As bed bug detection and removal can be time-consuming and expensive, you can use the bed bug hair dryer test as an alternative to calling a pest control service. If you think you have bed bugs in your home, it can be worrisome and stressful. You need to know the facts so you can take appropriate action.
In this article, we will discuss how you can check for bed bugs by using only a hair dryer. We will also talk about the effectiveness of using a hair dryer to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
What Is The Bed Bug Hair Dryer Test?
This is a simple test you can use to detect bed bugs in your home. Since you can use your own hair dryer, it doesn’t require any professional assistance. The hair dryer test will reveal any bed bugs that may be hiding in the seams of your mattress, in the cushion of your couch, and other furniture.
Since most bed bugs are excellent at hiding, you can confirm your suspicions by making them evacuate their nesting spots by making them extremely uncomfortable.
check for bed bugs with hair dryer
Bed bugs cannot tolerate heat. However, the warmth of your bedroom and bed are not enough to cause bed bugs to come out of hiding. One way to detect bed bugs is by using a hair dryer.
Using a hand-held hair dryer, focus the heat at a specific point where you believe bed bugs are hiding. The most common area you would check is between the seams of your mattress.
On the highest heat setting you have available, direct the hot air on one spot until it becomes unbearably hot. If there are any bed bugs hiding there, they will quickly begin to evacuate.
If you saw any bed bugs, then it’s time to go to war. If you found even one bed bug, you can confidently assume there are more.
Bed bug eggs can be present, too, even though they are nearly impossible to see. Using a blow dryer won’t reveal any eggs, since they have yet to hatch and won’t show movement.
Can A Hair Dryer Kill Bed Bugs
Heat kills bed bugs, but expect some complications if you make it a do-it-yourself job using your hair dryer. Is a hair dryer hot enough to kill bed bugs? Although many hair dryers do meet or exceed the recommended temperature of 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it is virtually impossible to know the exact temperature of your hair dryer.
Don’t worry, though. We’ll give you some better options in just a minute.
Second, you cannot simply blast hot air at a bed bug and expect it to die. If your dryer produces heat at 113 degrees, it will take over 90 minutes for a bug to die. It takes even longer for the eggs to die.
Third, when you see bed bugs, there are more that cannot be seen. Even if you can rid your mattress of bed bugs, there are likely to be more in your home. Bed bugs often hide in cracks and crevices, outlets, and upholstered furniture.
Can It Kill Bed Bug Eggs
Killing bed bugs with a hair dryer is possible, but it would take a very long time and is not guaranteed. Bed bug eggs are protected with a coating that is oily and waxy. This gives them a better chance at survival from any kind of conditions that may prevent them from hatching. This includes excess heat and insecticides.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs With A Blow Dryer
Getting rid of bed bugs with a hair dryer is only good for spot treatment. You can get them to evacuate one specific area by making it unbearably hot.
If you can get them to move to another area, you can use this method as a way of luring them towards more effective methods, such as trapping. Ideally, you want to move them towards a more effective method that will attract, capture, and kill them.
Can You Get Bed Bugs From A Hair Dryer?
Getting bed bugs from using a hair dryer is possible, but not likely. Although bed bugs are good at transferring from one environment to another, the chance of bed bugs hiding in a hair dryer is extremely rare and it would be pure coincidence.
Also, they have no interest in jumping into your hair, as bed bugs aren’t built to live in your hair.
Using A Clothing Dryer
Because of its high temperatures and consitency, dryer heat can be used to kill bed bugs. It’s a good idea to sort your clothes, vacuum up as many bed bugs as you can, and then stick the clothes in the dryer to kill the bed bugs. It is possible to kill bed bugs with each dryer cycle.
If you’re serious about killing bed bugs in the dryer, then you shouldn’t rely on heat alone. Get yourself a laundry detergent that is specially made for killing bed bugs and their eggs. We put together a list of laundry detergents that kill bed bugs in the dryer.
Steam Cleaners Work Better
Similar to hand-held hair dryers, a carpet or clothes steamer can help you find bed bugs in your home. Steamers can even kill bed bugs and their eggs. However, there are some points to keep in mind if you plan to use your steamer for bed bug removal.
You need to know if your steamer produces enough heat. It must be hot enough to produce a surface temperature between 160 and 180 degrees. This temperature can kill eggs as well as live bugs. Commercial steamers generally work better than steamers designed for home use, as home steamers often do not reach such high temperatures.
Similar to hairdryers, the steam must be focused in a specific area if it is to be effective. While it can be time-consuming to treat your entire home with this method, there is another issue to consider. If the steam is too hot, it can damage the fabric and other materials.
Steam Cleaners That Work
We took some time to shop around and find a list of steam cleaners. They can be used as an effective way to apply spot treatment for killing bed bugs. See our list of recommended steam cleaners for killing bed bugs if you’re looking to get serious about going to battle.
Conclusion
Doing the hairdryer bed bug test is an easy way to determine if there are bed bugs in your home. When you find bugs, a non-chemical approach is healthier and safer for your family and your pets. If you are thinking of taking a do-it-yourself approach to killing bed bugs and eggs, make sure you have thought about these potential complications.
Whether you take special precautions for using steam or hire a professional, your home can finally be free from bed bugs.