“Karbofos” for bedbugs, which is based on an organophosphorus compound, is one of the most popular remedies. The main disadvantage of this insecticide is its distinct unpleasant odor, but the main advantage is its 100% effect after the second application. Moreover, the list of pros and cons of the insecticide is not limited to this.
Removing bedbugs is not as easy as it might seem. These bloodsuckers occupy the apartment seriously and for a long time. A small number of insects that have just appeared in the house can be destroyed using an aerosol or spray that affects creeping and flying parasites. If it was not possible to “come to an agreement” with bedbugs using “gentle” means, it’s time to resort to the use of “heavy artillery” - organophosphorus compounds that can outright kill a horde of insects.
Why Karbofos?
Getting rid of bed bugs is difficult because their bodies are resistant to many toxic agents. It is difficult for chemicals to penetrate the chitinous shell of an adult.
The eggs of parasites are reliably protected by a shell. Karbofos is effective against bedbugs due to its unique composition and principle of action. It is used against many parasites - cockroaches, ants and other insects.
Composition of the drug
The active substance of Karbofos is malathion. This is a colorless liquid, oily to the touch, has a pungent odor, and is used to prepare an emulsion.
Malathion is resistant to temperature changes and direct sunlight, poorly soluble in water, but soluble in solvents. Destroyed by alkali.
Svetlana, Gorno-Altaisk:
“My parents used Karbofos when I was little. I still remember the smell, but they stopped biting. His effect was strong. Modern means cannot be compared. They smell nice, but there is no result from them. If there are any bugs, I will immediately buy Karbofos. You can get rid of the smell, but I would also like to get rid of bedbugs.”
Reviews
On the Internet, we have collected a number of reviews from people who used Karbofos to combat bedbugs in their homes.
Dmitriy. I bought this product specifically for removing bedbugs, having read a bunch of reviews that it really helps. Opening the bag, I smelled an incredibly nasty smell, like a sewer. Then I diluted the bag into a liter of water and sprayed all the furniture, baseboards and joints. I did not follow safety precautions and decided to limit myself to one respirator. I did this in the morning, before going to work. After the treatment, I was at home for about an hour and had no idea that anything could happen. At work, I began to feel extremely nauseous, and there was an unpleasant bitterness in my mouth. However, by the end of the working day everything went away. Upon returning home, I felt that the smell had noticeably decreased, and I decided to ventilate the room for 20 minutes. In general, after six months, there is no smell in the room, although the furniture still stinks. I suspect that this will never be erased. In short, Karbofos kills bedbugs in a matter of minutes, leaving them no chance of survival. After treatment, I didn’t clean the floors for about a month so that it would be more effective. For six months I did not observe a single bug in my home.
Anna Kryuchkova. I have lived all my life in the countryside and have tried many insect repellents. The oldest, most reliable and effective remedy is Karbofos, which is also sold in liquid form. Liquid is more convenient. The smell, of course, is terrible and slightly harmful to humans. Especially if you decide to use it indoors. But this is the only way to drive away insects like bedbugs and cockroaches. Those that already live with you die instantly, and new ones do not come - because the smell remains and becomes unbearable for them. I recommend it to summer residents and gardeners.
Daniel. An extremely powerful thing. We got bedbugs from our neighbors, tried a bunch of remedies, but only after using Karbofos did these bastards leave us behind. But the thing is extremely smelly. If you can stand it, I recommend it. If not, it is better to look for an alternative remedy.
Which release form is better?
The negative and positive aspects of different forms of Karbofos are presented in the table.
| Karbafos form | Advantages | Flaws |
| Liquid | It is convenient to use in ampoules for treating small areas. In canisters, the already diluted composition does not require additional preparation. | The volume in the canisters is too large. Inconvenient for individuals. |
| Aerosol | It does not smell of Karbofos and leaves no traces. Highly flammable. | Bedbugs get used to the aerosol; you should alternate the product with other methods of killing parasites |
| Powder | It's the cheapest. | Inconvenient to use. |
| Pencil | Odorless and easy to use. | Short period of validity, you have to constantly apply new touches in places where parasites accumulate. |
Ivan E., Vologda region:
“We rented an apartment, the child did not sleep well the first night, we thought about moving to a new place. I woke up and itched all over. Bedbugs were found in the side of the crib. We tried different remedies - it didn’t help. Strong, modern drugs were used, but the parasites turned out to be tenacious. They didn’t want to call a special service, they leave behind so many toxic substances, and we have a small child. Aerosol Karbofos is a great thing. It doesn't smell so bad anymore. The bugs were blown away like the wind. But I just had to look, the aerosol is not sold everywhere.”
Carbozol - a ready-made solution to the problem
An easy-to-use insecticide available in aerosol form. It's called Carbosol. Contains: malathion, solvent and flavoring. After using the drug there is no pungent odor left. The specific aroma quickly disappears when the windows are opened. Carbozol is effective only at the initial stage of infection of an apartment. It will not cope with a large number of ectoparasites. Before using the aerosol, all household members must leave the room for at least 24 hours.
It is necessary to protect personal belongings, food and other items that do not need treatment from exposure to the product. The substance is highly flammable, so it should be sprayed away from fire. Before work, you must protect your respiratory system with a respirator. Every other day, cleaning is carried out with a soap and soda solution.
Effect of Karbofos on bedbugs and larvae
The principle of the drug’s effect on domestic bedbugs is neuro-paralytic. The transmission of nerve impulses between cells is blocked. As a result, the chain of nervous reactions opens, paralysis of the body and death occurs.
The outer shells of the larvae and eggs are burned through by the active substances of Karbofos, after which instant death occurs.
The active substance of Karbofos, malathion, is oxidized in the body of the bug to toxic malaoxone. This has a detrimental effect on bedbugs. This chemical reaction occurs only in the body of insects - parasites.
When bedbugs are regularly treated with Karbofos, the oxidative reaction stops. This explains the effect of insects becoming accustomed to the drug. In this regard, it is necessary to change the methods of fighting insects.
Types of effects on parasites
Karbofos is a contact intestinal insecticide whose work is based on blocking the nerve impulses of the insect. Once on the body or inside, the transmission of impulses from cell to cell is disrupted, resulting in paralysis and subsequent death of the insect. Combines all types of insecticidal effects:
- Ovicidal - effects on insect eggs, through the shell affects the larvae.
- Larvicidal - destruction of larvae in the initial stages of development.
- Imagocidal - fight against adult insects.
For humans and warm-blooded animals, Karbofos can be quite toxic, having a cumulative (accumulates in the body) property.
But this happens when the drug is used for a very long time; in our case, accumulation does not occur. Interesting fact: After the bug is saturated with blood, its body becomes like a small ball of the corresponding color. The more time passes from the moment the bug ate food, the darker the color it acquires, which is due to the oxidation of iron, which is part of hemoglobin.
Preparing the apartment before treatment
Before poisoning bedbugs with Karbofos, you need to carefully remove all things in the room. The odor of the drug is unpleasant and can remain in the fabric for a long time. That’s why all the curtains and drapes need to be removed, the upholstered furniture needs to be disassembled and taken out. It is better to pack books, other things, soft toys in bags and take them out.
Anything that cannot be taken out must be wrapped, hermetically sealed in plastic wrap and placed in the middle of the room.
No living creatures or plants should be present during processing. Beds and other sleeping areas where bedbugs usually live should be dismantled and mattresses raised vertically.
Old furniture should be burned or thrown into a landfill. It is she who is often a breeding ground for bedbugs.
It is better to remove food from the premises. If bedbugs have settled behind the wallpaper, it is better to tear them off.
Veronica, Kamennogorsk:
“Two or three times a year I poison bedbugs in the apartment with Karbofos powder, but there is no point. They appear again. I can’t complain about the quality of the powder; I bought it at the local SES. I don't think they should have counterfeits. But bedbugs are simply indestructible. I will change the product to something else. But I don’t even know which one to take if Karbofos doesn’t kill them.”
Preparatory activities
Before disinfestation, the apartment is prepared accordingly:
- People and pets living in it are taken to another living space for the duration of the procedure and for the next 24 hours.
- Find out from neighbors whether they have parasitic clusters. If any are present, disinfestation is carried out mutually. Otherwise, new hordes will not be slow to move into the neutralized territory. When neighbors refuse the procedure, they block the through passages in their own homes. This helps to avoid other insect migrations.
- Furniture is moved away from the walls to free up access to the baseboards.
- Things, food, children's toys and other interior items are packed in tightly closed bags and taken outside the premises. The same applies to bedding, but first they are washed in hot water and ironed under steam.
- Wardrobes are thoroughly inspected for the presence of parasites. If nests are found inside, then inform the exterminator about it. The cabinet doors open.
- If there is an aquarium, then turn off the air supply system and cover it with glass on top.
After such events, the apartment is ready for sanitation.
Safety precautions during processing
Karbofos can have a toxic effect on humans. Before working with it, you need to protect yourself from contact with the skin and respiratory organs of the drug. Gloves are put on your hands, your eyes are protected with special goggles, and your face is covered with a respirator. Protective clothing must cover the entire body.
Karbofos has a pungent odor, so treatment must be carried out with the windows open. After the procedure is completed, the windows and doors are closed.
You need two people to poison bedbugs so that in case of poisoning there is someone to help. It is dangerous for one person to be in the room. The spray bottle should be held at arm's length away from you, and not pointed at yourself or another person.
Precautions for use
Preparation of the solution and treatment of the room should be carried out in a protective suit. As equipment you need to prepare:
- A respirator that protects the respiratory system from the ingress of active substances.
- Work clothes should have long sleeves so that there are no exposed areas of the body.
- Rubber gloves – protect hands from contact with the solution.
- To protect your eyes from the toxic compound, wear special glasses.
Attention. The drug should be stored separately from food. It should not be exposed to open flames, mixed with chemicals or heated.
When the drug is used to treat head lice, the contraindications are: pregnancy, lactation, and the child is less than two years old.
How to breed Karbofos? Instructions
The solution must be prepared especially carefully; the result of the treatment depends on this. How to dilute Karbofos is written in the instructions for the drug. The degree of infestation of the premises by domestic parasites should be taken into account. This should be calculated in the concentration of the finished solution.
When diluting the powder, the average dosage will be 5g per liter of water. When re-processing, 2 g of powder will be enough. The water should be warm for better dissolution of the powder.
In case of an advanced situation with bedbugs or if a nest of domestic parasites was found in the room, the concentration of the powder should be increased by several grams. When carrying out treatment for preventive purposes, the concentration decreases accordingly.
Liquid Karbofos is diluted in this way - 5 ml per liter of water. If the bedbug infestation is not too large, then only 2 ml of liquid preparation will be enough. The same amount is used for repeated spraying. When the case is advanced, the concentration increases.
After preparing the solution, you need to treat the apartment. Spray the solution from a spray bottle one by one on the surfaces on which bedbugs are found or may be present.
Do not spray on bedding. Beds, sofas, walls with wallpaper, baseboards, areas behind radiators, and under window sills need to be treated very carefully. No gaps should be missed. You need to close all windows and doors and leave for 4 hours. After 3 days the treatment will need to be repeated.
Vyacheslav Grigorievich, Tuapse:
“Karbofos is an excellent drug. No matter how much I use it, it always helps. You must be able to dilute and apply. This is poison, we must remember to protect ourselves. I always wear gloves when wearing a respirator. As soon as the bugs appeared, I immediately spread a little, treated all the habitats - I’ll be calm, I won’t see any more small parasites. I have my own farm. Bedbugs love to bite chickens. They can bite a pullet to death. I definitely process it in the chicken coop. He always helps, he’s my only hope.”
Where to poison bedbugs
Bedbugs are slow, so they place their nests close to the feeding area; we look for them near our resting places. We process:
- Bedroom furniture - all joints and crevices of wooden structures.
- Sofas should be treated both outside and inside.
- Furniture bedside tables, chest of drawers, etc. (bottom, back walls and drawers).
- The reverse side of carpets and paintings, all wall decorative elements.
- Under the window sill and heating panels.
- Sockets and switches (disconnect power in advance).
- It is possible that you got bedbugs from your neighbors, treat the frame of the entrance doors and the ventilation shaft.
- Gaps in the floor and baseboards.
- Places of joints and loose wallpaper.
After disinfestation is completed, put your work clothes in the wash, take a shower and rinse your mouth. All processing is carried out with the windows open. Leave the apartment for 3 - 5 hours, and ventilate well upon return. Wipe all contact areas (shelves, tables, chairs, door handles, etc.) with a soap solution with the addition of soda. After 2 - 3 days, the cleaning is carried out; the presence of dead insects will show you the quality of the treatment; sometimes it is necessary to re-treat (if the number of bedbugs was large). Carry out general cleaning after 1.5 - 2 months. Now products based on Karbofos make up about 80% of all insecticides on the market, and many buyers are pleased with their results and price.
From the outside it seemed that Lenochka was thinking. In fact, a lonely cockroach was running around in her head and wailing: “What to do, what to do?”
Further cleaning
After 4 hours have passed, you can ventilate the room. To prevent toxic substances from entering the human body, cleaning must be done. Soap and soda are added to the cleaning water.
Things and clothing that remained indoors during processing should be washed or dry-cleaned. Wash dishes with soap. Throw away clothes that have been infested with bedbugs or wash them with baking soda.
The action of Karbofos will continue for another 2 months after treatment. Only after this time will it be possible to carry out a final general cleaning of the premises.
The best option is not to live in the room for a week after treatment, come for ventilation so that the smell disappears. Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with allergies are prohibited from visiting the premises at this time. After 2 weeks, do a new treatment.
Application on beds
Try to process plants in the garden in calm weather, with a temperature no higher than +15°C. Apply the spray method evenly to the leaves of the plants. The protective effect of Karbofos lasts 1.5 - 2 weeks, and begins to act within 3 - 4 hours after treatment. The table shows the amount of water required to prepare a working solution from a 60 gram package of Karbofos.
It is prohibited to use the drug during the flowering period; it is dangerous for bees. Do not allow to enter water bodies.
Advantages of the drug
Corbofos is a popular drug. He has many positive qualities.
Advantages of the product:
- quick positive result;
- acts immediately on all domestic parasites - flies, cockroaches, spiders;
- high efficiency;
- low toxicity to humans and domestic animals;
- when interacting with water, it remains poisonous to parasites;
- low price;
- possibility of independent use.
All these “advantages” determine the widespread use of the drug.
Nonna, Moscow:
“Karbofos helped a lot when moving, when it was necessary to clean the apartment of small parasites. He killed everyone else too - cockroaches, spiders, flies. Before moving in, we spent a whole month treating it, because the house is not new, the neighbors said that all the apartments had bedbugs and cockroaches. We threw away the furniture that was left over from the old tenants without regret, we removed all the wallpaper and tore off the baseboards. There were many nests, so Karbofos walked through them. After moving in, we have been free of bedbugs, cockroaches and other domestic parasites for two years now. The effect lasts that long. I recommend Karbofos and good treatment to everyone.”
Instructions for use
To sanitize the living space with karbofos, it is more convenient to use a spray device. Pour the solution into a container and walk over the surfaces of the room, focusing on the following objects:
- reverse walls of furniture;
- the reverse side of wall items: photo frames, mirrors, paintings;
- cracks;
- the bottom of sofas and beds;
- baseboards and other hidden places of possible localization of bloodsuckers.
A thicker layer is applied to surfaces with strong absorbency.
To treat hard-to-reach areas, it is recommended to use a syringe or a narrow brush. In the event of a heavily infested area, extermination of bedbugs is associated with a number of difficulties. So, it is advisable to first remove the old wallpaper.
Disadvantages of Karbofos
This drug also has negative qualities, like any poisonous agent.
The “disadvantages” of Karbofos will be:
- Strong smell;
- maintaining the effect for a short time. After about 3 weeks, the active substance will disappear. Bed bugs may re-infest the premises;
- insects develop a habit of the product;
- parasites die only through direct contact with a toxic substance;
- the drug evaporates quickly in fresh air.
Safety for children and animals
The active substance of Karbofos, malaoxon, does not have a toxic effect on humans or animals.
The drug has a detrimental effect on plants, so all indoor flowers should be removed when treating the room.
The strong smell of Karbofos can be unpleasant for children and pets. If you inhale synthetic substances that are formed during the evaporation of the drug, you can be poisoned. For this reason, when processing an apartment, a person puts on protective clothing to protect the respiratory system.
Signs of poisoning may include dizziness, blurred vision, blurred consciousness, weakness, tremors in the legs, and nausea. When such signs appear, it is necessary to provide an influx of fresh air, give the victim something to drink, and put him to bed. Provide peace. If symptoms worsen, call a doctor.
Matveevs, Ufa:
“The bedbugs were brought by accident from a trip with things. We don’t even know where we came from, we stopped in different places. But this is not important, another thing is that we cannot deduce it. We used different means - it didn’t help. We decided to call a special service. Even the advertised Karbofos did not scare the bedbugs. A lot of fuss for this product. You have to pack everything, leave yourself, go clean up. This may be good if it doesn't work. My wife and I are at work all day, our children also have little free time. A special team will also have to remove all the things, but maybe they will help.”
Manifestations of toxic effects on humans and domestic animals
High concentrations of malathion are a dangerous poison for humans. But for treating premises, a solution with the optimal amount of active substance is used. The drug does not accumulate in tissues, so it is used to treat animals and birds against ectoparasites. Upon contact with skin, redness and itching may occur. Signs of poisoning are:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- stomach ache.
In animals, symptoms of poisoning appear after an hour. At the initial stage they are expressed in depression. Then salivation and vomiting begin.
Karbofos for bedbugs is an effective and affordable remedy. This is one of the few drugs that can completely destroy ectoparasites in the house. If safety precautions are observed, the insecticide does not pose a threat to human health.
Where to buy, price
Karbofos anti-bedbug product is sold in specialized household chemical stores, hardware departments of supermarkets, markets, and online stores.
Compared to other bedbug medications, Karbofos's price is low. Karbofos in powder costs an average of 40 rubles. A 5-liter canister of diluted emulsion costs 2,900 rubles.
Drugs similar in action are Fufanol, Antiklesch, Alatar, Kemifos. They will differ in additional substances in the composition.
Advantages and disadvantages of insecticide
The choice of a chemical preparation for the destruction of blood-sucking parasites must be approached wisely. Products with low toxicity are safe for humans, but cannot cope with tenacious bedbugs. Many compounds act only on adults, and the eggs remain alive. After a few days, young insects emerge from them, and unpleasant bites begin with renewed vigor. Karbofos against bedbugs is one of the most effective remedies that does not cause insect resistance.
Among its advantages:
- The insecticide is considered one of the most effective drugs for killing bed bugs.
- Resistant to sunlight and water.
- Prolonged protective effect.
- Wide spectrum of action; at the same time as bedbugs, other insects living in the room also die.
- Extermination of ectoparasites at all stages of development.
- Affordable cost and ease of preparation.
Attention. A small dose of malathion entering the human body does not pose a threat to life. The substance quickly decomposes into safe components and is eliminated from the body.
Flaws:
- The product has an unpleasant odor that does not disappear for a long time.
- Two disinsections of the premises will be required. After the first, only part of the insects die.
- With frequent use, effectiveness is lost.
Advice. In a house where an allergy sufferer lives, it is better not to use Karbofos. The unpleasant odor of an insecticide can trigger a reaction from the immune system.
How was Karbofos created?
The production of organophosphorus compounds, such as Karbofos, was carried out back in the 19th century. The chemical industry began to develop intensively in the 20th century.
We were looking for additives for lubricants and toxic substances for agriculture. A. E. Arbuzov’s research played a major role in the creation of synthetic compounds, but they turned out to be very toxic.
Karbofos was obtained in the USSR in special laboratories. They worked on the creation of such substances in the West - in England, Germany and the USA. There this substance was called Malathion.
Konstantin, Tambov region:
“Many new drugs have been invented to combat domestic parasites. They no longer have a smell, you don’t have to leave the apartment and take out all your things. But my parents stubbornly kill bedbugs and cockroaches with Karbofos. My father has a whole canister in his garage just in case. I don’t doubt there is a result. But it's too much trouble. When they invented it, they didn’t think about comfortable use. And they invented it for completely different purposes.”
