Bed bugs are those pests that irritate your night’s sleep and can even cause some skin infections. These tiny pests can be nearly everywhere, from your laundry room to even your bedroom; bed bugs can survive for months without food. This creepy creature loves to reside in furniture and even clothing. Therefore, it can be a tough ask to get rid of them. Some people prefer to keep the items such as mattresses or even some clothes in a plastic bag just to ensure that bed bugs present in those items can die forever.
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This idea doesn’t look bad on paper, but in reality, things are quite different. This article will cover all aspects related to the common query, “how long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag.” Let us dive in then.
How Long Do Bed Bugs Live In A Plastic Bag?
Bed Bugs Can Survive Up To 5 Months In Plastic Bags. However, The Duration Can Be Minimized By Keeping Such Bags In Either Very Hot Or Extreme Cold Temperatures.
Plastic Bags And Bed Bugs – Is It An Effective Remedy?
As we just mentioned, using plastic bags can be a nice way to pack items affected by bed bugs to get rid of them. However, there are certain factors that will determine whether bed bugs would still be alive in a plastic bag or simply dead. Here are a few of those factors.
1: Temperature
Bed bugs are so tiny that they can easily escape from even some very tiny holes and spaces. Therefore, their survival ratio remains high even in plastic bags. Factors such as temperature have to be taken into account when planning to get rid of bed bugs this way. This insect cannot survive for long in extreme hot and cold temperatures. So, if bed bugs are ruining your belongings and you want to warp these items in plastic bags, you should place the plastic bags either in very hot (ideally above 120 F) or extreme cold (below 0 F or more) to get rid of them quickly.
Did You Know? Bed Bugs Cannot Survive Above 120 Fahrenheit And Below 0 Fahrenheit. Extreme Cold And Hot Temperatures Are Deadly For This Creature.
2: Age of Bed Bugs
It’s quite surprising, but the age of bed bugs is also one essential factor here. Usually, older bed bugs can easily survive for months. On the other hand, their younger counterparts can barely survive without food for months. Let’s be honest, you don’t want to waste your weekends determining the age of these bed bugs. So, here the best approach is to place those plastic bags in very hot temperature settings.
3: The Duration
As we mentioned earlier, bed bugs can survive without food and with little oxygen supply for as long as five months. So again, if you really want to kill them this way, you have to keep those plastic bags in extreme cold or hot temperatures.
What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Permanently?
Bed bugs have been affecting the lives of humans and even pets for a long time. The first step of getting rid of bed bugs is to find them. It can be difficult to find bed bugs during the day since they are great at hiding, you’ll generally find them at night though.
Here are some of the best but easy ways to get rid of them permanently.
1: Using an Insecticide Spray
An insecticide spray kills insects such as cockroaches, flies, and even bed bugs. So, one easy and cheap way to get rid of bed bugs is to use an insecticide spray. For instance, you can spray it on furniture items such as beds, chairs, and tables. Furthermore, you can also spray on clothes and other such items to ensure that bed bugs get killed quickly. In this regard, you have to be extra careful while using such sprays. Always follow the use age instruction that is mentioned on such insecticides to keep yourself safe.
Important Tip: Don’t Miss Out on The Cracks And Tiny Holes In Furniture Items. Bed Bugs Can Hide In There To Survive.
2: Washing Clothes Properly
Washing clothes is a good way to get rid of bed bugs. The high temperatures of the water will kill the bugs and their eggs. Be sure to wash all clothing, linens, and other fabrics that may be infested.
You may need to wash an item more than once to make sure all the bugs are killed. Dry cleaned items can also be treated by heating them in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes.
3: Don’t Forget To Monitor the Affected Areas
You need to look for bed bugs in the affected areas. This includes looking in cracks and crevices, on walls and floors, and in other hiding spots. Make sure to check all the areas where bed bugs could be hiding, including both the infested and surrounding areas. If you find any bed bugs, use a strong vacuum cleaner to remove them. You may also need to use pesticides or insecticides to get rid of them completely.
4: Reducing Clutter in Your Home May Also Help
Reducing clutter in your home will help make finding and getting rid of bed bugs easier. Bed bugs can hide in a lot of places, so by decluttering, you can make it harder for them to hide and easier to find and eliminate.
You can also try using scents that bed bugs hate to repel them, or even essential oils such as neem oil or tea tree oil!
5: Consider Hiring a Pest Control Expert
Now, you know that pests like bed bugs can hide nearly everywhere. So, in this regard, hiring an expert pest controller is also a good way to get rid of them permanently. A professional pest control expert knows those areas where these insects could survive for years. Further, they have the right chemicals and pesticides to quickly kill bed bugs. So, if you want a reliable solution to kill bed bugs, an expert may help you a lot here.
Final Thoughts On Plastic Bags and Bed Bugs
By now, you would have a good idea about “how long do bed bugs live in a plastic bag.” Undoubtedly, they can live for months, even in plastic bags. However, the best solution to get rid of them is to place these plastic bags in extreme hot or cold temperatures. Further, using pesticides and washing the affected clothes properly are also some easy ways to kill bed bugs. You have to choose which method could work the best for you in the end.
