Bed Bug Bombs Are A Waste of Money – Avoid These Useless Products

Bed bug bombs may seem like a good idea at the time but they just don’t work for so many reasons. Yet many of us are unaware that these bed bug bombs are actually largely ineffective at fighting and preventing infestations.

What are Bed Bug Bombs?

Bed bug bombs are pesticide-containing products that release their contents via aerosol propellants. It’s thought that these bed bug bombs work by eradicating bed bugs and causing them to leave their hiding places.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, these bombs are highly flammable and improper use can cause an explosion. They can also cause illness, which may result from failing to leave during the release of the bomb or re-entering the bomb site too quickly.

How Effective are Bed Bug Bombs?

Scientific evidence has suggested that bed bug bombs aren’t effective at eradicating bed bugs.

Research published in the Journal of Economic Entomology in 2012 provided an insight into how ineffective these bed bug bombs actually are.

The US researchers evaluated three bed bug bomb brands (also known as “foggers” in the US) and then conducted experiments on five different bedbug populations. Following application, the researchers say they found little, if any, adverse effects on the bed bugs.

One of the key reasons for this could be due to the fact that bed bugs often hide in hard-to-reach places such as in deep cracks and crevices, as well as under sheets and mattresses. The researchers said it is very unlikely that bed bugs would be exposed to the insecticide mist from foggers.

Another reason bed bug bombs are largely ineffective is due to the increasing problem of bed bug resistance.

“Even if they do come into contact with the mist, many bed bug populations have varying degrees of resistance to the insecticides, so they will most likely survive the application,” said study author Susan C Jones.

“If you use these products, you will not get the bed bug infestation under control, you will waste your money, and you will delay effective treatment of your infestation. Bed bugs are among the most difficult and expensive urban pests to control. It typically takes a professional to do it right. Also, the ineffective use of these products can lead to further resistance in insects,” Jones added.

Bed Bug Sprays from Supermarkets and Retail Stores

When it comes to tackling bed bugs, Aussie shoppers are hitting up big retailers like Woolworths (fondly known as Woolies), Coles, and Bunnings, each offering their own range of bed bug sprays.

Woolies has stepped into the spotlight recently with their Raid Max Pest Multi Insect Killer, promising to be a jack-of-all-trades in the pest control department. It’s part of a broader selection that includes names like Mortein and Aerogard. Coles and Bunnings aren’t far behind, each with their shelves stocked with various options for the distressed bed bug battler.

The heart of the matter is whether these sprays, including the Woolies bed bug spray, Coles spray for bed bugs, and Bunnings bed bug spray, truly deliver on their promises. Raid Max Pest, for example, boasts of being able to knock out everything from flies to bed bugs. However, the practicality of these sprays, especially for the cunning bed bugs, is up for debate.

The method of using the spray—such as turning your room into a no-fly zone with the windows and doors sealed—doesn’t exactly line up with the bed bugs’ hide-and-seek lifestyle. These critters aren’t just lounging on surfaces waiting to be sprayed; they’re hiding in nooks and crannies far from the reach of a casual spray-down.

Moreover, the effectiveness of these sprays, including those from Coles and Bunnings, varies. While direct contact might send a few bed bugs to their doom, it’s a fleeting victory. Bed bugs are survivors, and missing a few means your problem persists. Add to that, the 24-hour efficacy of the spray on surfaces is hardly a deterrent for these persistent pests.

Then there’s the matter of safety. The chemicals in these sprays, especially noted in the Woolies offering, come with health risks. The blend of ingredients in Raid Max Pest, for instance, is potent enough to warrant concern, emphasizing the need for precautions that the product instructions seem to gloss over.

So, weaving it all together, it’s clear that the bed bug sprays from Woolies, Coles, and Bunnings might offer a temporary fix but fall short of a real solution. The focus on killing on contact overlooks the broader issue of infestation and the difficulty of reaching all the bugs. Safety concerns also make one pause and consider if the potential health risks are worth the temporary peace of mind.

Given these factors, turning to natural and safer bed bug treatments might be the wiser path. These options, avoiding harsh chemicals, might not only be better for your health but could also offer a more effective strategy against the bed bugs that have overstayed their welcome. After all, when dealing with such a stubborn adversary, a thoughtful, comprehensive approach beats a quick spray-down any day.

What Are Some Alternatives to Bed Bug Bombs?

Our Bed Bug Killer is a natural alternative to household pesticides and is very effective at killing bed bugs and removing infestations. The powder used in our products is called Diatomaceous Earth (DE) and it dehydrates the bugs by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the exoskeleton.

Are You Looking for an Organic DIY Treatment for Bed Bugs?

Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On An Ensemble Bed

Get Rid of Bed Bugs On A Bed with Slats

Freqently Asked Questions:

1. Do bed bug bombs actually work?
   Bed bug bombs, also called bug foggers, spray stuff into the air that can kill bugs. But bed bugs like to hide in tiny cracks and places the spray can’t reach, so the bombs can’t work.
2. Can you get rid of bed bugs by bombing the house?
   Using a bug bomb will not get rid of all the bed bugs in the house because they hide in tiny cracks and crevices where the sprays cant reach.
3. Can I sleep on the bed after a bug bomb?
   After using a bug bomb, you usually have to wait a while before it’s safe to go back into the room. It can leave chemicals on your bed that aren’t safe to touch or breathe in right away.

Scouces:

Oxford Academic (Ineffectiveness of Over-the-Counter Total-Release Foggers Against the Bed Bug),  NHS Choices (Bedbugs), SA Health (Bed bugs – prevention and treatment)