Once you encounter such an unpleasant parasite as a bedbug, you will no longer be able to feel completely safe in your own apartment. The insect's food is exclusively blood, and with regular feeding, bloodsuckers multiply rapidly, making a person's stay in an infected apartment unbearable. One of the main symptoms indicating the presence of bedbugs in an apartment is the appearance of new grouped bites on open areas of the body. Parasites are very careful, so they feed only at night, usually from 3 to 5 am, when the victim is fast asleep.
The mouthparts of bedbugs are not able to bite through clothing, unlike mosquitoes.
If it so happened that you found insects in your bed and were able to determine by appearance that it was a bedbug, then you need to immediately begin to fight the pest. When you go to the store, do not rush to choose new, expensive insecticides. There are cheap preparations that have proven their effectiveness in the fight against insects for years; Mashenka chalk against bedbugs can rightfully be considered one of these remedies.
Description of the drug
The product is available in the form of a white pencil. The composition simultaneously contains two insecticides of plant origin that are fatal to bedbugs: zeta-cypermethrin (0.1%) and deltamethrin (0.05%). Both of these substances have a neuroparalytic effect on bloodsuckers, and in this combination they enhance the destructive effect of each other and prevent the production of an antidote in insects. Gypsum and chalk are used as auxiliary components; they occupy approximately 95% of the total volume of the pencil. Gypsum helps to hold all the components together into a single whole, and chalk, visually, makes processing easier.
Keep the drug out of the reach of children!
When an insect comes into contact with chalk, particles of the drug cling to the bedbug’s legs. Returning to its shelter, the parasite, upon contact, will infect other individuals of the bedbug colony, thus triggering a viral reaction.
Active substances enter the parasite’s body in two ways:
- They leak through the chitinous membrane of the abdomen;
- Through the oral apparatus into the digestive system, in this case death occurs much earlier.
You should not expect instant results when using the Mashenka pencil against bedbugs. The active components of the insecticide slowly penetrate the body through the abdomen of the parasite and 3-4 days will pass before the concentration required for death is reached. Thanks to the long residual effect of the insecticide (about 30 days), the product will effectively cope with both adult insects and larvae hatching from eggs over time.
Release form, composition and properties
In its category, Mashenka chalk is the most popular. It is characterized by a solid structure and is made in the form of an oblong block of light gray color. It is easy to use due to its low weight (20 g). The product is packaged in impenetrable blue plastic packaging with the characteristic inscription Mashenka. The pencil is produced in Russia.
Crayons of this type contain 2 active ingredients:
- Zeta-cypermethrin at a concentration of 0.1%. This is an insecto-acaricidal compound of the pyrethroid group. The substance is several times more toxic than the insecticide cypermethrin. In addition, this type of chemical compound does not promote the development of resistance in insects. This means that a drug containing zeta-cypermethrin will have a higher level of effectiveness than analogues, and it can be used regularly. The insecticide is characterized by contact-intestinal action. It blocks nerve impulses, causing the development of paralysis.
- Deltamethrin (0.5%). This is another insecticide of the pyrethroid group. It enhances the effect of zeta-cypermethrin, which increases the effectiveness of the drug. Deltamethrin works on a similar principle as zeta-cypermethrin: the process of transmission of nerve impulses is disrupted, and motor centers are damaged. The insecticide retains its properties for 15 days after treatment.
In addition to insecticidal and acaricidal compounds, ant chalk also contains other components - chalk and gypsum. They are auxiliary, despite the fact that they are used in large quantities. The concentration of toxic substances is low. They are contained in an amount equal to 1.5% of the total volume. However, this does not mean that the drug is weakly effective. The insecticides contained in the chalk are highly toxic, so the stated amount is sufficient to kill ants.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- Low cost;
- Ease of use;
- No smell;
- Minimal toxicity;
- Safe for people and animals;
- Public availability.
Minuses:
- Lack of a single manufacturer. The presence of demand for the product has led to the fact that various manufacturers produce chalk under the Mashenka brand without caring about its quality. The packaging and color of the pencil itself can vary greatly, not to mention its insecticidal properties.
Operating principle
Penetrates the insect's body and paralyzes it.
How does Deltamethrin work?
Deltamethrin can kill insects by direct contact or if they eat it. This disrupts their normal nervous system function. It is less toxic to mammals due to their higher body temperature, larger size, and reduced sensitivity to the chemical.
How does Zeta-cypermethrin work?
On the one hand, this is a powerful weapon for protecting your home from insects, but on the other hand, this substance is one of the ten most severe toxic substances, along with DDT, hydrocyanic acid, and chlordane. Of course, its concentration in chalk is extremely low, but we must remember that it strongly depresses the nervous system.
How to use
There are several ways to apply the product to the surfaces being treated:
- The simple and most commonly used method is to “draw” with chalk on the possible paths of movement of bedbugs. When applying this, you should not put too much pressure on the chalk, otherwise it will begin to crumble and break.
- The chalk is crushed until a homogeneous powder is formed, which is used to dust the surfaces. It is worth noting that this method is not recommended against bedbugs, due to the fact that it is difficult to treat vertical surfaces with powder. Be sure to use safety glasses and a respirator.
- Crushed chalk is dissolved in warm water, placed in a spray bottle and sprayed on the potential habitats of bloodsuckers. To prepare a working emulsion, you need to dissolve one pencil in 0.5 liters of water. This option is most effective against bedbugs. Be sure to use safety glasses, a respirator and rubber gloves.
Whatever treatment method you choose, before starting disinfestation you need to carry out wet cleaning. The absence of dust will enhance the adhesion of the drug to surfaces, which will lead to a more noticeable effect. One pencil is enough to cover an area of 30 m².
Advantages and disadvantages
The product “Mashenka” does not spread in the air, due to which it has low toxicity for humans and pets.
The insecticide has no specific odor and does not cause negative reactions in people prone to allergies.
Other benefits are:
- reliable and long-term fixation on the treated surface;
- no traces, easy to remove during cleaning;
- economical consumption - one chalk is enough to renovate a small apartment;
- no need to carry out preliminary preparation of the room (the process of applying the product can be started at any convenient time);
- inability to develop immunity to the constituent ingredients of the product;
- affordable cost combined with trouble-free action against bedbugs;
- effective prevention of the appearance of blood-sucking parasites in the future.
There is no need to leave the apartment during treatment, and after the procedure there is no need to ventilate the room for a long time. Traces from using a pencil are easily washed off from treated surfaces. This product can be stored at different temperatures (from −30 to +400 degrees).
Remedy for bedbugs "Mashenka"
Some users consider the disadvantage of the pencil to be the lack of immediate results - it often takes at least 7 days to destroy the entire colony of parasites. In addition, it is not recommended to use the product if there are young (“crawling”) children living in the house. By touching the chalk lines and putting the product in your mouth, your baby can get seriously poisoned.
It should be taken into account. The drug becomes ineffective when the home is massively colonized by parasites. In this case, it is recommended to use it together with other insecticides.
What needs to be processed?
Bed bugs need regular nutrition for normal functioning, so bed bugs try to choose their shelters in the immediate vicinity of a person’s place of rest. A bug that has sucked blood cannot travel long distances; it becomes clumsy and slow.
According to statistics, the bulk of all insects are located within a radius of five meters from a person’s sleeping place; it is this area that needs to be given maximum attention during disinfestation. As you approach the bed, the intensity of application should be increased. We process:
- Skirting boards;
- Bed legs and frame;
- Cracks in the floor and walls;
- Wallpaper joints;
- Back walls and pull-out shelves of bedside furniture;
- The backs of paintings and wall hangings.
For safety reasons, it is recommended to “draw” stripes with chalk in places inaccessible to children and pets. After completing all procedures, you should wash your hands with soap.
Chalk "Mashenka": instructions for use
Using the Mashenka chalk is very simple; it has the shape of a block, familiar to everyone since school. Do not rely on your skills, the instructions for use were written for a reason, you should read them. You can simply draw lines in places that are difficult for children to reach and inconspicuous, but there is no guarantee that active movement of insects will occur there. For maximum efficiency, outline the entire perimeter of the room with a continuous line at least 2 cm wide. Draw a closed outline along the baseboards on the floor and on the walls. Now the cockroach will not be able to leave or enter the room without touching the poisonous trail.
Treat utility entry points, ventilation openings, and window sills. If there are cracks or holes in the structures, draw a continuous closed outline around them. Draw a circle around hard-to-reach places where insects like to nest: the back walls of furniture, the interior cavities of cabinets and sofas. For convenience, you can chop the block and sprinkle powder on the places where pests accumulate.
The drug does not lose its qualities if dissolved in water. You can spray the solution on indoor plants and even vegetable crops. A small concentration of poison will destroy harmful insects, but toxins will not accumulate in greens and fruits. Using a home spray bottle, direct a stream of liquid product to areas where traces of parasite activity are visible. Returning there, they will definitely receive a dose of poison.
When fighting harmful insects, you need to take precautions and protect yourself from contact with poison. When drawing the lines, you can open one edge of the package and hold the drug by the cellophane wrapper, but it is better to wear rubber gloves. Try to prevent particles of the drug from getting on your face: if you are crushing chalk or sprinkling powder on insect nests, it is advisable to protect your eyes with glasses. After work, wash your hands and face with soap, and only then can you touch food products.
Reviews
“When bedbugs appeared in the apartment, I had a real panic. Where to run, where to turn? A neighbor advised us to use Mashenka, with which we had previously successfully dealt with cockroaches, but this time we had to paint not the kitchen, but the bedroom. I traced the entire floor under the bed, outlined the chipboard under the mattress, the headboards of the bed and the nearby bedside tables. After a few days, dead bedbugs began to appear. Three weeks have passed and the flight is normal, no insects are visible. For my own peace of mind, I want to repeat the treatment in a week, otherwise at night it still seems like they are crawling on me.”
Svetlana
“I really didn’t think that for 30 rubles it would be possible to deal with bedbugs in the home, while the corresponding services charge several thousand for their services. Everything is done very simply, without any effort: I bought Mashenka a piece of chalk, unpacked it, drew stripes in the bedroom and wait for the pests to rest.”
Maksim
“We decided to fight bedbugs with Mashenka’s help, but we were immediately disappointed; it was not possible to treat the polished surfaces; the pencil broke. We treated the floor, baseboards and bottom of the sofa, there seemed to be fewer bedbugs, but they still felt comfortable in the sofa. I had to spend money and buy Tetrix, which showed itself very well, the bedbugs disappeared after the first treatment.”
Lyudmila
How to use the Mashenka pencil correctly
Bed bug chalks are very easy to use. They can be used in three different ways:
- Chalk drawing. In this case, it is used for its intended purpose.
- Dusting with chalk powder - due to the risk of inhaling dust, this method is recommended to be used only for filling in closed cavities (cupboards, linen drawers, the inside of the sofa).
- Wet surface treatment. To prepare the composition, crumble a piece of chalk and dissolve it in a small amount of water. The solution should be quite concentrated and resemble liquid sour cream.
Advice! All three methods are equally effective - there are no fundamental differences between them. As for convenience, drawing with chalk is most often used.
How to process? To do this you will have to take several steps.
Step 1. Move furniture away from the walls - this will provide free access to baseboards, one of the most favorite habitats of bedbugs. Carefully inspect them for chips, cracks and detachments.
Step 2. If the walls of your apartment are decorated with carpets, remove them and send them to the dry cleaner. This is guaranteed to destroy any possible egg laying.
Step 3: Remove items from closets. They need to be washed, frozen outside or doused with the hottest steam possible.
By treating things and furniture with hot steam, you can be sure that bedbugs will die or leave your home forever
Step 4. Remove paintings, photographs, watches and other trinkets from the walls.
Step 5. If possible, disassemble beds, sofas, and armchairs down to the wooden base.
Important! Once you've prepared your room, take care of your safety. The pencil can only be held with gloved hands - the product should not come into contact with bare skin.
Step 6: Remove the crayon from its plastic wrap.
Step 7. Carefully coat the required surfaces. To do this, apply strips 2-4 cm wide to the following areas:
- The perimeter of the entire room;
- The back surface of the paintings;
- Floors;
- Skirting boards;
- The lower parts of the walls;
- Back surfaces of carpets and rugs;
- Bed frame;
- Lower part of the mattress;
- Upholstery of sofa cushions;
- The back walls of furniture, especially at the bottom;
- Sections of the walls where there is loose wallpaper are where both adult bedbugs and their larvae love to hide.
Advice! Additionally, treat any cracks or crevices on baseboards and floors. For such hard-to-reach places, Mashenka’s aqueous solution is ideal.
Step 7. After 4-6 weeks, wash off traces of the drug with soap and soda solution.
The Mashenka pencil against bedbugs (new or new) should be stored in a dark place - under the influence of sunlight, its active ingredients begin to lose their properties.
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On a note! Like most insecticides, this chalk does not affect insect eggs. To prevent re-infestation by bedbugs, repeat the treatment of the room after 2 weeks.
