How Long Does Bed Bug Pesticide Last?
Pesticides are a great way to get rid of your bed bug problem, but if you want them to be effective, you’ll need to know how often to re-apply them.
How long a bed bug pesticide lasts before you’ll need to spray again depends on the type of product and the brand. However, I can say that most bed bug sprays will continue working for about two weeks, while many powder-based products can remain potent for years after application.
How Long Does Bed Bug Spray Last?
Store-bought bed bug sprays are the most common type of pesticide treatment people use to eliminate bed bugs.
But, they don’t tend to last as long as bed bug powders.
How Long Do Bed Bug Sprays Last Before You Need to Re-Apply?
Most of the bed bug sprays you can buy will continue to kill bed bugs for at least two weeks after application.
Yet, some can last for up to 16 weeks under ideal conditions.
You can usually find out how often you’ll need to re-spray your insecticide by reading the label on the bottle.
For most bed bug sprays, though, it’s best to re-apply every week unless the instructions on the product tell you not to do so.
How Long Does Bed Bug Spray Last in the Cabinet?
Since bed bug sprays typically use pretty stable chemicals, you can expect the average spray to last about three years.
After this time, the chemicals will begin to break down, which will make the product less effective.
You can still try to use expired insecticides, though, but they probably won’t be as effective as a newly made product.
How Long Does Bed Bug Powder Last?
Bed bug powder is an insecticide that coats insects when they walk through it.
Although not as commonly used as sprays, bed bug powder can be very effective at killing bed bugs, and it lasts for quite a while.
How Long Do Bed Bug Powders Last Before You Need to Re-Apply?
If left in an undisturbed place, bed bug powder can last for years.
However, for best results, you should re-apply once a week.
To re-apply the powder, just vacuum up the old pesticide, and sprinkle some more onto areas where bed bugs frequent.
How Long Do Bed Bug Powders Last in the Cabinet?
Since most bed bug powders use minerals as their active ingredients, they have no expiration date.
Yet, if the powder gets wet, it may no longer work.
How Long Do Professional Bed Bug Pesticide Treatments Last?
Many people decide to hire a pest professional to get rid of their bed bug problem because these trained experts know exactly where to spray to kill the most bed bugs.
So, if you have a bed bug problem that you can’t seem to control on your own, it’s a good idea to hire an exterminator to do the job.
But unfortunately, professional treatments do not last long.
How Long Do Professional Bed Bug Pesticide Treatments Last?
Since professional exterminators usually use bed bug sprays, you can expect the treatment to last for about two weeks.
After these two weeks, you will need them to return and re-apply.
And remember that it often takes three or four professional treatments before all of the bed bugs in your home die off.
How Long Does it Take for Pesticides to Kill Bed Bugs?
Most pesticide sprays will kill bed bugs within a few minutes of exposure.
Bed bug powders, on the other hand, can take several days to kill bed bugs because they dehydrate them instead of affecting their nervous system, as most sprays do.
Yet, overall, whichever pesticide you use, don’t expect your home’s entire bed bug colony to disappear this fast.
Bed bugs don’t like to come out of hiding and refrain from travel unless they need to do so to find a host.
Thus, it could take a while until all the bed bugs have walked through the insecticide.
On average, it will be about two months before every bed bug in your home is dead.
How Much Does Bed Bug Pesticide Cost?
Now that you know how long bed bug sprays and powders last, let’s look at how much they cost so that you can approximate the amount you’ll need to spend on treatment.
How Much Are Bed Bug Sprays?
For one gallon of bed bug spray, you can expect to pay $20 to $30, depending on the brand and the retailer.
However, if you shop around, you may be able to find sprays of this size for less than $15.
How Much Are Bed Bug Powders?
A typical bed bug powder will cost you $5 to $10 for 4 ounces.
Yet, if you buy larger quantity bottles, you can often get a discount.
How Much Is a Bed Bug Pesticide Treatment?
Most pest companies charge between $100 and $500 per room.
Some of these businesses have a flat per room price, while others bill by square foot.
Furthermore, you should be aware that bed bug extermination companies in cities often charge more for treatments than rural businesses.
New York City, Washington DC, and San Francisco have particularly high average prices for pesticide bed bug treatment.
Are Bed Bug Pesticides Dangerous?
Bed bug pesticides can be dangerous if you don’t follow the instructions on the product.
But, the dangers depend on the type of insecticide you’re using.
Can Bed Bug Sprays Cause Harm?
Bed bug sprays typically use pyrethrins and pyrethroids as their active ingredients.
And these chemicals can cause adverse health effects if you improperly expose yourself to them.
Some of the most common symptoms of pyrethrin and pyrethroid poisoning include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Muscle spasms
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Convulsions
Because of these possible symptoms, you should always be careful when using bed bug spray.
Be sure you follow all the instructions on the label and keep pets and children away from the sprayed area until the insecticide has dried.
Can Bed Bug Powders Cause Harm?
Diatomaceous earth is the primary agent in bed bug powders.
And while this mineral isn’t as likely to harm you as pyrethrin, you should still be careful with how you use it because it can irritate your skin, throat, and nose if misused.
Conclusion
Typically, you will need to re-apply bed bug sprays once every two weeks.
However, some sprays last longer.
When it comes to bed bug powders, meanwhile, they will continue to work until they become disturbed or get wet.
