If you are looking for some DIY solutions to the reddish-brown pests that have taken control of your living quarters, you are sure to have wondered, “Does Lysol kill bed bugs?”
The simple answer to this straightforward question is, again, yes. Lysol is pretty effective against bed bugs. Having said that, spraying Lysol over a large area of your home comes with its own set of problems and difficulties.
What is Lysol?
Lysol is a cheap, effective, and great antibacterial and antiviral disinfectant that you use at your residence. Benzalkonium chloride is a powerful chemical present in it that dissolves the hard shell of the bug while attacking its immune system and dehydrating them.
Spread the solution over the affected areas and let it dry for 2 hours.
Go for a thorough cleaning after that. However, you might need a few rounds of spraying Lysol for its effectiveness. It might prove to be harmful. Therefore, be cautious when using it. You can change the consistency of Lysol according to your needs.
How Does Lysol Affect Bed Bugs?
We already know that Lysol contains some strong chemicals. Read on if you want to know how these chemicals affect bed bugs:
- Lysol fumes tend to suffocate bed bugs. This effect will increase a great deal in proportion to the strength of the solution.
- When Lysol comes in contact with the bed bugs, it immediately attacks the hard outer shell of the bed bugs, dissolving it and making the bed bug susceptible to possible dangers.
- The chemicals in Lysol attack the immune system of the bed bug, leaving it defenseless.
How To Use Lysol On Bed Bugs?
The process of applying Lysol to kill bed bugs:
Here is a stepwise procedure that you can follow if you want to tackle the infestation of bed bugs in your house with Lysol:
- Begin with decluttering your house. Throw out all broken or unused items that might otherwise become abodes of bed bugs.
- Deep clean and vacuum all the nooks and crannies of your house.
- Wash all your bed linen in boiling water and submit them to the hottest possible drying cycle.
- Next, tackle your mattress. Douse it in bed bug-repellant chemicals and sundry it, if possible.
- You will then need to seal your mattress so that the bed bugs that come out do not go back into your mattress.
- Seal all the other items in your house so that there is no chance of the bed bugs hiding there again.
- Now generously spray a concentrated Lysol solution all over the problem areas.
- Let the solution remain for a minimum of 2 hours and attack all the bed bugs that come out of their hiding places.
- Once the solution has dried out, you may wipe the floor and surfaces with a soft wet cloth.
Pros Of Using Lysol For Killing Bugs
- It is a cheap, effective, and easily available solution to the bed bug problem.
- It can help you to buy some time if the exterminators are not available immediately.
- You can increase or decrease the concentration of the solution following your needs.
Cons Of Using Lysol For Killing Bugs
- Lysol solution contains a chemical called ethanol. This is harmful to the human eye. Overexposure to Lysol fumes or direct exposure to the solution might irritate the eyes.
- The solution only works if it is in direct contact with the bed bugs. This might be a difficult task considering that bed bugs are notoriously fast and good at hiding.
- Several rounds of spraying might be required to exterminate the entire bed bug population finally.
- The female bed bugs usually hide in a different spot from the population until they have laid their eggs. Thus they might escape an extermination process and cause a re-infestation.
- You will have to exercise extreme precaution if you use Lysol to treat bed bugs when you have infants, toddlers, or pets at home.
- The strong smell of Lysol might irritate the nasal passages of some people as well. Consider moving to another place for a few hours once you douse your home in Lysol.
- Bed bugs get immune to different solutions very easily. Thus after a few uses, you might find that the bed bugs remain unaffected by the solution.
Closing Thoughts
When sprayed directly on bed bugs, Lysol can kill the pests. The bed bugs would itch from the product’s ingredients and suffocate as a result. Eggs can also be killed by Lysol, but they must also be sprayed with the product for them to function. This method of pest control has the drawback of requiring meticulous accounting for every bug and egg. Since bed bugs may hide well, spraying them alone may not be sufficient to eradicate them. Additionally, using too much Lysol could be detrimental to your health. As a result, it is not advised that you treat a bed bug infestation with Lysol.
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