The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is a resilient household pest that feeds exclusively on blood. These small, flat insects are adept at hiding in cracks and crevices, often remaining undetected until an infestation has taken hold. When people first discover these pests, they naturally look for simple, non-toxic solutions, which often leads to the question of whether water or other common liquids can solve the problem. The insect’s biology presents significant challenges to any simple liquid-based eradication strategy. Effective control requires understanding the bed bug’s vulnerabilities and applying practical methods.
The Science of Drowning Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can technically be killed by submersion in water, but this method is highly impractical for real-world eradication efforts. Adult bed bugs can survive being completely submerged for up to a few days, especially if the water is cold. This resilience is due to their ability to close their spiracles, the external openings to their respiratory system, allowing them to effectively hold their breath.
Bed bug eggs can survive submersion for up to 24 hours. This means that simply soaking contaminated items in plain water is not a guaranteed method for eliminating all life stages. Adding a substance like detergent or soap to the water, however, does increase the efficacy of submersion. Detergent works by breaking the water’s surface tension, which prevents the insect from trapping an air bubble and helps the water penetrate the spiracles.
Submerging an entire infestation is impossible because the insects hide deep within mattresses, furniture, and structural voids. This method is only feasible for small, isolated items that can be fully saturated. Relying on liquid submersion alone will leave behind numerous eggs and adults in inaccessible areas, allowing the infestation to quickly rebound.
Thermal Treatment: Utilizing Heat and Cold
Temperature extremes are far more effective and practical tools against bed bugs than liquid submersion. High heat is particularly fast-acting; the thermal death point for adult bed bugs is 113°F (45°C) if maintained for 90 minutes. Raising the temperature to 118°F (48°C) can kill adults in just 20 minutes.
Bed bug eggs are more resistant to heat, requiring a temperature of at least 125°F (51.7°C) for 90 minutes to ensure 100% mortality. Laundering infested clothes and bedding is highly recommended, using a hot wash cycle, ideally at 140°F (60°C) for 30 minutes, followed by a high-heat dry cycle for at least 30 minutes. The use of a steam cleaner is also effective, as the steam, which can reach temperatures of 200°F (93°C) or more, kills all life stages instantly on contact.
Cold temperatures also provide a non-chemical means of control, but they require a much longer exposure time. To use freezing effectively, items must be placed in a freezer set at 0°F (-18°C) or lower. At this temperature, the infested items must remain frozen for a minimum of four days to ensure the lethal temperature penetrates to the center of the item and kills all adults and eggs. This cold treatment is a useful option for small, sensitive items that cannot be laundered.
Desiccants and Targeted Chemical Applications
Desiccant dusts offer a long-term, non-chemical control mechanism that works by targeting the bed bug’s protective outer layer, the exoskeleton. Products like diatomaceous earth (DE) or silica dust are microscopic abrasives. When a bed bug crawls over the dust, the sharp particles scratch and damage the insect’s waxy cuticle, which is responsible for retaining moisture.
The damage to the cuticle causes the bed bug to lose internal moisture rapidly, leading to death by desiccation, or drying out. This process is not instantaneous and can take several days or even weeks to achieve full mortality. For desiccants to be effective, they must be applied as a very thin, almost invisible layer deep within cracks, crevices, and wall voids where the bed bugs hide and travel.
Targeted chemical applications using residual insecticides are a common component of a comprehensive treatment plan. These chemicals must be specifically labeled for bed bug use and are applied directly to known harborages, such as behind baseboards or along mattress seams. This approach focuses the chemical in the areas where the insects congregate, providing a lasting barrier. Always follow the product label instructions precisely to ensure safety and effectiveness.