But does 91 alcohol kill bed bugs?
If you have bed bugs infestation in your home, you’d probably heard people talk of alcohol.
Bed bugs infestation will force you to search for all safe DIY remedies and control hacks.
Most homeowners have claimed that ethanol, rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol effectively helps pest control, especially bed bugs and other similar bugs.
The best part is most of these products are available over the counter and are safe to use.
But before you invest in any DIY pest control solution, it’s essential to understand how it works and its effectiveness.
In this guide, we will investigate whether 91% (percent) alcohol does well in bed bugs extermination.
How Effective Is 91 Alcohol in Bed Bugs Control?
Compared to other alcohol brands, 91 alcohols are much effective at eliminating bedbugs.
The reason behind this is 91% isopropyl alcohol dries faster because of their low water content level. (Source)
Also, their evaporation does not affect their alcohol content level. Besides, they are much kinder on surfaces.
Does 91 alcohol kill bed bugs Safety
Before deciding to apply alcohol, you need to consider your safety and that of those around you.
Safety First
Rubbing alcohol is flammable, and any mistake you make while handling it would lead to devastating consequences.
Even though it is only flammable when there is hear around, it is not wrong to take extra precautions.
So while applying it, remove every source of heat that could cause a fire.
You should also apply alcohol only on areas that are infested with the bugs and their eggs. This is because 91 alcohol has a strong smell.
The alcohol is also highly stainable; you need to consider this before applying on any surface.
If you don’t mind it staining the beddings or other surfaces, you can go ahead and apply it.
Locate Bed Bugs Hideouts
The only way that the alcohol will be effective at killing the bedbugs is if they come into direct contact with the alcohol.
It will be pointless to apply the solution in different areas without considering their location as they will continue to thrive if you miss their spot.
You should check the first place between the mattress and linens but don’t restrict yourself to these areas.
Check beneath the carpet, furniture, and the box springs.
Check on the crack in the walls and ceilings. Bedbugs love these hideouts because of the warmth.
The bedbugs will hide on the walls and ceilings if there is too much bug infestation.
You should also check on your electronic devices.
Bedbugs like to lay eggs on electronic devices.
So be sure to check on the computers, toaster, alarm clock, and any other electronic device you might have.
Keep in mind that bedbugs are good at hiding; they look for hiding areas then make them their residing areas.
So, you need to take your time and search for the well.
As you search for their hideouts, be sure that you know what you are looking for.
Bedbugs are the size of a grain with a reddish-brown color.
They leave blood stains or rusty excrement on the surfaces they reside on. Also, you can spot their eggs and fecal matter in these areas.
You can also tell you have a bedbug infestation if you can smell them.
The bugs emit nasty odor from their scent glands.
You also know there is a bedbug infestation in your home if you wake up with an itchy bite on the exposed part of your body.
The exposed skin also turns red after being bitten.
Once you have located where the bedbugs are, you need to decide how you are going to kill them. Here are some tips to help you out.
Vacuum the Room
The first thing you should consider is vacuuming your house or the room that is infested with bedbugs. Vacuuming is a great way to begin the process of killing bedbugs with alcohol.
Vacuuming is also a good way of reducing the number of bedbugs in your home, according to research by the University of Minnesota. (Source)
The vacuum sucks up these creatures just like it does the usual dirt. But, you need to out a little consideration to avoid spreading the bedbug in other areas of your home.
When vacuuming, ensure you use a strong suction and concentrate on the areas that bedbugs are hiding.
Also, make sure to avoid pressing too hard on the fabric as this will minimize the chances of you catching them.
Once you are through, make sure you discard the bag after removing it from the vacuum.
Be sure to properly seal it before discarding it.
Take Out All the Beddings
Remove the duvets, pillowcases, and any other beddings in a trash bag and then place them outside.
You should spray them with the alcohol before bringing them back inside the house.
You can also throw them away if that is an easy option for you and don’t mind purchasing new beddings.
Remember to also remove clothes, linens, and any other clothing piece that might be a hiding place for them.
Find Large Spray Bottles
Look for large spray bottles, then fill them up with the rubbing alcohol.
Even though stores sell regular spray alcohol in spray, bottles 91 alcohol is sold in gallons. Therefore, you need the spray bottle to help make the work easier for you.
If you cannot find them quickly at the store near you, consider purchasing them online.
Amazon has different types of spray bottles at an affordable price.
Clean the Furniture
Before you spray the alcohol on your furniture, ensure you clean the furniture with water and soap or any other cleaning agent.
Then allow it to dry first before directly applying the alcohol to the infested areas.
When you begin spraying the alcohol, ensure you liberally spray it for effectiveness.
By doing this, you will be targeting the hiding place of the eggs and larvae.
The probability of the 91-alcohol killing the eggs and larvae are high at this point.
Spray Alcohol on Other Areas
Spray the alcohol on the lines, beddings, and the fabrics you placed in the trash bag.
Ensure you thoroughly do this, then return the clothes inside the bag and seal them.
You can also do this before taking the bag outside.
It is best to place the infested clothing and beddings inside the trashy bags during the treatment process to prevent these creatures from spreading to other areas.
Consider Steam Cleaning
Steaming cleaning is also an effective method of controlling and eliminating bedbugs in your home.
Steaming cleaning is thoroughly cleaning your home using steam.
The method is one of the best ways of getting rid of viruses and bacteria but only when the steam is hot enough.
Combining rubbing alcohol and steaming the method will be perfect for eliminating the bedbugs from your home.
Despite these advantages, some researches suggest that rubbing alcohol is not effective at eliminating bedbugs.
Because of this Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set some recommendations for an approach to help you deal with the infestation.
The recommendations include:
- Washing your clothes, bedding, and other lines thoroughly with soap and clean water, then drying them in direct sunlight or on high heat.
- Expose the room or the whole house to the high heat of 49°C or more for almost 2 hours.
- Use zippered and bug proofed covers to encase your beddings such as pillows and mattresses.
- If there are any items infested with bedbugs that you cannot wash, freeze them at a temperature of below 0°F.
- Likewise, consider using bedbug’s interceptors on your furniture to prevent them from climbing to the top.
Keep in mind that you have to integrate all the following tips to eliminate the bedbugs in your home.
Final Thoughts on Does 91 Alcohol Kill Bed Bugs
I hope I’ve answered your question on does 91 alcohol kill bed bugs.
However, it’s important to take into consideration all the safety precautions. If you are spraying rubbing alcohol on linens and your bed, you should ensure that the room is well ventilated.
Rubbing alcohol can be poisonous when inhaled. (Source)