Can a heat gun kill bed bugs? Here’s a unique answer
One thing that disturbs your beauty sleep, puts you in an uncomfortable state and comes with some health hazards: BEDBUGS. At the sight of this bug, there’s panic in the air and thoughts have gone to the fastest way to eliminate them.
You let a few into the house, you invite a thousand to stay. The infestation will spread throughout the whole area in a flash. The bed bugs’ negative effects cannot be overemphasized. They cause skin irritations through bites, with some negative health impacts like allergy and bad psychological effects.
Now let’s look at your amazing question,
Can a heat gun kill bed bugs?
Yes, of course. One of the fastest ways to eliminate this pest is by using heat. Bed bugs cannot thrive in high temperatures.
As heat is applied and the temperature increases, an adult bed bug cannot survive past 49 degrees Celsius. But some heat-resistant eggs survive until 52 degrees Celsius.
You need this high temperature to go on for a long time, so you wouldn’t opt for a fire. Your best bet is the heat gun. A heat gun can go on with that high temperature for a long period. A heat gun is a delicate appliance, and you might want to follow these safety precautions.
Helpful tips to observe while using the heat gun:
- Keep children and pets away from the area to avoid skin burn and other severe heat implications
- Always set the heat gun to a low temperature, the heat gun can provide a temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius. Just a temperature range of 49-55 degrees should be enough.
- Don’t wear loose clothing while using the heat gun
- Ensure a fire extinguisher is close by just in case.
- Don’t hold the heat gun closer to the area than 4 inches.
The heat gun can be applied on infested areas like mattresses, bookshelves, sofas e.t.c.
Here’s an awesome hint: if there’s an object that the eggs or bugs have occupied, the object can be placed in the oven. The oven should be set to the killing temperature range. The object should be left in the oven for about 90 minutes. The time also applies to the heat gun.
Table of contents
- Can sniper and kerosene kill bed bugs?
1.1 Sniper effects
1.2 kerosene effects
- Does smoke kill bed bugs?
- Can camphor kill bed bugs?
- Does painting kill bed bugs?
- Does phenyl kill bed bugs?
- What is a permanent solution for bed bugs?
6.1 heat
6.2 sniper
6.3 camphor
- What quality heat gun can I use for bed bugs?
Can sniper and kerosene kill bed bugs?
This section satisfies all your desperation on sniper and kerosene effects on bed bugs.
Sniper effects
The sniper is known to be a very toxic pesticide. It is used to stop the activities of most pests both on the farm and in our homes. Yes, snipers get rid of bed bugs in contact with them. This pesticide eliminates both the adults, larvae, and eggs of bed bugs.
As much as it gives a heavy blow to bed bugs, it also has a toxic effect on humans. When fumigating the area with snipers, always make sure you are wearing a mask.
And after spraying the sniper in the crevices, mattresses, and other infested areas, make sure you don’t stay in the area until after 24 hours. Inhaling the fumes of the pesticide might cause organophosphate poisoning.
Important tip: you can decide to fumigate your house with the sniper every month. This can assure you that bed bugs won’t come your way ever again.
Kerosene effects
Kerosene kills bed bugs and larvae. But kerosene doesn’t have any effect on the eggs of bed bugs. Kerosene can only be used when there are few bed bugs. It is sprayed directly on the surfaces and places where bed bugs are seen.
When there is an infestation of bed bugs in the area, kerosene is a very bad idea. While trying to get rid of the swarm of bugs, you will end up bathing your furniture and mattresses in kerosene oil.
Inhaling kerosene will cause drowsiness, headaches, and sometimes lung problems. Not to mention the highly inflammable nature of kerosene. You might end up losing your properties and even your life if things spiral out of control.
Does smoke kill bed bugs?
Not just any smoke. The smoke is in the form of a smoke bomb containing the exact pesticide that kills bed bugs. The smoke bomb circulates the pesticide around the confined-infested area. The pesticide which is dispersed through air condenses to the surfaces.
Any bed bug seen around the part of the condensed pesticide dies. Most people go to the market to buy a bed bug smoke bomb but end up buying what is not effective. The reason is that there are a lot of smoke bombs for different purposes.
That is, the bombs are specific in their functions. For instance, boric acid is a pesticide that kills cockroaches and has little or no effect on bed bugs. So when trying to get a smoke bomb, ensure that you look at the label to know the pest it’s meant for.
Using the substance in an airtight and confined area will be effective. Make sure you don’t stay too long in the applied area. The pesticide could dissolve on your nostrils and give irritations.
There’s a little shortcoming to this smoke bomb. It might not get rid of your infestation problem because it only condenses on the surfaces. The eggs of the bed bugs are still in closed areas that are out of reach of the pesticide.
Besides, adult bugs can evade the surfaces where the pesticide is found. Therefore, the smoke bombs can only be used where the bed bugs are very few.
Can camphor kill bed bugs?
Generally, camphor is not toxic when sprayed or spread around surfaces, but it is when ingested. Camphor can be used as a bed bug repellant. In short, it kills bed bugs. But most people don’t know how to apply it for maximum effectiveness.
After getting camphor balls from a pharmacy or online store, grind the balls to powder. Then clear the area of materials. If it is your home, move some household stuff out. This is done to remove some bed bug eggs, larva, and dirt in preparation for the camphor treatment.
Make sure the area set aside for the camphor treatment doesn’t get crowded again. This is to prevent bed bugs from hiding in closed spaces after the treatment.
The camphor powder is sprinkled on the ground, mattresses, and box surfaces.
Do well to avoid bringing your children and pets close to avoid ingestion. After treatment, you can stay out of the room for some time. Not because the camphor is toxic, but it can cause irritations. The scent can be frustrating at times too.
This treatment is done again and again until all the bedbugs have been eliminated. The camphor treatment is for minor cases of a bedbug infestation.
Does painting kill bed bugs?
Paintings do not kill bed bugs. Though some glossy paints, which might be mixed with kerosene oil, chase bed bugs temporarily. Paintings killing bed bugs is just a myth. Maybe it was proposed, seeing the superficial effect it does.
Does phenyl kill bed bugs?
Phenyl, also known as phenol, is used as a disinfectant for cleaning surfaces. It is used for sanitation purposes. Back in the old days, it was said that phenyl killed bed bugs. But bed bugs have evolved. The modern-day bedbugs show more resilient characteristics.
These modern-day bed bugs are quite resistant to phenyl. Besides, phenyl was recorded to only kill the adult bed bugs and not the eggs. In the olden days, phenyl was applied directly to the bugs to kill them. Of which some bedbugs will escape.
In conclusion, phenyl doesn’t kill bed bugs. Based on the fact that the modern-day bugs are more resistant.
What is the permanent solution to bed bugs?
This section gives you a summary with direct solutions to this pest problem.
Heat
Heat is the fastest, easiest and safest way to get rid of your bedbug problems. They cannot thrive at high temperatures. Applied for a long time with the heat gun, you can bid your bedbug problems farewell.
If you have a large area infested by this pest, you can call a professional. The bedbugs can maneuver you and that would not give a good result in the end.
Sniper
This pesticide is very effective for bed bugs extermination. It can be used for a highly infested area. The sniper should be used following the safety precautions explained earlier. You can opt for the sniper if the cost of a heat gun is on the high side.
Camphor
Camphor treatment takes a lot of time and energy. This is because you have to declutter the area before treatment. But it works with periodic application and it’s not toxic except when ingested.
What quality heat gun can I use for bed bugs?
Are you worried about the heat gun that will carry out your little task?
Are you bothered about the heat setting and the maneuverability of the heat gun?
Then you can try the Wagner spray tech gun or Genesis GHG1500A 12.5.
They are both easy to use and with nozzles that can concentrate heat on a particular space. What’s more? They took care of your little regulatory problem. These heat guns can be adjusted to any setting from a very low temperature to a high degree.
You can get either of them for $29 on Amazon.
All your guesses and theories have been thoroughly explained. You can apply these methods and be sure to get great results.