(Step 6 of 9 in the Bed Bugs Killer Ultimate Guide - Updated March 9, 2020)
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Bed bug powder kills insects by sticking to their body as they are sprayed with it or walk through it. The dust acts as a barrier around their skin that soon cuts and dehydrates the insect. It might take 24 hours or more, but the bed bug dies.
Because dusts kill slowly but last a long time, they pair well with bed bug sprays to deliver an ongoing treatment against these insects.
Is bed bug powder effective? Yes, it works as a residual killer but it still depends on contact with the insect. The bed bug that walks through the powder weeks after its application will still experience its effects and die soon after.
Be aware, bed bug powders and dusts do not kill eggs. So, it's important to integrate their application into a complete treatment process.
Is Bed Bug Powder Hamful?
Will bed bug powder harm you or your pets? The answer, generally, is "No" if you follow the directions and use common sense. Don't just dump powder all over the place. These dusts were not meant to be spread all over your bed or carpet or your pet's bedding.
If you or family members live with respiratory problems, it's especially important to be diligent in applying the powder according to directions. Generally, keep children and pets out of the area while you apply the dust. Wear a mask while applying the powder, so you don't breathe it in.
We included videos on this page to show you how dusts should be applied. Remember, a light dusting is your what you're going for, not applying layers of powder. If you accidently apply more than prescribed, vacuum the extra. Then, dispose of the vacuum bag and clean the vacuum cleaner, Take the same precautions you used after vacuuming before applying treatment methods. Keep in mind that you could be capturing live bed bugs as you vacuum, so disposing of the powder correctly matters.
CAUTION:
As with other insecticides, it's important to confine the dust to cracks, crevices, and other specific areas where bed bugs hide or have been detected. That means you should rarely see dust after applying it.
Dust can be particularly dangerous for people with respiratory ailments, such as asthma, when applied carelessly. Some dusts can be applied safely to carpets and later vacuumed.
Important: Read the instructions, and then follow them.
Major Bed Bugs Powder Brands
Bed bugs powders are part of a chemical family known as dessicants, substances used as drying agents. Their main advantage as a bed bugs killer is that they have a long-term residual effect. Bed bugs that come into contact with a bed bug dust months after it has been applied will still die.
The most common bed bug dust products contain:
Cyfluthrin and Deltamethrin are pyrethroids. The bed bug dusts made from these products include more concentrated forms of these insecticides than the spray forms. For this reason, many are restricted to professional pest control operators in some states.
Today, most bed bug dusts recommended for consumers are either diatomaceous earth or silica gel dust. So, which is better?
Diatomaceous Earth for Bed Bugs
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is not a pesticide, but it is approved by the EPA as a bed bug powder. However, you should only use diatomaceous earth that has been labeled as a bed bug powder. Pool-grade DE, for example, does not meet this standard. The heat treatment process it undergoes crystallizes its structure, making it particularly dangerous to breathe. Do not use it to kill bed bugs. Look for natural or food-grade DE to do the job.
Diatomaceous earth, whose active ingredient is amorphous silicon dioxide, is the fossilized ground-up remains of diatoms. These are single-celled phytoplankton, a type of sea alga. It works by dehydrating bed bugs with what seems like a million little razor cuts. The sharp edges of the powder cut their thin waxy shell. The result is the bed bug can't stay hydrated. This is key, because one reason bed bugs are great survivors is they have a heightened ability to stay hydrated for extended periods. Diatomaceous earth strips them of this protection.
Best, the insects don't build up a resistance to the bed bug powder. Applied and paired correctly with other treatments, DE powders can be effective as a residual killer of bed bugs and other insects for several years.
Silica Gel Dusts for Killing Bed Bugs
Whereas diatomaceous earth is a naturally formed silicon dioxide, silica gel dusts are synthetic. The dust is 100% pure silicon dioxide and is safer to breathe than DE, because it contains no crystallized forms of the powder. Crystalline silica can be found in very low levels in most DE, but it is not considered harmful in these amounts.
Like DE, silica gel attaches to the bed bug's body when it makes contact. The tiny particles in silica gel give off an electrostatic charge that helps the powder stick. Whereas DE does its work by inflicting a million little cuts, silica gel actually absorbs the moisture in the bed bug's body rather than waiting for it to dehydrate. So death comes faster.
To test the effectiveness of silica gel dust, pest control professionals allowed bed bugs to crawl across treated carpet for about 5 minutes. This was one part of a multistage test of CimeXa, the leading silica gel dust on the market. Three carpets were used. One was dusted with CimeXa, a second with Mother Earth diatomaceous earth, and the third was untreated to act as a control against the other two.
The results were unexpected:
Researchers ran several comparative tests using the CimeXa silica gel. In another test, they compared it against liquid sprays. In still other tests, they applied varying amounts of CimeXa to see how much was required for it to be effective. The result? It killed consistently even when small amounts were used. Finally, researchers compared dry and wet formulations of the insecticide; they found that it was most effective when it was applied dry. Learn more about the tests and what these professionals learned.
| Silica Gel Dusts | Diatomaceous Earth |
|---|---|---|
Amorphous silicone dioxide | Synthetic | Natural |
Killing method | Sticks to bed bug through electostatic charge, then absorbs its moisture | Causes abrasions, leading to dehydration |
Kills eggs? | No, but it kills nymphs hatched from treated eggs | No, but it kills nymphs hatched from treated eggs |
Residual | Yes, up to 10 years if it stays dry and undisturbed | Yes, up to 2 years if it stays dry |
Kills pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs | Yes | Yes |
Professional product | Yes, but available to consumers | No |
How to Apply Bed Bug Powder
Use an applicator to blow bed bug dust safely into wall voids through electrical outlets or along the baseboards. The goal is to apply it in a fine mist. Insects will avoid clumps of bed bug powder. Bugs, including roaches, use these areas behind walls as travel paths as they make their way from one room to another or one apartment or condo to another. When you get sufficient coverage behind the wall, bugs travel through the dust and die behind the wall. You never see them again. The challenge is to get full coverage because the bug only dies if it walks through the dust. Apply dusts using a bulb-type duster, such as the easy and inexpensive Harris Powder Duster.
Watch the video to learn how to apply bed bug dusts safely:
Caution: Breathing dusts is not healthy. Always wear a respirator mask when applying bed bug dust. Never apply it anywhere it is likely to be blown around the room.
Where to Put Bed Bug Powder
Focus your bed bug powder applications on treating cracks and crevices.
Here are the directions listed on CimeXa and Maggie's Farm Bed Bug Killer, two silica gel dusts:
They give very clear directions about where the product should be applied, and it's essential to follow these directions.
(If you want to use diatomaceous earth that is approved for bed bug use, check out Harris Bed Bug Killer.)
Watch the video to see an in-depth treatment of a bedroom, using CimeXa. This training is intended for pest control professionals, but there is no reason why you can't learn from what they do and apply the process yourself.
The exterminator in the video uses professional equipment to apply the dust, but you can do the same thing using a paintbrush and an inexpensive powder duster applicator.
Two things to remember:
- 1Mattresses should be covered once they are treated with bed bug powder.
- 2Never treat children's toys or stuffed animals with insecticides.
Next: Encase to Seal Them In
Learn why encasing your mattress and box spring is an essential part of your treatment plan and how to do it properly.
Did You Miss the Previous Steps in the Guide?
In case you missed it, click to read previous steps:
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Keep It Simple with a Bed Bug Kit
