Bed Bug Powder

Bed Bug Powder to Eliminate Bed Bugs & Crawling Insects

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Every year bed bug powders are becoming more and more popular despite other effective ways of controlling bed bugs. One of the most obvious reasons for their rising popularity is their long-lasting effect, and this means that the bed bug powder will kill bed bugs, insects, or fleas for several weeks after application. Another reason to purchase the best bed bug powder is their texture, as they contain tiny elements that can easily penetrate inaccessible areas and cracks and crevices.

If you have a large infestation of bed bugs, it's advisable to opt for a bed bug powder with silicon dioxide as an active ingredient. Bed bug powders are the easiest, non-toxic, cheapest, and safest treatments for eliminating bed bugs. Additionally, powders are considered a better treatment for bug and pest control because pests are more and more becoming resistant to liquid sprays.

Best Bed Bug Powder

1. HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Powder

Sale
HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Powder, 4oz with Application...
  • Kills Resistant Bed Bugs & Eggs - Effective against bed bugs that...
  • Multiple Application Methods - Puffer tip allows you to get deep...
  • Long Lasting - The powder will continue to kill bed bugs when...
  • Versatile - For use in homes, hotels, motels, hospitals and...
  • Many Use Areas - Use on mattresses, box springs, cushions, crack...

Harris bed bug killer powder is a pest control treatment that kills both mature bed bugs and their eggs and can also kill insects that have developed resistance to traditional pesticides. This bed bug powder can be applied in two different ways, including using a puffer tip that allows users to access inaccessible places like cracks on your bed, furniture, or the carpet and used to dusting hard surfaces like furniture. Because it contains silica gel which is a more effective solution than diatomaceous earth, and it works like a sponge that absorbs the wax from any insect.

Harris powder is also used as one of the best professional treatments in hotels, hospitals, or motels. Even though it's a low-toxic powder, you should leave the house after application. It can also be used alongside other treatments like liquid sprays, but most users claim that the quality is unmatched in powder form.

Pros:

  • The powder kills bedbugs and their eggs
  • Long-lasting effect
  • The formula is made with silica powder which is more effective than diatomaceous earth.
  • It includes an application brush and a puffer tip for the best results
  • Affordable pricing in comparison to other products
  • The pest control solution can be used alongside liquid sprays

Cons:

  • It does not kill other insects
  • Needs to be combined with other pest elimination strategies for the best results

2. JT Eaton 203 Bedbug and Crawling Insect Powder with Diatomaceous Earth Powder

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JT Eaton 203 Bedbug and Crawling Insect Powder with...
  • Diatomaceous Earth powder kills bed bugs, ants, cockroaches,...
  • Powder kills by absorbing fluids from insects leaving them to...
  • Insects and bugs never become resistant to this powder
  • Can be placed in any problem area but beware of children and pets
  • Comes with a 1-year limited warranty

JT Eaton Bedbug and Crawling Insect Powder is a powerful bed bug killer with diatomaceous earth as the main ingredient and additional elemental oxides. The oxides are responsible for speeding up the dehydration process of the bed bug exoskeleton, which will eventually lead to its death, and even though the diatomaceous earth takes a few days to kill bed bugs, the JT Eaton formula will work wonders within a few hours.

JT Eaton Bedbug and Crawling Insects powder is an extremely dry powder minimizing any chances of survival. Due to the dry nature, the dust should not be inhaled by children as it may cause a reaction to their respiratory tract. However, the powder is safe around humans and pets but lethal for pests as they cannot grow immunity to the formula as it has no chemical ingredients. The powder is effective against bed bugs and other insects, and it can be used in various locations, both outdoor and indoors.

Pros:

Cons:

  • The powder might get clogged in the bottle nozzle
  • It does not include an insecticide applicator

3. CimeXa Insecticide Dust

Sale
Rockwell Labs CXID032 Cimexa Dust Insecticide, 4oz,...
  • For control of bed bugs, fleas, ticks, lice, roaches, ants,...
  • Kills bed bug adults, nymphs and nymphs hatched from dusted eggs...
  • Labeled for treating cracks, crevices, voids, mattresses,...
  • Odorless, non-staining desiccant structure will not absorb water...
  • Remains viable for up to 10 years when undisturbed

CimeXa Insecticide Dust is a powerful bed bug elimination powder made up of 100% silicon dioxide dust, and it kills three times faster than other insecticide dust. The pest control powder guarantees the complete elimination of bed bugs within 48 hours or less with a 100% mortality rate. If the powder is left undisturbed, it will have a residual effect for ten years long against bed bugs. The bed bug control dust can be mixed with some water to be used as a spray to kill any bed bugs, and in its liquid state, the formula will absorb in both oil and water to clear off waxy cuticles of insects and successfully dry them off.

CimeXa Insecticide Dust will eliminate your bed bug problem indoors and outdoors and protect against other insects such as mites, fleas, spiders, lice, roaches, and ticks. The powder is safe to use around pets and children, and it can be applied to a wood board, furniture, mattress, box spring crack and crevices in your house, and the pet and carpet areas.

Pros:

  • One bottle gives out a lot of strength because it can kill other insects, including mites, spiders, ticks, fleas, and of course, bed bugs.
  • You don't need a duster as the bottle can puff out the powder
  • Safe for use around pets and children
  • It can absorb water except in a liquid form
  • The powder can be applied to your bedding, mattress, and box spring

Cons:

  • It can be very messy during the application, and it is very drying to humans.

Types of Bed Bug Powders

There are two main types of bed bug powders, and they include:

a). Natural Bed Bug Powders

These natural types usually include pesticide products made from Diatomaceous Earth, a naturally occurring dust mined out of the Earth's crust from diatoms. Diatoms have been existence on earth for over a hundred million years, and the Diatomaceous Earth is non-toxic to humans but lethal to bed bugs. When the Diatomaceous Earth dust touches a bed bug, it dries up its exoskeleton, which leads to its death from dehydration.

b). Chemical Bed Bug Powders

These powder types usually comprise pesticide products made from chemicals, and the products are synthetic, with some being toxic to human beings. Chemical powders will kill bed bugs by targeting the bed bug's central nervous system.

How to Use a Bed Bug Powder Correctly?

A bed bug powder is quite easy to use but can be time-consuming and tedious because you must be thorough during the application to avoid missing a spot. For the best results, here is how to use the powders:

a). Cracks and Crevices Treatment

Application of bed bug powders should be focused on cracks and crevices in any room that bedbugs are most likely traveling through or hiding. Some examples of great places to start might be floorboards where your carpet meets the floor, door frames, window frames, and baseboards. Powders make suitable treatment options for such spaces because they can settle in the areas better than what other bug treatments such as sprays will do.

b). Powder applicator

Most powders usually feature their applicator, but you can also purchase one online that will be able to get deeper into the cracks, wall voids, and crevices if the one you have is not giving you maximum performance. The applicator will help a user emit small and even amounts of powder, and you can save some money in the long run.

c). Wall voids and other unsuspecting places

Another application area is to apply along with any door frames, on the mattress and box springs, under your appliances, and on the interiors and joints of any wooden furniture.

Is Bed Bug Powder Safe For Humans?

How safe or harmful a powder will be on humans will depend on the powder you will be using. For example, pure diatomaceous earth is safe for humans to use, but you should always mask when applying a powder to avoid inhaling it as it can irritate your eyes, nose, and lungs. On the other hand, food-grade diatomaceous earth should be safe enough for people to eat.

However, always keep in mind that pest control powders may have additional ingredients like chemicals or minerals, making the diatomaceous earth more effective but increasing the powder's harm to any person. Therefore, when dealing with these powders for pests, to be on the safe side, try to assume you are dealing with something that might cause harm if inhaled or ingested.

How Long Will It Take Bed Bug Powder to Work?

Bed bug powder kills bed bugs with its long-lasting effect and low toxic properties. Most anti-insect powders, including bed bug powders, will eliminate the pests within a few weeks after application. However, it will take a few weeks for the powder to work completely because most powders usually work on adult bed bugs and not eggs and nymphs.

Additionally, the length it will take for the powders to work will depend on how thorough your application was and also the type of powder you used on the room with infestation. Finally, keep in mind that products containing silica gel are more potent than DE when it comes to a bed bug problem, and even a few seconds of exposure to barely visible amounts of silica gel can kill almost all adult bed bugs within only 24 hours.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing the Best Bug Powder

1. Efficiency

How efficient a bed bug powder will be is one of the most important considerations before making your purchase to avoid making an average purchase and will not help you. This is because some products usually work fast and usually have a low residual effect and others have a slow effect but a long-lasting power. Therefore, ensure you check the action of a product before you choose the best bed bug powder to eliminate your infestation.

2. Toxicity

The level of toxicity of any bed bug powder is another crucial consideration before purchasing as a bed bug control. Even though powders are among the safest methods for toxicity for humans and pets, some brands may be slightly toxic. Therefore, it's important to read the safety label and any review online before making your final buy.

3. Price

When it comes to the infestation level to be treated, price is an important factor to be considered. The price of a bed bug powder will depend on the level of infestation, as the more infested your location is, the more the powder you might use and hence the more money you will have to spend. Fortunately, most bed bug powders are not expensive compared to spray options of related products.

Frequently Asked Questions on Best Powders for Bed Bugs

1. What are some of the places you can use a bed bug powder on?

You can use the powder in many different locations, including:

  • Folds and seams of mattresses
  • Cracks, corners, holes, or any openings in any room or walls
  • In the insides of any hollow furniture or any furniture cracks
  • Under and behind all your electronic devices
  • Behind and under any refrigerators and also stoves
  • Underneath your bed, mattress, and bedding
  • Underneath your carpets, baseboards, and floorboards, among others

2. Can You Get Rid of Bed Bugs Using Only a Powder?

This will depend on different factors, such as the size of the infestation area because the powders are recommended for use for people looking to cover a large area. Another factor is the infestation area itself. There are other remedies to eliminate bedbugs from your house if there are too many bed bugs, and you can also combine bed bug powders with sprays to eliminate the bed bug problem. The last factor is the existing resistance of bed bugs to any pest control because it can be very hard for bugs to develop resistance to bed bug powders.

3. How many times should the bed bug powders be applied?

The number of times a bed bug powder should be applied will depend on the severity of your bed bug problem or infestation. It may take up to a week for the bed bugs to die from direct contact and longer for their colonies to be eliminated because powders are not fast-acting solutions, but they are very effective.

4. Should I throw out my mattress if I have bed bugs?

No, there is no need to throw your mattress after an infestation, as you can get treatments that will get rid of the bed bugs and any other crawling insects. Also, disposing of the infested items could contribute to the infestation spreading to other locations.

5. Do Bed bug bites look like mosquito bites?

The bites can be similar to other insect bites like mosquitos and can also be similar to skin irritations like eczema. They usually look a bit red, pimple-like and puffy, and the center of the irritated area is most likely where the bed bug usually has bitten you. The bites can take up to two weeks to appear, but some people might see the bite signs in a few hours.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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