Do you have a problem with bed bugs? Have you tried a variety of chemicals and powders to get rid of the problem? Are you at your wits’ end with those pesky little creatures? Today we’ll be looking at 12 of the best bed bug powder products. We’ll also give you a rundown of the specifications to consider when you’re buying bed bug powder.
When it comes to choosing the right bed bug powder it’s important to consider the active ingredients in the product which will let you know exactly what’s in the powder. This is important, since the last thing you want to do is sprinkle a deadly poison in the same home as where your children and pets live and eat. It’s also crucial to consider the efficiency of the product you’re going to buy. Obviously, you want a product that’s going to work as quickly as possible. The sooner you can get these critters out of your home, the better. A fast efficiency rate will get the bed bugs and the poison out of your home in no time. We talk about it all, and the products we’re going to be reviewing are in the comparison table below.
More features: powder duster included; kills bed bugs within 48 hours
This product from Harris is a very comprehensive and thorough treatment. A handy little applicator helps you get the powder into hard to reach areas. There’s no need to mix and wait, simply use immediately. It’s fast-acting meaning insects that come into contact with this powder will die within 48 hours.
Because the powder is long residual, bed bugs continue to die for weeks after the initial application. The product is EPA Registered and listed and OMRI Listed. The powder is also registered with the Environmental Protection Agency which makes it safe to use around humans and pets.
What we liked: A big plus point for this product is the main ingredient, diatomaceous earth. This is effective in killing bed bugs as well as other household pests.
What could be better: The powder must be kept 100% dry at all times for it to be effective. This could be difficult for areas where it’s exceptionally humid.
More features: also kills flea, ants, silverfish, centipedes, scorpions, and spiders
Many users regard Ortho home defense as the best way to exterminate bed bugs and other crawling insects. Not only does it kill bed bugs on contact, but it also keeps them away for up to eight months.
The active ingredient is Deltamethrin which destroys the eggs and larvae as well. The non-staining formula means there’s no risk of damaging carpets or other fabrics. Another plus is that it’s odorless, so there’s no chance of that awful pesticide smell that some poisons have.
What we liked: We like that this powder kills the eggs and larvae as well. So, you have reassurance that you’re eradicating the whole problem.
What could be better: Many user reviews agree that several applications are required for the product to work.
More features: application brush included; kills bed bugs within 48 hours; odorless and non-staining
This bed bug powder kills the most resistant bed bugs along with their eggs. After long exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, bed bugs can build up a resistance to some poisons. This particular powder will eradicate that completely.
The powder is long-lasting, meaning you won’t need multiple applications for an effective result. It can be used on mattresses, cushions, and box springs. The handy puffer tip allows you to get into the deepest cracks and crevices where the bugs hide. The brush that comes along with it allows you to brush hard surfaces.
What we liked: Our favorite feature of this product is its versatility. It can be used in homes, motels, hospitals, hotels, and nursing homes without any risk of toxicity.
What could be better: The only problem we could see with this powder is that it may not be as effective on its own and require some additional remedies.
More features: OMRI listed; powder duster included
HARRIS Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade is 100% organic and contains no additives, fillers, or additional chemicals. The product is OMRI listed meaning it’s measured against organic standards and totally safe to use around pets and people.
What we liked: We like that this package has a powder duster and applicator included. This makes applying it to the required area easier and more effective.
What could be better: This product doesn’t work in areas that have high humidity because it needs to remain bone dry to work effectively.
More features: also kills ticks, lice, roaches, ants, firebrats, silverfish, spiders, mites and dry wood termites; odorless and non-staining
CimeXa is made from a synthetically drying agent that binds to the outer layer of the bed bug’s body. Moisture is then absorbed from their body, causing them to die. A big advantage of this synthetic product is that it also kills other household pests like cockroaches, ants, silverfish, and dry wood termites.
This product is non-staining and odorless which means there’ll be no funny smell after you’ve applied it. This powder also works faster than the average powder brands, giving you faster results, another big plus.
What we liked: We liked that this powder is reputed to kill bed bugs within 24 hours, meaning you’ll see results faster.
What could be better: The user directions suggest wearing a mask when applying. This could mean that it might be harmful to people and pets.
More features: also kills ants and other crawling insects
This product comes in a 4-pound package which makes it great to sort out large scale infestations. The biggest advantage of this powder is that insects can’t build a resistance to it since it contains no synthetic chemicals.
What we liked: This product is non-toxic to people and animals and can be used anywhere in the home.
What could be better: This product doesn’t come with a brush or duster. This is disappointing, since diatomaceous earth products are quite messy.
More features: kills crawling insects for up to eight months when left undisturbed
This potent powder is made from deltamethrin which is a synthetic version of pyrehrin. The powder claims to kill all bed bugs within a week of the first application. An advantage is that it kills a wide variety of crawling insects such as wasps, cockroaches, spiders, and fleas.
The size of this value container means it can cover an extensive area of 2,000 sq. ft. You’ll easily be able to administer multiple applications in all areas where you suspect the bed bugs to live.
What we liked: This product can be used both indoors and outdoors so you won’t need a different poison for the pests in the back yard.
What could be better: A problem with this type of powder is that some bed bug species have become resistant to pyrethrin. It means multiple applications might not solve the problem.
More features: kills a wide variety of insects within 48 hours; two application methods
This Bonide Diatomaceous Earth product is suitable for both indoor and outdoor insect control, making it suitable for bed bugs in the home as well. Diatomaceous earth dries out the exoskeleton of insects, causing them to die within 48 hours.
What we liked: We like that this product has two application methods. You can either use it as a powder or mix it into a spraying mixture. A spray mixture makes it easy to reach places where the powder can’t.
What could be better: This product doesn’t come with its own applicator. An applicator has to be purchased separately. Many other products in this same pesticide category have an applicator included in the package, so this is a bit of a let-down since it affects your budget.
More features: 1-year limited warranty; also kills ants, cockroaches, crickets fleas and more
This JT Eaton product is a very popular product used to eradicate bed bugs. With diatomaceous earth as the primary ingredient and the addition of picaridin, the exoskeletons of bed bugs are dried out faster. In addition to bed bugs, the product will kill cockroaches, cricket fleas, and ants.
What we liked: A huge plus for this product is the combination of two very powerful oxides – diatomaceous earth and picaridin which makes this powder excellent at dehydrating bed bugs’ exoskeletons. The bugs die within a short period.
What could be better: Once the bottle is open, the product must be stored correctly, or it’ll lose its efficiency. Considering that you might not need to use the whole amount at once, it could result in some of the product going to waste.
More features: long-lasting control; kills a wide variety of crawling insects
A big advantage of this product is that it has lasting control. It kills an extensive range of crawling insects as well. This product can also be used around your plants which means you won’t need to buy different products for different areas in your home environment.
What we liked: We like that this product can be used indoors and outdoors, which makes it a versatile pick.
What could be better: The powder has to remain bone dry to have any effect on the insects. This means if it’s applied outside, the product may not work if it rains.
More features: kills a wide variety of crawling insects
This organic product is made of the ever-popular diatomaceous earth. The dehydration properties of diatomaceous earth mean the bed bug’s exoskeleton will split and dry out. This causes the insects to die quickly. This product is marked as safe to use around animals and children.
What we liked: We like that it’s organic because there’s no risk of your animals or children getting poisoned. You can also put it in your garden and around your fruit trees.
What could be better: Because this is an organic material, bugs have to come into direct contact with the product for a prolonged period for it to have any effect.
More features: kills a wide range of crawling insects
This powder contains diatomaceous earth as its main ingredient, making it a powerful bed bug killer. Another great feature is that it’s non-staining and odorless. That means no poisonous smell wherever you put the powder. This powder can also be used to kill other crawling insects as well, so you won’t need different poisons for different pests.
What we liked: This product claims to kill bed bugs on contact. If you have a severe infestation, this can really help you.
What could be better: A slight concern with this product is that it contains 15% of “other ingredients” which are not safe for children and pets. The fact that the “other ingredients” are not identified is a bit concerning.
There are so many different types of bed bug powders on the market today. If you haven’t bought any of these products before, it can be very difficult to distinguish the ones that work from the ones that are literally just white powder. In our handy buyer’s guide, we’ll give you some guidelines about the features and ingredients to consider when you’re looking for the right product to rid your home of bed bugs.
When it comes to choosing the right bed bug powder, there are several factors to consider. The goal should be to eliminate the identified pest with the right type of poison in the shortest period. As a rule of thumb, you don’t want a poison that is going to be harmful to you, your children, or your pets. Here are a few pointers of what to look for when considering your options.
The most common ingredient for bed bug powder is diatomaceous earth which is basically silica from the fossilized remains of aquatic microalgae. Because diatomaceous earth has intensive dehydrating properties it means it can strip an insect’s exoskeleton of all its oils and moisture. The skeleton will then split open causing the insect to dry out and die. An example on our review list is HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Diatomaceous Earth.
Another very effective ingredient is pyrethrins which is a neurotoxin and destroys the insect’s central nervous system. An example of these on our review list is Rockwell Labs CXID032 Cimexa Dust Insecticide.
Some bed bug powders are only available in small quantities. It’ll then take several applications to get rid of the bugs. There are some like the HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Diatomaceous Earth that are available in 4-pound packets, allowing for multiple applications.
Different bed bug powders vary in strength so some will kill bed bugs within 24–36 hours and some may take longer. Some powders only kill the live insects but don’t have any effect on the eggs and larvae. The best option to choose is a powder that kills insects in all their life stages. On our review list, we have the Rockwell Labs CXID032 Cimexa Dust Insecticide which kills live bed bugs as well as their eggs and larvae.
Powders that are made of diatomaceous earth are non-toxic to humans and animals. The powders that contain chemicals like pyrethroids, dinotefuran, and pyrethrins can be toxic to anyone living in the house.
As a safety precaution though, no matter how harmless the product claims to be, avoid ingesting or inhaling.
Our review list has a product that requires wearing a mask when applying. If you use Hot Shot Bed Bug Killer Dust, keep animals and children away from the area.
Depending on the ingredients in the powder, there may be a sharp chemical smell when you administer the product. Some powders may also stain the carpet, curtain, or bedding fabrics. Ideally, you want a mixture that’s both stainless and odorless. On our review list, we have the Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug & Flea Killer Powder that is both stainless and odorless.
Bed bug powders are ordinarily the most cost-effective ways to kill and control these pesky critters. You can easily purchase a good quality poison for less than $25. An added advantage is that most of these powders can cover a large area of up to 2,000 sq.ft with a single bottle. An example on our review list that covers this type of area is the Delta Dust Multi Use Pest Control Insecticide Dust.
We hope that our in-depth analysis and product reviews on the best bed bug powder have given you some insight into dealing with these pesky household pests. If you’re still not entirely convinced of the one to choose, let’s recap our top three.
HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Diatomaceous Earth is our editor’s choice, and we’ve rated this exceptional product a 9.9. This bed bug powder impressed us because it’s made of diatomaceous earth which is a great product when it comes to killing bed bugs because of its dehydration properties.
Second, on our list of favorites is the Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug & Flea Killer Powder which is our best value choice. This one made it to our favorite list because it kills live bed bugs as well as their eggs and larvae. This powder scores a 9.8 on our review list.
Thirdly we have the HARRIS Bed Bug Killer Powder which is impressive because this product is very versatile in that it can be used anywhere and also rates a 9.8.
We’re confident that our product review and buyers guide have provided you with the necessary data to make an informed decision about the product you’re leaning towards. Choosing the best bed bug powder will help you eradicate those pesky little creatures from your home!
