generally has a concentration of 71% or less, which makes it easier to drink. This choice wouldn’t be as effective because of the lower amount of alcohol.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs Eggs?

Yes, rubbing alcohol will kill the eggs it comes in contact with as well. The main issue with using rubbing alcohol is that it has a low mortality rate. In short, it’s not as effective as some other methods. You always want to keep your options open, but realize that bed bugs are a job for the pros.

If you’re still struggling to get rid of bed bugs in your home, there are some other options you can try. We would recommend taking all your sheets, pillow covers, pillows, comforters, pretty much everything off the bed and washing them on a high heat setting.

Using high temperatures will kill a majority of bed bugs, and if you pair this along with the rubbing alcohol method, you should be able to kill much more.

You can also take things in the opposite direction by freezing your furnishings. If it’s cold outside, take everything off your bed and put it outside. If you don’t live somewhere that’s cold, use a freezer. Freezing your items will kill the bed bugs quickly, and the rubbing alcohol can take care of the rest.

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How to Prevent Bed Bugs From Coming Back

Your first problem was wondering, “does rubbing alcohol kill bed bugs?” Now, you’ve got another problem; keeping them away. It’s hard to understand why bed bugs enter the home and what their motive is. Much of the time it’s due to poor cleanliness in the home, so you want to keep that under control.

Many times bed bugs get into your home because someone brings them in when they come inside. If you set a backpack or purse down on the ground somewhere and then picked it up, you might have taken some hitchhikers with you.

Once they get into the home, they look for a warm comfy place to live, and that is why they often turn to the bed.

A common misconception is that bed bugs are only in beds; this is not true. You can find bed bugs anywhere in your home and especially on couches and chairs.

The best way to prevent bed bugs from ever coming back is by following proper hygiene practices in your home. Make sure you are regularly taking the sheets and pillows off your bed and washing them. Wash all furnishings on high temperatures and be sure to vacuum and clean your couches frequently as well.

Should You Use Rubbing Alcohol for Bed Bugs?

We don’t entirely recommend using rubbing alcohol to kill bed bugs for a few different reasons.

First, it’s not the most effective solution. Hiring a professional or using a specialized bed bug repellent is the best way to go.

Second, it’s dangerous to pour rubbing alcohol or even have an item soaking in alcohol. You never want to pour rubbing alcohol on anything in your home because it is highly flammable and could ignite easily.

Third, when you do move to hire an exterminator, the rubbing alcohol may have driven some of the bed bugs off the infested piece of furniture. This issue means that the professional now has to search harder to kill all the bed bugs.

Final Thoughts

While rubbing alcohol might seem like an easy solution to a big problem, we don’t recommend going too crazy with it. We answered the questions, “does rubbing alcohol kill bed bugs,” and it’s yes, but bed bugs are a job best left to the professionals. What we do recommend doing is washing all your furnishings and seeing if that works before contacting the pros.

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FAQ’s

What Home Remedy Will Kill Bed Bugs?

Several home remedies will kill bed bugs. Rubbing alcohol is a good one. It kills the adults and nymphs and will also damage most of the eggs. Plus, like peppermint or eucalyptus oil the smell puts bed bugs off. So, most of them stay away. However, sadly, it is not the entire solution. Simply because a liquid can’t reach every bug in a room. That is why, usually, at some point, you will have to call in the professionals.

Should I Throw out My Mattress If I Have Bed Bugs?

You do not necessarily have to throw out your mattress if you have bed bugs. Provided you treat the entire room and the mattress it is possible to kill every last egg, nymph, and bug. But, if you miss even a single one they will breed again. That is why it is usually best to call in professional pest controllers who can use heat generators or fogging methods. The heat or chemicals will get into all of the little cracks you may not reach.

What Is the Main Cause of Bed Bugs?

The main cause of bed bugs is bringing them home from your travels. You only have to spend the night in a room that is infested for a few of them to hitch a ride on your clothes or belongings. Once they arrive at your home, they will soon breed and cause an infestation. You can also inadvertently bring them into the house when you buy secondhand furniture.