Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Alene Schill
Most people facing a bed bug infestation may have already come across many home treatment solutions. One fix you’ve possibly considered is using Lysol disinfectant sprays in killing bed bugs.
However, does Lysol kill bed bugs? Our team conducted a 48-hour in-depth research to answer this age-old query!
Can You Kill Bed Bugs With Lysol?
It depends. Lysol kills bed bugs at high concentrations, so you need to douse them individually around twice as much to be an effective bed bug pesticide. Unfortunately, escaping the spray’s area of effect would be the usual bed bug behavior.
Lysol spray is a popular cleaning and disinfecting liquid. The active ingredients in Lysol include hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol (found in rubbing alcohol), and lactic acid. Essentially, it can kill germs and other microscopic organisms.
You may kill the eggs, but the quick-drying Lysol won’t fully stop all bed bug activity — it can work, but it’s not an easy fix.
What Is Lysol?
Lysol is a synthetic home disinfectant spray designed to kill microbes, typically bacteria, and keep the spray area spick and span. Lysol spray is commonly used in the dining areas, living room, and bathroom.
Lysol chemical is one of the most used disinfectants found in American homes, so it’s not hard to imagine why the spray is a common go-to in response to bed bug infestations. Although not one of the bed bug pesticides, it can still mitigate any bed bug problem when applied generously.
What It’s Made Of
A Lysol spray is made of 4 primary ingredients:
- Ethanol
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Lactic Acid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
These lethal Lysol chemicals kill both germs and bacteria easily. However, applying Lysol spray to tiny sucking insects like bed bugs isn’t as effective.
Although it can be toxic when they ingest Lysol, most bed bugs would simply scram from the spray until the effect subsides. Using Lysol is not as effective in killing the common household pest, but there are chances when it can work. But will hand sanitizer kill bed bugs?
How To Use Lysol To Kill Bed Bugs
If you’ve had enough sleepless nights from bed bugs that suck blood mercilessly, here are some Lysol techniques you can opt for to remove bed bugs. (Note: follow the instructions with the proper precautions.)
Directly Spray It
As previously said, higher doses can kill these tiny pests. Your best shot is to spray Lysol disinfectant spray directly over the small bed bug population. Make sure to scour their hiding places — that means sofa folds, mattress seams, and other bedbug-infested areas.
Although bedbug activity would naturally be to escape the fumes, continue spraying over them until the resistant bugs turn into dead bed bugs.
Soak Bed Bugs With Lysol
Bedbugs invade the most unlikely places, so spraying Lysol liquid abundantly until the bed soaks will drown out the harmful pests in the chemical compounds. Most of the time, we underrate bed bugs, so we apply Lysol spray minimally.
However, adult bugs can survive and eventually hatch new bugs, so it’s better to have the Lysol sprayed directly and abundantly to completely rid bed bugs. So, what chemicals do bed bug exterminators use?
Does It Kill Bed Bugs Eggs?
Generally, yes. Lysol can get rid of bed bugs and kill bed bug eggs simultaneously. Eggs are immobile, so they’re unable to escape the chemical bed bug spray. Eggs of bed bugs have an efficient protective environment coating that defends and prevents a Lysol kill. However, an abundant amount can kill bed bug eggs.
Also, killing adults is a priority, as pregnant female bed bugs can continue laying eggs daily for 2-3 weeks. [1] Bed bugs leave millions of eggs, so you may yet suffer a new bedbugs attack if you fail to kill the population off effectively.
Also Read:
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- Will Bed Bugs Bite Through Clothing?
- How Much Does An Orkin Treatment Cost?
Is it Safe to Use Lysol in High Concentrations?
It depends. We’ve answered the query: “does Lysol kill bed bugs?” provided we use it at high concentrations. Unfortunately, this can pose a health risk for you and your family, so the Lysol-bedbug-invasion protocol might not be the most feasible solution. [2]
Lysol kills bed bugs if used abundantly, so if you’re planning to do this, it’s best to not use any furniture a day or two after spraying it with this disinfectant. Lysol can harm the eyes and the nervous system when ingested or inhaled.
Plus, it’s flammable, so exposure to open flames will burn bed bugs (and your house along with them.) We recommend using alternatives like Diatomaceous Earth which is organic and safe, or opting for a robust pest removal program.
You may also use heat treatment. Expose the infested area to extreme heat (118 degrees Fahrenheit/48 degrees Celsius) for 90 minutes or wash the clothes in hot water to kill bed bugs and vacuum the infested areas after to be sure. (Don’t forget to clean the vacuum bag right after.)
Safety Precautions
- Keep the place free from any flammable materials
- Wear safety glasses, gloves, and masks
- Ask kids to leave shared spaces before application
- Cover food products and separate them from the room
- Take away dirty clothes that can harbor escapees
FAQs
Are you supposed to wipe off Lysol?
No. Aerosol disinfectants like Lysol shouldn’t be wiped off since they dry naturally on surfaces. When sprayed over fabric like bedsheets, give it some time to dissipate until the smell is eliminated.
Can I spray Lysol on bedsheets?
Yes, Lysol can disinfect bedsheets and other fabrics too. You can let it sit for a while before reusing it to dissipate the spray’s fumes completely.
Final Thoughts
So, can Lysol kill bed bugs? Yes, it can. However, there are safety precautions to consider when using Lysol in dealing with a bed bug infestation.
Make sure to eliminate bed bugs thoroughly while keeping your family safe from potential harm borne by the aerosol fumes. Lysol can be a quick fix, but if you’re after complete eradication of bed bugs, subjecting them to heat treatments and warm wash can be a better and safer option!
References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/bedbugs/index.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/smarter-living/coronavirus-clean-home-house-disinfect.html
Alene Schill is a property manager from Columbus, Ohio, who has dealt with numerous pest control agencies. She helps families find the perfect homes and knows very well that bed bugs are an ultimate deal-breaker. She enjoys cycling around Scioto Mile during her spare time.