Why You May Want To Think Twice Before Using Dawn Soap To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

Dawn dishwashing soap has long been known for its use on more than just dishes. Surprisingly, it can even be used to get rid of bed bugs. However, there are some things you should know before you use it on the dreaded pests. It needs to be applied in a specific way, and some versions of Dawn are more effective than others.

Dawn has been around for over 50 years and is America's best-selling dishwashing liquid. It is also known for being a bit of a multipurpose cleaner. It is gentle on fabrics and can be used for cleaning everything from jewelry to vinyl siding. It can also help clean mirrors, glasses, and bathtubs, and even unclog a toilet. It can kill fleas on contact, so you can make a soapy mixture with some water to obliterate fleas you see on your pet.

However, since bed bugs live in furniture and bedding and not on pets, it requires a different strategy since you can't give your bed or couch a bath.

When applied directly on bed bugs, dish soap causes them to dehydrate and die. It breaks down the outer layer of a bed bug's shell known as the exocuticle. Yet this method is limited to direct contact with each bed bug.

Another option is to add dish soap and water to a spray bottle to make a soapy and thick spray. It will also keep bed bugs from running away. When you see a group of bed bugs, simply spray them with the soapy mix to reduce their speed and agility. 

Then you can pick them up and drop them into a container filled with soapy water. Bed bugs can't swim and will drown. While they won't sink right away in the water and can float, the weight and stickiness of the soap will draw them deeper into the water where they will drown. If you can submerge them in hot water, that is even better.

However, this technique only works with bed bugs that you can see. These insects are skilled at hiding and tend to hide in unexpected places. For every bed bug you kill, there are likely many more securely hiding away in other parts of your home. You must not only kill the bed bugs present, but you must also kill off the eggs.

Believe it or not, bed bug eggs are stronger than the adult insects. While bed bugs can be covered in Dawn soap and quickly die in water, eggs can last for up to 24 hours in water. There is a specific way you must apply Dawn to kill bed bug eggs. For a bed bug egg to die off, it needs to be completely enveloped in the soap. This can be a problem since eggs are typically hatched deep within a bed bug's hiding space and are not easily found.

Regular Dawn dish soap is the least effective option, as it is not highly concentrated. Dawn Platinum is slightly more effective, while Dawn Ultra works best since it is more sudsy, stickier, and concentrated. Bed bug eggs hatch every 10 days, so if you choose this method, you'll need to repeat it consistently. That's the best way to get to all the areas where the bed bugs and their eggs are hiding.