How to get rid of bedbugs using dust

Bedbugs in an apartment are a nuisance. They deprive people of sleep and leave behind painful bites, especially harmful to children's delicate skin. There are several forms of insecticides for bedbugs, and we'll look at one of them: powdered dust. We'll learn how effective this product is and how to use it correctly for the best results.

The principle of action of dust and its effectiveness in comparison with other means

Dust is a powdered insecticide used to kill bedbugs and other insects. Dusts are classified according to their mode of action:

• contact - penetrate the parasite's body through the chitinous cover and kill it,
• Intestinal - act when they enter the insect's digestive system.

Only contact dusts are suitable for controlling bedbugs. Parasites feed on blood and have a piercing-sucking mouth apparatus, so they simply cannot eat dust.

In terms of effectiveness, powders aren't the most effective; aerosols, which are sold ready-to-use, can rival them in this regard. Powders, however, require dilution beforehand, although not all do. Unlike aerosols, dusts are long-acting, maintaining their effectiveness for up to three weeks. Aerosols kill insects immediately upon application; once the cloud dissipates, the effect wears off.

Bedbug gels work similarly to powders, but are more expensive. Treating an apartment with chalk is labor-intensive and less effective than dusts.

Advantages of powders:

• affordable price,
• duration of action,
• safety for people and pets.

Cons:

• bedbugs die after contact with the powder, this takes from 2 days to a week;
• do not destroy bed bug eggs;
• repeat treatments will be required.

Review of popular dusts

Among the most famous dusts, the following brands stand out: Chisty Dom, Klopoveron, Fenaksin, Riapan, Fas-Dubl. Most of them are easily found in stores at low prices. Klopoveron is difficult to find, and its price ranges from 1,000 to 2,500 rubles. This is due to its high effectiveness—it was originally created to kill bedbugs on military ships. This product is used by exterminators, so it's more cost-effective to have a professional cleaning service than to buy and use this dust yourself. Other products are equally effective at killing bedbugs, but they take longer.

Table: Comparison of dusts of different brands

Photo gallery: dusts of different brands

How to choose the right product

Before purchasing pest control powder, you need to be sure you have bed bugs in your home. Signs of an infestation include:

• Bites on the body. They look like large red blisters, accompanied by itching and swelling.
• Bed bugs' waste products are brown-colored granules.
• Blood stains on the bed appear when a person crushes bedbugs at night.
• An unpleasant odor is felt in places where insects are supposed to accumulate.

The appearance of bedbug bites is often confused with allergies.

Bed bugs can also be found in the bed frame, which is their most common habitat.

Bedbugs can often be seen in furniture, cracks and crevices.

Once you've confirmed that bed bugs are visiting you at night, you can purchase the dust. Tips for purchasing the dust:

• Take contact dust, otherwise it will be useless.
• Choose the brand that suits your price.
• Although the dust is economical to use, it's important to calculate how much is needed to treat the entire area. A one-room apartment will require 4-5 50-gram sachets.

Read the packaging carefully. If you have small children or pets, not all dusts are suitable. Some are toxic.

General rules for using bedbug dusts

Depending on the dust you choose, there are two processing methods. The first involves diluting the powder in water; the second method doesn't require this, as it will cause the dust to lose its properties. Carefully read the packaging. Directions for using dry powder:

1. Before treatment, carry out wet cleaning in the apartment.
2. Move furniture away from the walls.
3. Use a cotton-gauze bandage and gloves during treatment.
4. Put away the food and dishes.
5. Sprinkle the dust in places where bedbugs gather and move, as well as in corners, cracks and under baseboards.
6. After a week, repeat the treatment.

Important! Don't delay repeat treatment, otherwise bed bugs will lay new eggs from the eggs left over from the first treatment. Then your efforts will be useless.

When using a dust diluted in water, follow the same guidelines. Use a spray bottle to apply the dust to areas where insects congregate. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the correct mixing ratio.

Video: Disinfection of premises with dust

Safety of use

Antiparasitic dusts available on the market are safe for humans and animals when used correctly, even when ingested in small amounts. When in contact with skin, the dust does not cause any allergic reactions, unless there is an individual intolerance to any of the ingredients.

Dusts used on military installations or in agriculture are highly toxic. They are available only to legal entities and are expensive. These products can cause vapor poisoning if used incorrectly. If safety precautions are not followed, large amounts of the powder can be inhaled, posing a risk of poisoning.

Signs of poisoning:

• irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes;
• tingling sensation in the body;
• numbness;
• headaches;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea.

If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately!

Reviews of dusts

Clean house

Overall, I can't say I'm dissatisfied with the product, as all the insects disappeared right away. More preventative measures should be taken and, consequently, keeping your home clean.

Klopoveron

I can confidently say that this is a true miracle cure! It's practically impossible to find this product in Ukraine. I had to search online. Companies from Russia aren't particularly keen on delivering orders to us... You know, all those customs hassles and so on. Luckily, a friend was going to Russia on a business trip. I asked him to buy me some Klopoveron. He finally found it in Moscow, though with some difficulty. I was overjoyed. I thoroughly treated the apartment with the product. I forgot to put on gloves, but it worked. The bedbugs were gone the very next day.

Phenaxin

The powder comes in a packet. You can pierce it in several places with an awl and spray it (that's how we got rid of fleas). However, for bedbug treatment, it's better to cut off a corner and sprinkle a thin stream into folds and crevices. It also adheres well to walls; it has a slight stickiness. It can be easily removed with a regular vacuum cleaner (don't forget to empty the vacuum cleaner and take it out of the house!). We repeated the treatment three times over the course of a month, and now there are NO insects and no one has bitten us.

Face-double

After treating the room, some remaining insects continued to appear on the walls for another two months. They are more easily controlled with an instant-release synthetic pyrethroid. After that, I didn't see any bedbugs in the house for four months.

Dust is one of the most popular and effective remedies for bedbugs and other insects. When used correctly, it delivers excellent results, on par with more expensive options.