9 steps to prevent bedbugs in your apartment using ammonia

Ammonia against bedbugs is one of the most effective methods in the fight against “uninvited guests.” Toxic drugs are not an option for insect baiting for everyone, but ammonia is an accessible, inexpensive, and practically safe way to solve the problem.

To confirm the effectiveness of ammonia in the fight against parasites, it is worth understanding the principle of action of the composition, its pros and cons.

It would be a good idea to learn how to use ammonia correctly to ensure results.

Rules of application

There are several options for using ammonia against bedbugs:

1. Pour into small vessels and leave where parasites are most common. It is important to place containers in such a way that they remain out of the reach of children and pets.
2. Add ammonia to a container of water to wash floors. They also add a little denatured alcohol to kill bedbugs and use kerosene. The composition is poured into the cracks. A cotton swab soaked in the substance is placed inside the sofa, in the closet, bedside table, under the mattress.

After the anti-bedbug alcohol has been used for its intended purpose, the exterminator must leave the premises (it is better to go outside).

Otherwise, a person may experience a migraine, dizziness, and difficulty breathing . It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth with clean water, wash your face with soap, and wash your clothes.

Ammonia

When searching for food, pests use their sense of smell. Their whiskers act like an antenna and pick up the slightest odors. Ammonia has an odor that overpowers other odors and irritates the respiratory tract. As a result, insects leave the room.

Composition and release form

A clear liquid with a pungent odor is sold in pharmacies. A 10% aqueous solution of ammonia is packaged in 10 ml bottles. In hardware stores you can buy ammonia in large 500 ml bottles.

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On the farm, ammonia is used in the following cases:

• to repel cockroaches;
• for removing stains from clothes and furniture;
• for cleaning plumbing;
• to remove dark stains and plaque from silver and gold.

Mode of application

The ammonia solution should be diluted in such a way that it does not harm people living in the apartment. Cockroaches will smell even a faint odor.

To kill insects, you need to dilute a teaspoon of folk remedy in a liter of water at room temperature. The resulting composition is used to treat floors, baseboards, sinks, furniture on the reverse side, the area next to the trash can, near the front door and under the bathroom.

The solution evaporates quickly, so the room will need to be treated at least three times. To prevent pests from drinking water, the prepared ammonia solution is poured into the toilet, bathtub and sink. The strong smell will scare them away. It is best to treat surfaces in the evening, since cockroaches crawl out to hunt at night.

Vapors from ammonia quickly evaporate, so to get rid of cockroaches, you will have to use an ammonia solution for more than one day. However, there are more effective recipes:

1. Insects cannot tolerate the pungent odor of acetic acid. And if you dilute it with ammonia, the “aroma” will become even more unpleasant. The treatment is carried out with a solution of one liter of water, to which 200 ml of vinegar and alcohol are added. During the procedure, you must use a respirator.
2. A solution of ammonia in high concentration or a pure substance can be filled into a syringe or enema and poured into cracks and under baseboards.
3. You can prolong the strong smell of ammonia by soaking rags in it and placing them in the cockroach habitat.

Precautionary measures

The ammonia solution has a pungent odor, so no people or animals should remain in the apartment during treatment. It is forbidden to use the solution without access to fresh air. During the procedure, you should open the vents or windows. Otherwise, the quickly evaporating product can lead to breathing problems, nausea, dizziness, and increased blood pressure.

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The person who will process the room must wear rubber gloves, a respirator and long sleeves.

During the procedure, it is necessary to ensure that the ammonium hydroxide solution does not get into the oral cavity, on the skin, or in the eyes. Otherwise, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water, and wash your eyes and hands with soap. If it becomes difficult to breathe, a headache and nausea appear, you should go out into the fresh air and call an ambulance.

After treatment, you should leave the apartment, wash well with soap and rinse your mouth. You can return to the room after the surfaces have dried. The smell should disappear.

Ammonia acts as a repellent, so in an apartment heavily infested with cockroaches, its effect will not be very effective. But if insects come to you from neighbors, then after treating the premises with an ammonia solution they will forget the way to your house.

Are they afraid

Answering the question of whether bedbugs are afraid of alcohol, we can answer unequivocally in the affirmative. The substance does not kill pests, but only drives them away. Parasitic organisms do not like the strong smell of the substance.

For bedbugs, ammonia is a significant irritant; it does not allow them to continue living in the apartment - the insects try to leave their previous habitat.

In some cases, only active movement of insects between rooms is observed.

Tansy

Another type of plant that can repel bed bugs is tansy. This is a fairly common meadow plant with small yellow flowers collected in clusters of inflorescences. A decoction of tansy is actively used by gardeners and gardeners to treat crops against pests. For many insects, tansy is poison.

However, tansy is unable to destroy bed bugs, since these insects do not eat grass, but feed only on human blood. Of course, if an individual gets into the tansy decoction, it will most likely die.

In this case, a substance poisonous to the insect will enter the insect’s body through the respiratory tract. However, simply inhaling the air in which the smell of tansy is in the air will not kill the insect.

Tansy, like wormwood, acts on bedbugs as a repellent, that is, the grass does not kill blood-sucking insects, but repels them. Thus, the herb helps provide household members with a restful sleep at night for some time.

What you need to know before processing

Ammonia against bedbugs should be used with caution. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to remove all residents and pets from the apartment (house) (the composition is lethal for pets). Only the person who intends to carry out the treatment remains in the affected area.

When using ammonia, it is important to maintain the proportion of components: water and alcohol in the composition. Recommended dosage: 3 tbsp. l. per liter of water.

The principle of action of ammonia

An aqueous solution of ammonia has a sharp, specific odor and is irritating. If a person has lost consciousness, a cotton swab soaked in ammonia is brought to his nose. When inhaling vapors of the substance, receptors in the respiratory tract are irritated. This leads to an increase in pressure and increased breathing, and the person comes to his senses.

Ammonia solution is used in three ways:

1. Inhale the vapor (a cotton wool soaked in the substance should be brought at a distance of 5-7 cm from the nose).
2. Ingestion.
3. External use.

The substance is dangerous even when inhaled from a cotton swab - care must be taken and do not allow the patient to inhale the vapors of the solution for more than 2-3 seconds. Otherwise, the body may stop breathing in an attempt to protect itself from the poison, which is extremely dangerous.

Preventing apartment infestation

In order not to wonder how to get rid of bedbugs at home, you should pay attention to preventing the appearance of bedbugs.

Measures to prevent the infestation of an apartment by parasites include several points:

1. Carrying out regular cleaning: washing floors, cleaning furniture, washing household items.
2. Identification of gaps, cracks in the wall, filling them with a sealing compound.
3. Inspection of any pieces of furniture delivered from store warehouses and other residential premises.
4. Elimination of sanitary and technical defects.
5. Carrying out preliminary disinfestation at the time of moving into a new apartment.
6. Using a vacuum cleaner when cleaning hard-to-reach places.
7. Carrying out timely repairs in the apartment (house): wallpapering, eliminating cracks and crevices in the walls, fixing baseboards.
8. Regular washing of linen and household items.
9. Awareness of the main signs of pest infestation: bite marks, remains of dried shells, visual contact, dead individuals.

Compliance with these measures will help prevent the infestation of insects and relieve homeowners from fighting parasites.

“Weak points” of annoying bloodsuckers

Each harmful insect finds its home where all conditions for its successful existence and reproduction are met. If you change any factors, the parasite will become uncomfortable, which means that it will soon leave its “home” place. Let's try to figure out what the habitat of bedbugs is and what features their bodies have.

Features of bedbugs and their requirements for a new place of residence:

Thermoregulation processes do not occur in the body of these parasites. Sudden temperature changes can not only spoil the health of the bug, but even kill it altogether.

Therefore, insects choose unventilated areas for themselves.

Important! The insect's body is able to adapt to temperatures from -10 to +45 degrees Celsius; going beyond these indicators is detrimental to bedbugs. Some folk remedies for bedbugs at home involve the use of strongly odorous substances

Because

Bedbugs communicate with each other using odors; they cannot tolerate foreign odors. So where geraniums grow, incense sticks are lit, or there are sprigs of lavender in a vase, the likelihood of uninvited guests is too small.

• Bedbugs choose places that are difficult for people and pets to reach, in other words, they strive to ensure safety for themselves and their offspring. The shells of hungry individuals cannot be crushed, but after eating food, the bodies of insects lose their former hardness and become vulnerable.
• Even if the perimeter of the room is treated with chemicals, bedbugs may not pay attention to it. Eggs and their “parents” have amazing immunity to many poisons; in addition, a certain concentration of disinfectants can contribute to the active reproduction of “settlers”. In this regard, insects may well locate their nest near the treated area.

Bedbug nest located under the sofa upholstery

After we have identified the weak points of annoying pests, it’s time to figure out how to get rid of bedbugs using folk remedies.

Advantages and disadvantages

Ammonia for bedbugs in an apartment, like any folk remedy, has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

They are shown in the table below:

We are talking about a fairly effective folk remedy; it is able to demonstrate the expected result with an insignificant pest infestation.

If we are talking about a large population of insects that has settled in an apartment, it is worth turning to supportive methods of controlling bedbugs.

Critical temperatures

Unlike many other household parasites, bedbugs are quite resistant to low temperatures, and in modern homes it is not possible to lower the temperature in the room so that the parasites die without consequences for electrical appliances and piping. Bedbugs become more passive even when the temperature drops to 10°C; when the temperature drops, the bedbugs hibernate and can withstand temperatures down to -10°C for a short time, and at temperatures below -20°C the parasites die within a few minutes. If the living space cannot be frozen to such a temperature, then it is advisable to hang bedding and clothes outside on cold winter days so that the parasites die.

Bedbugs are more sensitive to high temperatures and die at 55-60 °C. Of course, you can’t walk around the house with an open flame looking for bedbugs, but you can use steam generators that are used to humidify rooms. Steam should be applied to the bed and nearby furniture and carpets, and also try to find the lair of parasites and destroy it.

Similar methods

As “insurance” when controlling pests with ammonia, it is advisable to use the following means:

With the help of the given available means, it is possible to ensure the extermination of parasites. Among the most effective means that kill bedbugs are not only vodka, kerosene, turpentine, etc. This list can be continued with less toxic means: camphor oil, wormwood, tansy, etc.

Essential oils to fight bedbugs

The persistent specific aroma of essential oils can protect a person from bedbug bites and reduce the number of insects in the room. Cloves, geranium, basil, tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary are plants from which essential oils are prepared, which are effectively used against bedbugs. Indian margosa oil is widely used to combat blood-sucking insects.

There are several ways to fight bedbugs using essential oils: by applying the drug directly to the skin, by spraying the essential oil in the room, and by using an aroma lamp. Such methods will get rid of annoying insects and prevent their appearance.

Important! Lavender, or rather lavender oil, is the best remedy that should be used to treat bed frames, bedside tables and which should be sprayed indoors.

Reviews

If you evaluate reviews of the use of ammonia in baiting bedbugs, you can draw a conclusion about the relative effectiveness of the product.

Some representatives remain faithful to traditional methods and note fairly good processing results. Others, on the contrary, consider the measure useless and even aggravating: pests not only do not leave the home, but also begin to actively move around the apartment in search of “shelter.”

The opinion of experts on this matter is clear: it is impossible to get rid of bedbugs using folk remedies, including ammonia, especially if we are talking about a massive infestation of insects. The best option is to use methods exclusively as part of prevention.

When identifying signs of pests living in the house, it is better to immediately move on to the “heavy artillery”.

The most effective method in this case will be professional help from SES employees: they will not only find the cause of the problem, but will also select the most effective pest control remedy for the case.

Thus, ammonia is a relatively effective, practically safe remedy for bedbugs. The smell of the substance is frightening, but does not kill insects. It is important to follow safety precautions before and after using the method. The effect of ammonia depends on the degree of infestation of the apartment (house) with bedbugs.

Alternative or additional means to combat bloodsuckers include: vodka, technical alcohol, vinegar and a number of others.

Conscious and regular prevention against bedbugs will protect residents from unwanted neighbors and save them from searching for solutions to an unpleasant problem.

How to use it correctly?

Ammonia is a necessary aid in any area. This folk recipe helps remove insects with virtually no risk to plants and the human body.

An important condition for working with solutions is the use of protective equipment.

You should remember the safety precautions and use the solution only in well-ventilated areas, wearing gloves, goggles and a mask

What will you need?

It must be remembered that ammonia concentrate can cause burns to the skin and mucous membranes. It is also dangerous to breathe in the fumes as they can cause lung problems. The first thing you need to do is acquire the protective equipment required for safe use. Skin, eyes and respiratory tract should be protected.

Depending on the scale of processing, you need to prepare:

• gauze bandage;
• gloves;
• spray bottle (watering can or bucket);
• water;
• soap base.

Spray

As a rule, it is needed when there is a fight not only against ants, but also against aphids, which they actively spread. With its help you can poison insects on the foliage and trunks of tall trees and medium-sized plants.

Gauze bandage

When using an ammonia-based product, the first step is to protect your respiratory tract. A gauze bandage can prevent steam from entering the body.

Gloves

Also a mandatory element of protection are latex or cotton gloves with rubberized palms and fingers. It is best that their height is maximum.

Bucket

It is best to use plastic containers to prevent ammonia from interacting with metals. The use of buckets will be needed when fighting parasites that destroy the root system of plants.

Soap

Typically, soap is intended to help the product stick to foliage and other surfaces. The use of “adhesive” allows you to protect the garden and other areas from uninvited guests for a long time. Any soap, shampoo or dish detergent can be used as “adhesives”.

Water

If you plan to add more than just homemade ammonia to the solutions, you should use boiled water. In this case, ammonia will not give any extraneous reactions.

Cooking methods

In the fight against ants, ammonia must be diluted immediately before processing. This is due to the rapid evaporation of ammonia vapor, which insects are afraid of. First of all, all the ingredients are mixed in water; the proportions are always different. When the mixture is ready for use, you can pour in ammonia. The destruction of uninvited guests is carried out using an aqueous solution of ammonia, which can be bought at a pharmacy.

Against ants

The following proportions help rid the area of ​​pests:

For 8 liters of boiled water you will need 1 tbsp. spoon of ammonia. This solution should be left to sit for 15-20 minutes. When the mixture becomes uniform, it can be used to treat areas with insects. Such a weak remedy can be used during the flowering and fruiting period, since it does not harm the plants.

Against aphids

To save plants from aphid attacks, it is also recommended to treat them with an aqueous solution of ammonia. The following recipe is used:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of alcohol, 2 tablespoons of tar soap shavings and 10 liters of water. Soap can replace fairy or shampoo. At the same time, gardeners say that tar soap enhances the effectiveness of the solution.
2. All components dissolve well in water. All affected plants are treated with a spray bottle. Healthy trees can be treated for prevention.
3. During the spraying process, you need to especially carefully treat the lower part of the foliage, where the parasite lives most.

Sugar solution

The soap in the spray can be replaced with a sugar solution. To treat plants you will need 3 tablespoons of alcohol, 5 tablespoons of sugar and a bucket of water. Mix everything well and spray using a spray bottle.

Prevention

You can use ammonia against ants in the garden for preventive purposes. To do this, you need to prepare the following mixture: dilute 10 ml of alcohol in a bucket of water and water the plants with this solution weekly. This way you can not only get rid of pests, but also scare them away forever.

Spraying

Spraying with ammonia helps fertilize plants and fight parasites. To do this, it is enough to use a weak solution - 1 spoon of alcohol per 8 liters of water.