Flour (also called smeddum) is a powder made by grinding raw grains. It is a staple in many foods, such as bread, cakes, and pastries, and so much more. And as a result can be found very easily in any pantry. In this article we will see if Flour does kill bed bugs.
Does Flour Kill Bed bugs ?
Flour does not kill bed bugs on contact. Indeed this white powder does not have abrasive properties to dehydrate and kill them. However we know that powdery substances such as wheat flour, diatomaceous earth, etc. are known to repel them. A bed with its four legs in this white powder could thus be protected. However remember that in some cases those pesky insects can drop from the ceiling.
However if you want to repel those bloodsuckers the best powder would be diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder, similar visually to wheat flour, but it comes from the fossils of seaweed. It is a natural insecticide which has a purely mechanical action against crawling insects such as bed bugs. Unlike flour, the efficiency of Diatomaceous earth against these pests is backed by many scientific research and pest control experts.
If a bed bug would walk into this Diatomaceous earth, particles from the dust will enter the respiratory system causing multiple cuts. As diatomaceous earth is very absorbent, it will dry out the insect, and kill it quickly.This gray diatomaceous earth is much more effective than white flour at killing them because it is much more abrasive.
If you want to find the best Diatomaceous earth available on the market, we suggest that you take a look at our Best Bed Bugs Powders Buying Guide.
Flour vs Cornstarch to get rid of Bed bugs
Both flour and Cornstarch can be both used as a desiccant to take moisture away from bed bugs and their eggs. Which could be irritating to them and potentially harmful. However in no way you can use both as a primary method to get rid of those critters. Indeed on top of not having confirmed effects of those powders from pest control experts, these are not registered pesticides and not known to be effective. If you want to use a pest powder you should rather try Diatomaceous Earth or Silica Gel Dust. If you want to learn more about the latter, you can check our Silica Gel Dust and Bed bugs Article.
Flour to treat bed bug bites ?
Wheat flour will not bring any relief to bed bug bites.
If you are looking for home remedies for bites from these pests. We would suggest you try to soothe those bites with oath flakes. Oat flakes are not only rich in several nutrients, but in addition, have remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Form a thick paste with oat flour or oat flakes mixed with a little water. Then apply it on the itching bites. Let the paste dry before rinsing it off with water.
If you have a lot of bites from them all over your body, try an oatmeal bath instead. Place 1 cup oats flakes or oat flour in a bathtub filled with warm water. The water will take on a milky color. Stay about 10 minutes in the bath before rinsing your skin with lukewarm water.
If you do not want to bother with infusing oat flakes or flour in your bath, then you could get bags of colloidal oatmeal (powder) from organic stores or herbalists to pour immediately into hot bath water. Relax after 10 to 15 minutes.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, wheat flour does not kill those bloodsucking critters. Best bed bugs powders are Diatomaceous earth or silica gel dust. Those two can kill them on contact and are to be included in any DIY method against those bloodsuckers.