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alcohol vs Murphy's

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bugoff_1

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Jul 4 2009 17:08:35
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Just wondering if anyone knows how it is that Murphy's Oil soap works as well as 91% alcohol? I couldn't find any listed ingrediants in Murphy's, (such as alcohol).

Also, do either of these remove eggs? If not, is there anything besides heat/chems that can remove eggs? for example Hot Shot?
buggyinsocal

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Jul 4 2009 17:30:50
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Somebody somewhere once explained what Murphy's oil soap does, but honestly I wasn't paying close attention at the time. (By then, I'd started treatment with a PCO, so some details just weren't important to me.)

Neither removes eggs.

Nothing that I know of removes eggs.

Heat will kill eggs.

The only pesticide that kills any eggs is, um, I'm not 100% sure which one it is. Bedlam, I think? I do know that there's only one.

Here's what I do know: there is only one pesticide that kills any eggs at all, but even it does not kill all of the eggs. That is why PCO treatments when done properly (unless they are thermal or Vikane, which must still be done properly) require more than one treatment in most cases.

Since there are no pesticides that reliably work on eggs, what you're basically doing with chemical treatment is putting down residuals to kill any nymphs that hatch from eggs that were not taken care of with the original treatment. And then on a follow up visit, you're trying to kill on contact any of the hatchlings that weren't killed while they were in eggs.

Done properly, steam should kill the eggs. However, except for more expensive steamers, to get enough heat to kill the eggs, you're also running the risk of introducing a lot of water into something, which can cause mold problems. So, if for example, you're steaming your mattress and then putting an encasement on it immediately, you may be causing a whole host of new problems.

I can tell you this, though. After the thermal treatment of my apartment, there were still eggs glued in place. The eggs were clearly dead, but even baking my whole apartment to 140 degrees for hours on end hadn't unglued the eggs that were glued in place. That glue? Not messing around. That's why even rigorous vacuuming won't remove the eggs reliably.
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Jul 4 2009 20:01:51
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Both are contact kill of live bugs only.

Murphy is a gentle, all-purpose cleanser. Requires rinsing, leaves a little residue (that's what soap does, that detergent does not).
Alcohol evaporates, but damages paint and plastic surfaces.
Wash your "finished"stuff with Murphy. Spray that bug on your bed with alcohol.
losmatare

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Jul 14 2009 12:18:14
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For what I hear, get a strong brush and brush everything, that will remove the eggs. I have an old fashioned broom with straw, that I use to clean the floors with and scrub real well.
I use garlic water as a repellent.
bugmurderer

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Posted 6 months ago
Fri Oct 26 2012 18:02:53
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Im not exactly sure but Ive researched that the oil sereves as a repellent making it hard for the bugs to latch on and climb up things to get to your bed, couch, ect. I do know that 91% alcohol killes bugs at all life stages but not their eggs. Also if your not spraying the bug on contact your not doing any good. Alcohol evaporates rather quickly thats why you have to spray the bug not the surface you think it might be on later. Murphy's oil soap is a preventative method that makes surfaces to oily to climb. There is also a great deal ive heard about a powder that kills these bugs buy removing their waxy coating off their frail bodyies killing them not on contagt but within 24 hours of exposure and it also is said to help in combination with a brush and powerfull suction to remove eggs. Pure Earth D a food grade (Diatomaceous Earth). Microscopic and very sharp like microscopic razor blades, Athough not sharp to us it can strip a bug of it protective outer layers and kill it. As with bugs the eggs are also no match for the razor sharp substaince. It is said to have somewhat of the same effect on the eggs by coating areas where eggs are or may be with a pait brush or some other fine bristle brush, By useing the brush to distribute the powder message the surface back and forth and use a vacuum hose with the smallest attachment in place to suck up the egg as u loosen it with the sharp powdery brush. Although this is not proven it makes since to me. Im very new at this bed bug thing but ive done a lot of resharch and used my own judgement of what to use and money to spend on my small budget and i no longer have a problem. I inspect my home freguently and i continue to use my selected methods to prevent another infestation. I used 91% Alcohol on any bugs I seen and vacuumed those up rite away. I used murphy's oil soap on all surfaces like furniture (the entire peice) Hard floors under furniture, Base boards, chair railing, window and door frames, any crackes and crevices in all rooms. I used the Pure Earth D powder in all my electical outlets and light switches and ever my entire fuse box, and all my vents and anything that cant get wet. I also sprinkled it on my rugs and carpets (which i dont have many of). I bagged EVERYTHING that could be bagged even my TV's, DVD Players,Ect. I used my vacuum to suck out air in all those bags before leaving them to set for several weeks. My couch and other furniture that could not be bagged of coarse i removed everything that could be removed and o used a drumstick which i figured to work best causes its smooth surface didnt snag threads, but you can used whatever you see fit to left and get into folds and crevices i Spinkled the Pure Earth D powder into and used my brush to further reach to message the area. i Bagged my paddings and covers that i could remove and placed a clean sheet over my couch until the bagged items were ok to come out. I rooled my rugs and placed them in tarps tied really tight. All the clothing in my closets and drawers were also bagged I first pulled out a few outfits and things to use while everything is bagged and placed those in a large zipper bag and zipped it ever time I had to get into it. Washing bedding i need to use while things are bagged up I used the hottest wash setting and the hottest dry setting these heats will kill bugs and eggs. It is now 4 weeks after realizing I had bed bugs (small infestation) and im am bug free and intend on staying that way. Also i wanted to tell every one to avoid used items even from family and friends they too may not realize they have a bed bug problem. Never pick up anything off the street. If you buy clothing or appliances or electronics from second hand stores like goodwill, salvation army, or other places alike. keep them in a bag for several weeks before useing or keep clothing and bedding in bags until ready to wash. Places like these are ok to buy from if you use my advice. These places never know what they are bringing in to their doors and niether do you. They are not obligated to inspect their inventory nor do they have the time or man power to do so,but to protect you home, yourself and your love of yardsaling and fleamaketing be patient to to use items you purchase. Thank you for taking time to read this and good luck.
Blackheart

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Posted 6 months ago
Sat Oct 27 2012 1:28:00
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bugmurderer - 7 hours ago »
Im not exactly sure but Ive researched that the oil sereves as a repellent making it hard for the bugs to latch on and climb up things to get to your bed, couch, ect. I do know that 91% alcohol killes bugs at all life stages but not their eggs. Also if your not spraying the bug on contact your not doing any good. Alcohol evaporates rather quickly thats why you have to spray the bug not the surface you think it might be on later. Murphy's oil soap is a preventative method that makes surfaces to oily to climb. There is also a great deal ive heard about a powder that kills these bugs buy removing their waxy coating off their frail bodyies killing them not on contagt but within 24 hours of exposure and it also is said to help in combination with a brush and powerfull suction to remove eggs. Pure Earth D a food grade (Diatomaceous Earth). Microscopic and very sharp like microscopic razor blades, Athough not sharp to us it can strip a bug of it protective outer layers and kill it. As with bugs the eggs are also no match for the razor sharp substaince. It is said to have somewhat of the same effect on the eggs by coating areas where eggs are or may be with a pait brush or some other fine bristle brush, By useing the brush to distribute the powder message the surface back and forth and use a vacuum hose with the smallest attachment in place to suck up the egg as u loosen it with the sharp powdery brush. Although this is not proven it makes since to me. Im very new at this bed bug thing but ive done a lot of resharch and used my own judgement of what to use and money to spend on my small budget and i no longer have a problem. I inspect my home freguently and i continue to use my selected methods to prevent another infestation. I used 91% Alcohol on any bugs I seen and vacuumed those up rite away. I used murphy's oil soap on all surfaces like furniture (the entire peice) Hard floors under furniture, Base boards, chair railing, window and door frames, any crackes and crevices in all rooms. I used the Pure Earth D powder in all my electical outlets and light switches and ever my entire fuse box, and all my vents and anything that cant get wet. I also sprinkled it on my rugs and carpets (which i dont have many of). I bagged EVERYTHING that could be bagged even my TV's, DVD Players,Ect. I used my vacuum to suck out air in all those bags before leaving them to set for several weeks. My couch and other furniture that could not be bagged of coarse i removed everything that could be removed and o used a drumstick which i figured to work best causes its smooth surface didnt snag threads, but you can used whatever you see fit to left and get into folds and crevices i Spinkled the Pure Earth D powder into and used my brush to further reach to message the area. i Bagged my paddings and covers that i could remove and placed a clean sheet over my couch until the bagged items were ok to come out. I rooled my rugs and placed them in tarps tied really tight. All the clothing in my closets and drawers were also bagged I first pulled out a few outfits and things to use while everything is bagged and placed those in a large zipper bag and zipped it ever time I had to get into it. Washing bedding i need to use while things are bagged up I used the hottest wash setting and the hottest dry setting these heats will kill bugs and eggs. It is now 4 weeks after realizing I had bed bugs (small infestation) and im am bug free and intend on staying that way. Also i wanted to tell every one to avoid used items even from family and friends they too may not realize they have a bed bug problem. Never pick up anything off the street. If you buy clothing or appliances or electronics from second hand stores like goodwill, salvation army, or other places alike. keep them in a bag for several weeks before useing or keep clothing and bedding in bags until ready to wash. Places like these are ok to buy from if you use my advice. These places never know what they are bringing in to their doors and niether do you. They are not obligated to inspect their inventory nor do they have the time or man power to do so,but to protect you home, yourself and your love of yardsaling and fleamaketing be patient to to use items you purchase. Thank you for taking time to read this and good luck.

BB Murderer, good post! Good common sense thinking, thanks! i didn't know about Murphy's Oil Soap even after a few months of this ordeal, and I going to treat the wood I have left in this place with it.

Thanks for the tip!

Sam
kinihatesbedbugs

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Posted 6 months ago
Sat Oct 27 2012 10:24:17
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Just an fyi....Hot Shot was a waste of money with my small infestation...My PCO said chemicals were not strong enough.
bugmurderer

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Posted 6 months ago
Tue Oct 30 2012 17:15:08
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Thanks for liking my post. Its worth all the typing if it helps someone else be bug free. Id also like to tell you guys about the bed covers that were unfortunatly too expensive for me to afford so as i ususally do i came up with a solution that works just as good for half the price. First id like to start out telling you about the expensive covers, They zip around your entire mattress and the bugs cant bite you through it and if they're inside they cant get out if the outside they cant get in. Some have a handy little flap the velcros over the zipper end and some dont. Even though the flap is a good idea there is still a tiny little space between the zipper end and the flap fold the bugs can fit through. By the way i dont think they wanted you to know that so i told you cause i watch the imformercial and seen it myself. They are nice to have to protect your mattress from dust mites and bed bugs if you dont have them already if you can some how close that tiny space. Now on to my solution thats cheap and effective. Remember i said cheap so its not gonna be as easy or attractive as a zip cover, in fact its gonna be a bit difficult and very unattractive (you may need another person to help you). Shopping List: Duct Tape (its very strong and has a little stretch to it), Plastic Garbage bags(Force Flex works best it needs to have an elasticity to it), Or Plastic wrap(a larger roll from Sams Club its gonna take a lot). First you want to remove the mattress from the frame box springs the same.Measure each mattress/box spring from one point of a side all the way around it to that same point, then measure the width from side to side for the top and bottom. Take the garbage bags and cut the bottoms and along one side and open them up. Using your measurements Tape the bags together to fit all the way around your mattress/box spring. Stand your mattress up and tape the corner of the top of your bag cover to the top of the mattress to hold it in place while up wrap it around the mattress and now your ready to tape down the entire side making sure there is not any matrress showing. Once you got that done youll need the measured bags for the tops and bottoms. Tuck the access into the top of the bag cover and tape it all the way around the top of the mattress. Do the same at the bottom. Now inspect the entire covered mattress to insure there are no holes or crevises in the bags or tape, if so place a peice of tape over it to cover it about an inch all the way aroung the exposure. This may sound weird and noisy for the sleeper and thats where the cost comes in. Like i said half the price. If you dont have already buy a fitted mattress pad and suspenderes. They are'nt very exspensive and they dont have to be very thick a little padding is just fine. Place the mattress pad and suspenders as instructed by the manufacturer and place your fitted sheets, flat sheets and blankets on the now almost complete bed. Now because bed bugs are also found on pillows you may or may not want to do the same with pillows as you did with your mattresses, but if you do there is no need for tape or cutting bags unless you have oversized pillows. There are pillow protectors availible and like mattress cover they vari in quality and price but are all ok to use. Place pillow inside a ForceFlex trash bag, Squeeze the air out or use a vacuum and tie the bag closed. Place the pillow in the pillow protector with the tie in first, fluff it gently to get it in its original shape(again very difficult but it works) and place your pillow sham or case with the protector zipper in first place on bed and there you go. This is of coarse not a garentee from any company or anything like that it just a suggestion from me an indivisual person who have had a small infestation of bed bugs and got rid of them all by myself with these methods that i just made up muself cause not all of us are fortunate enough to have money floating around. I have succeeded in getting rid of my infestation and i want to help others who are just as broke as me and want to live bug free. If you try this let me and others know about your success!
bugmurderer

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Posted 6 months ago
Tue Oct 30 2012 17:24:28
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bugmurderer - 5 minutes ago »
Thanks for liking my post. Its worth all the typing if it helps someone else be bug free. Id also like to tell you guys about the bed covers that were unfortunatly too expensive for me to afford so as i ususally do i came up with a solution that works just as good for half the price. First id like to start out telling you about the expensive covers, They zip around your entire mattress and the bugs cant bite you through it and if they're inside they cant get out if the outside they cant get in. Some have a handy little flap the velcros over the zipper end and some dont. Even though the flap is a good idea there is still a tiny little space between the zipper end and the flap fold the bugs can fit through. By the way i dont think they wanted you to know that so i told you cause i watch the imformercial and seen it myself. They are nice to have to protect your mattress from dust mites and bed bugs if you dont have them already if you can some how close that tiny space. Now on to my solution thats cheap and effective. Remember i said cheap so its not gonna be as easy or attractive as a zip cover, in fact its gonna be a bit difficult and very unattractive (you may need another person to help you). Shopping List: Duct Tape (its very strong and has a little stretch to it), Plastic Garbage bags(Force Flex works best it needs to have an elasticity to it), Or Plastic wrap(a larger roll from Sams Club its gonna take a lot). First you want to remove the mattress from the frame box springs the same.Measure each mattress/box spring from one point of a side all the way around it to that same point, then measure the width from side to side for the top and bottom. Take the garbage bags and cut the bottoms and along one side and open them up. Using your measurements Tape the bags together to fit all the way around your mattress/box spring. Stand your mattress up and tape the corner of the top of your bag cover to the top of the mattress to hold it in place while up wrap it around the mattress and now your ready to tape down the entire side making sure there is not any matrress showing. Once you got that done youll need the measured bags for the tops and bottoms. Tuck the access into the top of the bag cover and tape it all the way around the top of the mattress. Do the same at the bottom. Now inspect the entire covered mattress to insure there are no holes or crevises in the bags or tape, if so place a peice of tape over it to cover it about an inch all the way aroung the exposure. This may sound weird and noisy for the sleeper and thats where the cost comes in. Like i said half the price. If you dont have already buy a fitted mattress pad and suspenderes. They are'nt very exspensive and they dont have to be very thick a little padding is just fine. Place the mattress pad and suspenders as instructed by the manufacturer and place your fitted sheets, flat sheets and blankets on the now almost complete bed. Now because bed bugs are also found on pillows you may or may not want to do the same with pillows as you did with your mattresses, but if you do there is no need for tape or cutting bags unless you have oversized pillows. There are pillow protectors availible and like mattress cover they vari in quality and price but are all ok to use. Place pillow inside a ForceFlex trash bag, Squeeze the air out or use a vacuum and tie the bag closed. Place the pillow in the pillow protector with the tie in first, fluff it gently to get it in its original shape(again very difficult but it works) and place your pillow sham or case with the protector zipper in first place on bed and there you go. This is of coarse not a garentee from any company or anything like that it just a suggestion from me an indivisual person who have had a small infestation of bed bugs and got rid of them all by myself with these methods that i just made up muself cause not all of us are fortunate enough to have money floating around. I have succeeded in getting rid of my infestation and i want to help others who are just as broke as me and want to live bug free. If you try this let me and others know about your success!

Also Space bags are great for storing seasonal clothes and bedding and stuffed animals or anything else that bugs can live on. If like me and cant afford to buy Space bags in the quantity I would need for everything I got, just use trash bags suck the air out with a vacuum and place in tote boxes or cardboard boxes to protect them from rips and tears and there you go cheap and effective.
cilecto

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Posted 6 months ago
Tue Oct 30 2012 22:15:03
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This is a thread that asked about the comparative advantages of Murphy Soap and alcohol. The question was "asked and answered", as it was in dozens of prior threads about "contact killers".

Neither alcohol nor Murphy's will "protect" a surface as a precaution. There's no point in applying it wholesale for such a purpose.

If you want to learn about how to properly use diatomaceous earth (aka the "magic bed bug powder that cuts up the bugs' skin), review our FAQ on DE. DE is a very useful tool, but needs to be used carefully. You should also not vacuum it.

This forum is now 6 years old and there's a lot of good, published information about fighting bed bugs and getting them out of your stuff. (Bagging everything you own is usually not necessary. Sucking out the air will make little or no difference.)
bugmurderer

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Posted 6 months ago
Wed Oct 31 2012 1:17:49
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Im am well aware of all other options out there that well work and thanks but no thanks about what you said. Im fully aware that this forum is for the comparitive measures for alcohol and murphy's oil soap and that fact that this site is 6 years old. Besides all that as it is, Im merly triing to help people who are less fortunate on cash. I understand that my last post may have had nothing to do with alcohol or murphy's but it can still be helpfull to some one who is just comingg to this site as it has done for me when i first came here a few days ago after looking at so many other sites. I found Q&A's that were helpfull and im absolutely sure that some were off their original topic but people where still finding them helpfull and i think thats what matters. I'd like to add that i used both alcohol and murphy's in combotation with DE and caulk and garbage bags, duct tape and a vacuum and i am now bug free. Aint no bugs on me. Keep the critisism coming it too may help me in the future but as of now good luck!
Nobugsonme

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Posted 6 months ago
Wed Oct 31 2012 4:22:43
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bugmurderer,

Cilecto is correct that your responses here are off-topic. They are not addressing the user's question about alcohol vs. Murphy's.

Moreover, you initially responded to a thread above which had last been posted to three years ago. That might seem like a helpful thing to do.

Here's why it probably isn't: look on the main forums page: http://bedbugger.com/forum

Do you see the list of recent topics? When you revive a topic from three years ago, you bump one of the current topics from the past week OFF the recent topics list.

That makes others much less likely to find those current discussions. If you had a current question, you'd probably find that frustrating.

I suggest looking at the date next to each post and considering carefully before responding. (You can also look at someone's profile by clicking their status -- "newbite", "old timer", etc.) and see when they last logged in. If they have not logged in in months or years, then they are unlikely to benefit from having their question responded to.)

You can always start a new thread if you want to discuss a new topic.