Baking Soda vs Heat: What Really Kills Bed Bugs Instantly
Heard that sprinkling baking soda will dry out bed bugs overnight? You’re not alone. But bed bugs are remarkably tough, especially their eggs, and quick fixes often waste time while the infestation spreads. As ThermoPest, the UK’s specialist in bed bug and moth heat treatment, we focus on what the evidence shows actually works—and why whole-room heat is the gold standard.
If you’re weighing options, start with the method proven to end infestations rather than chase them. Professional bed bug heat treatment is designed to deliver lethal temperatures evenly and safely throughout the room and furniture, not just on the surface.
What people believe vs reality
- Belief: Baking soda dehydrates bed bugs on contact.
Reality: Sodium bicarbonate doesn’t reliably abrade or desiccate bed bugs, and it has no proven ovicidal (egg-killing) effect. Bugs often avoid or walk around dusted areas. - Belief: A hot hairdryer will “blast” bugs to death.
Reality: Surface heat drops rapidly in cracks and joints. Bed bugs and eggs shelter deep inside frames and fabric layers where DIY heat can’t hold lethal temperatures. - Belief: A quick spray or fogger will finish the job.
Reality: Bed bugs show behavioural avoidance and some chemical tolerance. Foggers can push them deeper into harbourages and neighbouring rooms.
Science‑backed facts: temperatures and exposure
Bed bugs die quickly at the right temperature, but “instant” kill depends on both heat level and dwell time. Adults succumb fast once their core reaches roughly 50–52°C; eggs are more resilient and demand sustained exposure. In practice, professionals heat the room air to about 56–60°C for several hours so that the coldest points inside furniture also reach lethal temperature and stay there long enough to neutralise eggs.
For a deeper look at figures and dwell times, see what temperature kills bed bugs.
Why baking soda doesn’t work
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is not an insecticide. It dissolves with ambient moisture, doesn’t penetrate harbourages, and lacks the abrasive structure needed to reliably damage the bed bug cuticle. Even where dusts can help, only specific desiccant products, correctly applied and left undisturbed for weeks, have measurable impact—and they still won’t deliver immediate, room‑wide control or guarantee egg kill. Baking soda, in short, is a distraction from methods that actually close out an infestation.
Common mistakes that prolong infestations
- Spot‑heating (hairdryers, irons) that creates hot and cold patches; bugs retreat to cooler voids.
- Using total‑release foggers that scatter bed bugs into adjacent rooms or flats.
- Moving belongings between rooms without sealing them first, spreading the problem.
- Vacuuming only once; missed eggs hatch later.
- Skipping preparation, which prevents heat from penetrating deeply. See our guide on preparing your home for treatment.
Practical, safe steps you can do now
- Launder bedding and clothing at 60°C and tumble‑dry on high for at least 30 minutes; bag and seal items immediately after.
- Vacuum mattress seams, bed bases, skirtings, and sofa frames with a crevice tool; empty the vacuum contents into a sealed bag outside.
- Fit quality mattress and base encasements to trap any missed bugs and simplify inspections.
- Use bed interceptors under legs to track activity and reduce bites; log what you catch so you can monitor your property after treatment.
- Minimise clutter near the bed; keep items in sealed bags or lidded containers until treated.
Why heat treatment is the superior solution
- Cold spots eliminated: Multiple heaters and high‑flow fans move air through the entire space, flushing heat into cracks, voids, and furniture cores where eggs hide.
- Sustained lethal temperature: It’s not a quick blast; professionals hold temperatures long enough for the coldest point inside the thickest item to exceed lethal thresholds for eggs.
- Sensors and monitoring: Wireless probes and data logging confirm that target temperatures and dwell times are achieved safely and evenly. Explore our bed bug heat treatment process to see how this works in practice.
- All life stages killed: Properly delivered heat neutralises adults, nymphs, and eggs in one integrated operation, avoiding chemical resistance and minimising re‑treatments.
ThermoPest: whole‑room heat, delivered properly
ThermoPest engineers are trained to design a heat layout for your specific room volumes and contents, position sensors where cold spots are most likely, and document dwell times so you’re not left guessing. For households, this means a thorough, same‑day approach with clear preparation and aftercare. For businesses and multi‑unit properties, our commercial heat treatment for hotels and landlords is planned to minimise downtime and prevent spread between rooms.
If you’re ready to move beyond trial‑and‑error, start with evidence. Professional bed bug heat treatment is built to remove cold spots, reach lethal temperatures safely, and finish the job—including eggs.
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