How effective are these "natural bed bug treatment" products?

Question

I had a mild infestation exactly a year ago. The exterminator sprayed my apartment twice. I have two cats and the whole ordeal was stressful on all of us because I had to find (and pay) boarding for them. I've found a couple of bugs on my bed and I'm getting bitten again. This time, I want to try a non-toxic product I can apply on my own without hiring a pricey exterminator and, more importantly, remove my cats for the treatment.

What are the best pet-friendly AND effective bed bug product out there? Can we trust that they are non-toxic and all natural as the producers claim?

I've found these two so far:
http://www.wondercide.com/bed-bug-treatment-control/
http://www.cedarcidestore.com/catalog/item/3580888/3194699.htm

Answer 1

Natural bed bug products usually use some type of plant extract to kill bed bugs. They are effective at "knocking down" bed bugs, meaning that they kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs on contact, or shortly thereafter (cause nervous system damage). Treatment needs to be thorough. I'm more familiar with some of the products mentioned on the video in resource 1 which explains the difference between natural and insecticide based products.



I'd prefer that you also use a residual insecticide based spray, which is a spray that provides protection for a few weeks, but understand that you would like to stay all natural...you'll just have to expect to apply 2 to 3 treatments as you knock down or reduce the population. Bed bugs are good at hiding, and bed bug eggs are the size of a pin head, making it easy to miss an area that should have been treated. As a substitute for a residual insecticide spray, you can apply a natural bed bug dust in the tufts of the mattress and box spring, and other areas where bed bugs may hide. The dust will kill any late hatching bed bugs and is a natural product made from ground fossils.



These products should also be used in conjunction with other methods such as washing all linens and used zippered mattress and box spring covers to trap any bed bugs/eggs you may have

missed.



There is a great video on the benefits and approach to natural treatment that is required in the resource. The second resource has some good advice on step by step treatment, regardless if you are using a natural or insecticide based approach.

Answer 2

Russell....I recently read about the "bedbug" epidemic in my local newspaper & it made my skin crawl. I haven't experienced any problems with the dreaded bugs so far. I vacuum my bed pillows & mattressess twice a month & spray them with Lysol & let the spray dry & let the bed & mattressess air out completely. I've done this regularly for years with all the mattresses in the house. I'm not sure if it makes a difference where BB are concerned or not.The Terminix man is going to make a routine scheduled visit to my home next week & I'm going to ask him what I can do to prevent from getting these critters. I don't know anyone who has been affected by the BB, so I'm not sure if a doctor has to prescribe an antibiotic or not.

Answer 3

In my opinion, the cedar side store would be the best.

Their products are made from natural cedar.

Answer 4

Natural just means ineffective..