As a pest control expert with years of experience in the field, I’ve encountered my fair share of bed bug infestations. These pesky critters are a nightmare for homeowners, and it’s no surprise that people are constantly searching for quick and easy solutions to get rid of them. When it comes to answering the question “does salt kill bed bugs,” the answer just opens up more questions.
That being said, salt can be a useful supplementary method, especially for small infestations or in conjunction with other treatments. I’ve seen it work well when applied directly to cracks and crevices where bed bugs are known to harbor. The key is to use a generous amount of salt and leave it in place for an extended period, allowing it to dehydrate and kill the bugs.
Let’s discuss this method to see if salt is the right option for you or if you need to call in the big guns.
Does Salt Kill Bed Bugs?
Unfortunately, regular table salt will not eliminate a bed bug infestation on it’s own.
Salt can be effective at killing creatures such as slugs by causing them to dry out. However, bed bugs are built differently. Their bodies are supported by a hard shell or exoskeleton made of chitin, the same material crab shells are made of.
Salt can’t get past this exoskeleton to dehydrate the bedbugs internally. Grains of salt are just too big to cause problems for bed bugs.
If you need help dealing with your bed bug infestation, we recommend hiring a professional. Here are our picks for the top nationally-available exterminators:
Does Epsom Salt Kill Bed Bugs?
Epsom salts, sometimes also called bath salts, dissolve more easily in water than table salt will. Therefore, some people think it may be more effective at dehydrating bedbugs. However, this is not the case – epsom salt will not kill bed bugs.
In fact, Epsom salts are not really salt at all but are a naturally occurring mineral combining magnesium and sulfate. Just like regular salt, Epsom salts won’t harm the chitinous exoskeleton of the bedbugs and therefore won’t dehydrate them.
Also, it’s important to remember that bedbugs only eat blood. Therefore they won’t consume the salt and be poisoned by it either.
Does A Salt Water Spray Kill Bed Bugs?
You might think that dissolving salt and water would help to make it effective against bedbugs. It certainly makes it easier to apply to the places where bed bugs hide, such as seams along the mattress and cracks and crevices in your furniture. While it might irritate the bed bugs, it’s not going to eliminate the population.
Does Salt Repel Bed Bugs?
If salt doesn’t kill bedbugs, maybe you’re hoping it can help keep them away. Unfortunately, that’s not really true, either.
Bedbugs are attracted by the carbon dioxide we breathe out. Other smells don’t particularly interest them or repel them. They will live in both dirty and clean environments and aren’t much affected by the smell of salt or anything else.
There’s nothing special about salt that will drive bedbugs away. If you used enough of it, you could create a barrier that bedbugs would find difficult to cross. However, that’s true of any granular or dustlike material. When it comes to repelling or even killing bedbugs, there are far better options to kill bed bugs than salt available.
How Do You Kill Bed Bugs?
If you’re disappointed to find that salt isn’t an effective bed bug killer, don’t worry. There is a substance that can be used in the same way that is also great at killing bedbugs.
Using Diatomaceous Earth for Bed Bugs
It’s called diatomaceous earth and it kills bed bugs. Like salt, diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring mineral. But unlike salt, it’s able to kill bed bugs that come into contact with it.
Diatomaceous earth (also called “DE”) does this by piercing and cutting their hard exoskeletons. Diatomaceous earth comes in the form of a fine powder that appears soft and smooth, but viewed at a microscopic level, it is made up of tiny points and sharp edges.
It’s fine enough that bedbugs will crawl right over it, but it will scratch up their exoskeleton. This allows water to escape their body, causing the bed bugs to dehydrate and die. While salt crystals are too large to do this, diatomaceous earth’s structure is perfect for the job.
It’s important to note that diatomaceous earth does not repel bed bugs (when applied properly) and you don’t want it to. You want them to crawl over it and get scratched up by it so that they dehydrate. If the bed bugs avoid the DE and walk around it instead, that defeats the purpose of it!
How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth
The best way to use diatomaceous earth is as a perimeter treatment in a room where you have bedbug problems. You can use a duster or a small paintbrush to apply it to cracks and crevices, such as underneath baseboards and in wooden furniture.
Resist the temptation to think that more is better and apply it in deep piles. You want only a faint dusting that can just about be seen with the naked eye. Bed bugs won’t crawl through a deep pile of dust, but they will walk over a light coating, and that’s what kills them.
Diatomaceous earth is safe to use. You can even get food grade diatomaceous earth which is added to animal feed, and some people consume it for its health effects. However, because it’s so fine, it’s a good idea to wear a painter’s mask while applying the dust so that you don’t breathe it in.
Diatomaceous earth is a great option for a natural substance that kills bed bugs. However, no method of bed bug eradication is perfect. Diatomaceous earth is great at creating a perimeter barrier that kills bed bugs that try to cross it.
But it doesn’t kill the eggs and can’t be applied to mattresses, which is often where bedbugs live. So diatomaceous earth is best used as part of a wider treatment program that targets both adult bed bugs and their eggs. A combination of targeted heat, chemicals, and diatomaceous earth is a good way to solve any bedbug problem.
Other Alternatives
Here are some other natural options to kill bed bugs without requiring you to dump things all over your home or using dangerous pesticides for bed bug treatment.
Heat Treatment
One of the most effective methods for eliminating bed bugs is heat treatment. As a pest control expert, I’ve witnessed the power of this approach firsthand. Bed bugs are highly susceptible to extreme temperatures, and heating an infested area to at least 120°F (48.9°C) for an extended period can kill them at all life stages, including eggs.
Chemical Treatment
While heat treatment is highly effective, chemical treatments remain a popular choice for battling bed bug infestations.
Chemical treatments typically involve a combination of liquid and dust formulations, allowing for targeted application in various areas of the home. Liquid insecticides are often used for baseboards, cracks, and crevices, while dust formulations can be applied in hard-to-reach areas and inside wall voids.
The key to successful chemical treatment lies in proper preparation and application. Homeowners must follow strict instructions regarding vacuuming, laundering, and decluttering to maximize the insecticides’ effectiveness. Additionally, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the infestation completely.
It’s important to note that chemical treatments should only be performed by licensed professionals who understand the proper handling and application of these products. Improper use can pose health risks to occupants and the environment.
Other DIY solutions that can work to dry out bed bugs but don’t really get rid of them are:
- Baking soda
- Bleach
- Hot water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Boric acid
- Essential oils
You can try these methods and it might help with getting rid of bed bugs but nothing is as effective as calling a professional.
Final Thoughts
While salt can be a useful supplementary method for small bed bug infestations, a more effective and safer option is diatomaceous earth. This natural mineral powder works by abrading the exoskeletons of bed bugs, causing them to dehydrate and die. Unlike salt, it doesn’t leave behind messy residue and can be applied more liberally around the home.
Even with diatomaceous earth, it’s important to manage expectations. For severe infestations, these home remedies are unlikely to provide a complete solution. Bed bugs are experts at hiding and reproducing quickly, making it challenging to eliminate them entirely without professional intervention.
As a pest control expert, I always recommend consulting with a professional for significant bed bug problems. We have access to specialized equipment, EPA-approved insecticides, and heat treatments that can penetrate deep into cracks and crevices where bed bugs lurk. A comprehensive treatment plan, tailored to the specifics of your home and infestation level, is often the most effective way to achieve long-lasting results.
