How to Kill Fleas & Bed Bugs With Powder

If your cat scratches itself often, it is a sign that it may have fleas.

Fleas and bedbugs are pests that can lay eggs and spread throughout your home. The bites from bedbugs and fleas are itchy, red and swollen and the bugs can carry disease. Animals generally bring fleas into the home, but they may also be transported by people or furniture. Bedbugs are transported in furniture, bedding and clothes. You can remove both insects with an insecticide powder that you sprinkle on carpeting or bedding. The key ingredient in most powders is diatomaceous earth. You can purchase the powder at hardware, home improvement or some grocery stores.

Things You'll Need

• Dust mask
• Gloves
• Washing machine
• Vacuum
• Insecticide powder
• Broom
• Toothbrush

Instructions

1. Put on gloves and a dust mask to protect yourself from inhaling the insecticide powder.

2. Remove all bedding or infected clothes and wash it in hot water. The hot water will kill bedbugs and fleas. Dry the items on high heat.

3. Vacuum the item that has bedbugs or fleas. This will not remove all of the pests, but it will remove some of them and make it easier for the powder to penetrate the pests. Throw away the vacuum bag.

4. Shake the insecticide powder onto the area that is covered in fleas or bedbugs. This usually includes carpets, mattresses, box springs or clothing.

5. Brush the insecticide powder with a broom to spread it out evenly work it into the item. Brush it into cracks in your bed or chairs with a toothbrush.

6. Repeat the process every week for six weeks. Insecticide powder only kills fleas and bedbugs in a certain level of development. By using the powder for four to six weeks, you will ensure that you've caught all of the young bugs and that all of the old ones are already dead.

References

• World Health Organization: Bedbugs, Fleas, Lice, Ticks and Mice

Resources

• Bedbug Powder: 3 Simple Steps
• Do Your Own Pest Control: How to Get Rid of Fleas