A bed bug is a synonym for nuisance. Perhaps, the worst thing about these pests is that they are resilient. Hard to kill and good at hiding, these pesky insects can take over your house. They hide during the day and usually come out only at night to feed. As you may already know, they feed on the blood of humans and animals that are unfortunate enough to be around them. Moreover, bed bug bites are itchy and can even be painful.
Apart from that, a bed bug infestation comes along a number of other unpleasant signs like a foul odor in the infested areas, blood and insects’ excrement stains on your beddings and walls, etc. As if that wasn’t enough, bed bugs can pose serious threats to health. While they are not known to carry diseases, bed bug bites can eventually take a toll on your health. In fact, in some people, they can cause allergic reactions that may have severe symptoms and may even require medical attention.
For all these reasons, it is important to get rid of a bed bug infestation as soon as you become aware of its presence in your house. No wonder – people are always looking for easy and effective ways to exterminate these creepy crawlies. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to deal with this problem. You can seek professional help by calling pest exterminators to tackle the bed bug situation for you. Buying bed bug heaters or insect killer sprays is another way of dealing with a bed bug infestation.
Apart from that, a quick internet search will offer multiple remedies to kill bed bugs. However, the problem is that while some remedies work extremely well, others may not be as effective. This makes it important to know all your options, weigh the pros and cons of using different substances to kill bed bugs, and choose only the most suitable method to put an end to the bed bug infestation in your house. One popular method is to use silica gel to kill bed bugs.
If you have never used silica gel as a bed bug killer before, you are bound to have a heap of questions. What is silica gel? Does silica gel kill bed bugs? Does silica gel destroy bed bugs eggs? Is silica gel safe to be used as bed bug killer? Can you use silica gel around pets? Scroll down to have all your questions answered about using silica gel to kill bed bugs. But first, it important to make sure that you are really dealing with bed bugs. This is important because some other pest infestations may have similar effects and symptoms, making it easy to identify bed bugs. In the end, you might end up employing the wrong or ineffective method to put an end to the infestation. Therefore, first, let’s take a look at some telltale signs of a bed bug infestation.
Table of Contents
Sings of a Bed Bug Infestation
In order to get rid of bed bugs, it is essential to identify them first. These insects are usually very small in size and are brown in color. Their bodies are flat. However, once they feed, their bodies bulge and turn red or reddish brown. Here’s a list of some common signs of bed bug infestation in your house.
- Waking up with bed bug bite marks and itchy areas on the body
- Foul or strange odor
- Blood stains on bedding and pillowcases
- Dark brown bed bug fecal marks on sheets, pillowcases, and even the walls of the infected areas
- Presence of shed skin, eggshells, or dead bed bugs in the house
If you notice these signs in your house, you may be dealing with a bed bug infestation. Let’s take a look at whether you can use silica gel to handle this problem or not!
What is Silica Gel?
Have you ever noticed those tiny packets having the ”Do Not Eat” warning labels that often come with medicines, cosmetic products, plastic, and other items? That is silica gel! The same substance can be used to put an end to the bed bug infestation at your house. It is a white form of silicon dioxide. The material is porous and has the tendency to absorb moisture from its surroundings.
Does Silica Gel Kill Bed Bugs?
So, the big question – does silica gel kill bed bugs? Well, the answer is yes! Silica gel can kill bed bugs on contact. However, it is a relatively less popular method of killing bed bugs. It may provide temporary relief from bed bugs but it is less likely to take care of a bed bug infestation for good. A lot of people use silica powder instead. Having most of the same compounds, silica powder has proved to be a more effective alternative.
How to Use Silica Gel to Kill Bed Bugs
Silica gel or powder is a relatively safe alternative for getting rid of bed bugs. Simply spread the dust across the ridges of the bedding, underneath the headboard and the bed, and around the furniture. As it does not have an odor, the bed bugs are less likely to detect it and will walk right over it. On contact, silica gel will act as a powerful bed bug killer agent, helping you eventually get rid of the infestation. It is advisable to mix silica gel or powder with other methods to get rid of bed bugs fast and for good!
Pros of Using Silica Gel to Kill Bed Bugs
- It kills the bugs effectively on contact
- It is an inexpensive method
- It is an effective method for treating cracks and cervices
- It is non-toxic
- It is safe to be mixed with other bed bug killer treatments
- Bed bugs are unable to develop resistance to silica
Cons of Using Silica Gel to Kill Bed Bugs
- It kills the insects only on contact
- Silica gel is non-toxic but it is still wise to use it away from children and pets
- It should not be swallowed
- It might act as an irritant for some people
- Some forms of silica gel may be toxic for humans and animals so you need to be careful while purchasing
- It does not destroy bed bug eggs
Now that you know an affordable cheap and effective way to kill bed bugs – sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!