Household item that cleaning experts believe can kill bed bugs amid UK infestation

As bed bugs seem to be setting up camp here in the UK, here's the cleaning product that experts reckon will be able to wipe out those hellish infestations.

Reportings of bed bugs in London that have spread from Paris are freaking everyone out, but thankfully, we might just know the one product that’s going to save all of us!

An ‘alarming’ number of bed bug sightings have been reported throughout the UK, and the number one issue people are finding is that they are becoming resistant to the products that used to kill them… well played, guys!

But Nigel Bearmen, owner of the cleaning company Daily Poppins, has shared exactly which household item is going to help you out if you find yourself in a situation with the tiny bugs.

And it's as cheap as 65p!

Nigel said to Metro: “Small granules of baking soda can cause internal bleeding due to the fact that they can cut into a bed bug’s shell.”

Who would have thought that baking soda would be the thing to save us?

According to Nigel, you start by sprinkling the baking soda onto your bed and around your mattress, and it should eventually dehydrate them which, in some instances, can result in death.

Unsplash/Addilyn Ragsdill @clockworklem

So while it isn't a guaranteed exterminator, baking soda has been historically used to kill the little critters so it's definitely worth a shot.

Speaking of the ongoing infestation, microbiologist and founder of Bed Bugs Ltd David Cain told Sky News: "I think there's probably a similar level of issue in London as there is in Paris at present.

"They're already on buses, trains, tubes, cinemas, doctor's surgeries, public spaces, hospitals."

But what exactly is it that we should be looking out for? After all, these annoying little things are so small.

According to the NHS, signs of bedbugs in the home include:

• Bites – often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck and arms
• Spots of blood on your bedding – from the bites or from squashing a bedbug
• Small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bed bug poop)

Oxford Scientific/Getty

The baking soda tip is coming in handy after looking at the figures on Checkatrade, a site that connects people with local tradespeople to see what they reckon the approximate cost might be to get rid of an infestation.

The UK average for a callout and inspection – as stated on their website – is around £60, with a treatment costing about £280 on average.

Then, if you need a full heat and insecticide treatment, you’re looking at £1,000.

I think we’ll stick with the 65p method to be honest, because that amount of money is making our skin crawl more than the bed bugs themselves!

Topics: Hacks, UK News, Animals

Mia Williams

Mia is a freelance writer for LADBible, and an award-winning trainee journalist at the UK’s No.1 journalism school, News Associates.

@mia_francessca