Reviews of chalk Mashenka against bedbugs

Insecticide composition

The twenty-gram Mashenka pencil looks like an ordinary school block of chalk. It is sold in plastic bags in all hardware stores. In addition to gypsum and chalk itself, this popular insecticide, as the name suggests, contains two toxic substances. Thanks to the plasticity of gypsum and chalk, the product is easily applied to surfaces that need to be treated against bedbugs.

Deltamethrin 0.05%

Deltamethrin is an insecticide belonging to the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are man-made versions of pyrethrins, natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers. Deltamethrin is commonly used outdoors on lawns, ornamental gardens, golf courses, and indoors to treat cracks and cracks where bed bugs hide.

In its pure form, Deltamethrin is colorless or light beige crystals that are odorless.

Deltamethrin was first described in 1974 and came to market in 1978. It is included in numerous products used to kill a wide range of insects. Deltamethrin can often be included in insecticidal products in the form of aerosols, sprays, and powders. Mashenka chalk, which contains Deltamethrin as an active ingredient, is very popular in Russia.

Zeta-cypermethrin 0.1%

Cypermethrin was originally developed to control bedbugs on agricultural lands, and was also used to kill ectoparasites (lice, fleas, various ticks) that affect cattle, sheep and poultry. Subsequently, it became available to household consumers and was included in many household products, including the “Mashenka” chalk. If you have ants, cockroaches and other stubborn insects infesting your space, you can try to kill them with any products that contain this insecticide.

Components of Mashenka pencil

Chalk Mashenka is a product that is used to kill insects and prevent their appearance. The product has low toxicity and does not have a specific odor. In appearance, the drug is similar to an ordinary block of chalk. It contains active and auxiliary substances:

• Zeta-cypermethrin – 0.1%, a pyrethroid compound used to control harmful insects. It has a neuroparalytic effect on bedbugs. Not addictive.
• Deltamethrin – 0.05%, highly effective insecticide. Its action is designed for sucking and gnawing insects. When bedbugs enter the body through contact or intestinal routes, their coordination is disrupted. Causes paralysis and death. The toxic compound enhances the effect of zeta-cypermethrin.
• Chalk and gypsum are auxiliary components that allow you to apply the active substance to the surface to be treated.

The pencil is packaged in a plastic film bag. The weight of the chalk is 20 g. It can be stored in a wide temperature range from -30 to +400 C.

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.

Composition and release forms

As you might guess from the name, the Mashenka pencil for bedbugs comes in the form of white chalk, similar to what is used in schools.

Most consumers are distrustful of insect repellent pencils, considering them to be ineffective in controlling parasites. But in relation to Mashenka, such a belief is not fair. Thanks to two active components in its composition, this chalk literally destroys insects:

1. The insecticide is based on zeta-cypermethrin 0.1%. This substance has a destructive reputation in the fight against not only domestic parasites, but also pests that interfere with agricultural activities. Penetrating into the body, it activates a nerve-paralytic effect. Thus, paralysis caused by a substance entails the inevitable death of the insect;
2. Deltamethrin. This component serves as a complement to the first, enhancing its effect.

Thus, the combination of these two components guarantees an effective effect on annoying pests.

How to use

Take a chalk and block with lines two to four centimeters thick all the paths of the insects that you want to destroy. Each of them has its own habitat. The processing principles and algorithm of actions when you use chalk are always the same.

First, we recommend drawing chalk lines along the baseboards, sewer pipes, and ventilation grilles. Do this as a solid line, because even a small gap left without means will allow insects to cross the forbidden line without illness, damage to health and loss of reproductive functions. After the boundaries around the main places of possible accumulation of insects have been drawn, a similar treatment of wooden furniture should be carried out. We recommend drawing lines on cabinets, mezzanines, backs of sofas and armchairs.

Features of using a pencil against bedbugs

You need to crush the chalk into dust and pour it into hard-to-reach places where bedbugs like to hide: crevices in baseboards, the inside of upholstered furniture, etc.

This works, but is not safe as you may inhale toxic dust. In any case, you will need a respirator. You can dilute the resulting powder with water and apply the product with a brush. The resulting slurry will seal cracks and cracks well. But the consumption of the drug will be significantly increased, which will reduce to zero such an advantage as the low cost of the drug.

How to use against ants

Works great if you find the ants' trails. If small critters like to wander around your dining table, you can apply chalk to the underside of the tabletop. If their path is laid along the window sill, then you can draw barrier lines under the window sill.

But most likely, they will quickly blaze new trails, and victory will remain theirs. It is very difficult to defeat ants, and yet... when choosing who to live with - bedbugs, cockroaches or ants, ants seem more attractive. Moreover, some types of ants eat bedbugs.

Can it be used against fleas?

Very difficult, almost impossible. The substance contained in the chalk kills fleas, but fleas most often live on their owners, and smearing yourself or your pet with chalk is not recommended.

You can apply stripes under the animal's bedding, but there is a danger that he will lick off the product, so it is better to choose something else for these purposes.

How to use Mashenka pencil

You can use chalk in three different ways:

1. Draw stripes. The simplest method is to draw lines in Mashenka’s chalk in the habitats of bedbugs. Their width should be 3 cm.
2. Grind the pencil to dust and pour it into hard-to-reach places - baseboard crevices, the inside of upholstered furniture, etc. This option is considered unsafe due to the likelihood of inhaling toxic dust.
3. Preparation of the solution. The chalk must first be crushed, and then water must be added until a liquid slurry forms. The resulting substance is applied with a brush.

The effectiveness of the drug does not change depending on the method of treating the room. One package of pencil is enough for 30 square meters. m of surface. You can buy it at a hardware store or at a point specializing in preparations for gardeners and gardeners. The cost depends on the manufacturer.

Attention. If there are a large number of insects in the apartment, then one chalk will not be enough. You should invite exterminators or spray them yourself with organophosphorus insecticides.

Algorithm for applying insecticide

Treatment should be carried out in places where insects hide. To get to the baseboards, you need to move the furniture. A line is drawn with chalk along the entire perimeter of the room, top and bottom. If there are cracks, they are given special attention. It is better to treat the cracks with a liquid solution applied with a brush. The habitats of parasites are:

• backside of carpets;
• chest of drawers and lower parts of furniture;
• peeling wallpaper;
• the back of mirrors, paintings and other decorative items on the walls;
• bed frame;
• back side of the mattress.

The insecticidal pencil is applied in stripes to all of the listed surfaces. Mashenka chalk against bedbugs should not be held with bare hands. After opening, the packaging is not thrown away, but is folded over, releasing the edge of the bar. You need to hold it by the part remaining in the film.

Attention. To store crayons, choose dark places to prevent exposure of the preparation to sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation destroys its active components. The insecticide should be kept separate from food products, in places where children cannot reach.

Bedbugs live in bedding and curtains. These household items are not treated with chemical pencil. It is enough to wash them in hot water; the ectoparasites die at 500 C. After 4 weeks, the pencil loses its properties. The remaining lines are washed off with a soda-soap solution - 30 g of soda per 1 liter of water.

Security measures

To protect yourself from exposure to chemicals, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves before treating the room. If you plan to crush chalk and dust crevices, you must wear a respirator. The protective agent will protect against insecticidal substances entering the respiratory organs. After finishing work, be sure to wash your hands and face with soap and water. If the product gets into the eye, it must be rinsed with water or a solution of baking soda.

Preventive measures

Mashenka's bedbug chalk can be used to prevent the appearance of parasites. If there are suspicions about the presence of harmful insects in your neighbors, it is worth applying stripes in places of possible penetration. Dangerous areas include:

• window frames;
• Entrance door;
• cracks in sewer and water pipes;
• sockets between apartments;
• vestibule door;
• ventilation grilles in the kitchen and toilet.

The listed places are outlined with chalk around the perimeter. The insecticide will not allow the spread of parasites that are colonizing a new territory. For prevention, it is not necessary to draw wide stripes; 1 cm is enough. Protective lines remain effective for up to four weeks. Then they are washed off. If necessary, draw new stripes.

Is chalk against bedbugs and cockroaches “Mashenka” dangerous for humans?

People working or working with pyrethrins and pyrethroids (including cypermethrin) sometimes develop tingling, burning, dizziness and itching.

How can I be exposed to Deltamethrin or Zeta-cypermethrin? Of course, the percentage of these substances in Mashenka chalk is very small, and you are unlikely to want to treat yourself to chalk, but touching the chalk with your bare hands or inhaling its fine dust while you are treating surfaces with it can negatively affect your well-being.

Some signs and symptoms from short-term exposure to Deltamethrin and Zeta-cypermethrin

When these substances come into contact with the skin, they can cause a tingling, itching, burning or numbness sensation in the area. These sensations usually go away within 48 hours. However, any insecticides will cause irritation if they come into contact with the eyes. Inhalation of dust in which they are present can cause headaches and dizziness. Although it is not common, there have been cases of people experiencing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle contractions after handling household insecticides. But you don’t need to be too scared: Deltamethrin and Zeta-cypermethrin in the Mashenka chalk have low toxicity when touched or inhaled.

Many people who have heard that insecticides are carcinogens ask, can Deltamethrin contribute to the development of cancer? Data from animal studies indicate that Deltamethrin does not cause cancer. Specifically, the US Environmental Protection Agency classifies Deltamethrin as an unlikely human carcinogen by all routes of exposure. Studies were conducted using laboratory animals that confirmed that Deltamethrin did not cause birth defects in dogs and rats that ate it during pregnancy.

The use of Mashenka chalk in places where small children live

Although children may be particularly sensitive to pesticides compared to adults, it is currently unknown whether children are particularly sensitive to Deltamethrin and Zeta-cypermethrin. However, studies in rats showed that young rats were more sensitive than older rats when they were both fed these insecticides.

Is chalk dangerous for pets?

Mashenka chalk can cause illness in dogs and cats if they eat it or lick the treated surface. It can cause vomiting, drooling, coordination and muscle tremors. If any amount of crumbled crayon accidentally gets on their skin, it can sometimes cause skin sensations that lead to biting, scratching, or licking the area touched by the substance.

In studies on animals that ate Mashenka chalk, it was found that chemical poisons were eliminated from the body within 2 days. In a rat study, Deltamethrin was poorly absorbed through the skin. The small amount that was absorbed through the skin left the body within 24 hours.

Composition of the product

Chalk Mashenka consists of only four components, two of which are auxiliary (chalk and gypsum). The active ingredients of the product are:

• Zeta-cypermethrin - 0.1%. This is an insecticide that is used to get rid of parasites of agricultural crops, as well as household pests. It affects the nervous system of insects, blocking the transmission of impulses. As a result, when the substance enters the body of an insect, it causes all muscles to stop working, causing the parasite to die. At the same time, the substance in small quantities is safe for humans and warm-blooded animals.
• Deltamethrin - 0.05%. This is an insecticide that complements the action of the first and has a similar mechanism of operation. It has a similar paralyzing effect on insects.

Of all the substances in the pyrethroid group, it is Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin that are the most effective blockers of nerve transmission in the body of insects. It is thanks to them that Mashenka is so highly effective.

Due to the consistency of the chalk, the applied substances are clearly fixed on the surface and are not erased from it. When a bug comes into contact with the treated surface, the poison enters its paws, and then through the proboscis into the digestive system. Having already been absorbed into the blood in the body, it begins to work.

If an infected bug touches another individual before it dies, it will also be poisoned. Thanks to this, Mashenka works according to the “viral” principle.

Feedback on using Mashenka chalk:

When we noticed bedbugs at the dacha, we decided to do it the old fashioned way and covered all the rooms with Mashenka’s pencil a week before our vacation. The chalk helped again: not a single bug bit us in two weeks. Only mosquitoes tormented me...

Alexandra, Samara

The toxic substances in Mashenka chalk have an active effect within 4-6 weeks after application.

On a note:

Unlike most other insecticides, Mashenka’s components are quite resistant to weathering and moisture. Therefore, chalk, when smeared on a surface, retains its activity for a long time. But these same properties require the protection of small children in the house.

The composition of Mashenka and the form of the drug determine the specifics of its work: the pencil does not act quickly and immediately, but it prevents the movement of bedbugs in the apartment and destroys most of them within a few days. With a systematic fight against parasites, it will completely rid your apartment of them.

It is also useful to read: Remedy for bedbugs Klopomor

And also: The best remedies for bedbugs: rating

See also our experiments on bedbugs:

We catch bedbugs and test different products against them - see the results...

• We test the effect of Hector powder on bedbugs in two options: simple treatment and preparation of traps. See the results of the experiment.
  Experiment on bedbugs: at what temperature do they die and how it can be used in practice

  We put the bedbugs in a container that was treated with the Executioner product a week ago - we’ll see if the parasites are poisoned by the long-dried product...

• We tested the Get Express product on bedbugs - let's see what came out of it...

  Experiment on bedbugs: The executioner killed them in 8 minutes

  We check the residual effect of the Executioner on bedbugs (how quickly they are poisoned upon contact with a previously treated but already dried surface)

• Proven methods of killing bedbugs that have shown to be highly effective

Analogues of chalk "Mashenka"

There are many analogues of Mashenka chalk, even Mashenka silver or silver chalk, although it is unclear how these preparations, other than the name, differ from each other.

You can buy the protection product “Brownie Proshka”. The composition of this chalk also coincides with the above-mentioned components. Just different brands.

There is a chalk in the “Clean House” series of insect repellents. You can buy Chalk "Absolute" - this is an insecticidal agent for fighting cockroaches, ants, fleas, bedbugs, rat mites and flies.

You may come across “Titanic” - a cockroach chalk for disinfection services and household use. An identical remedy is the “Vigilant Guardian” chalk against cockroaches and ants. In addition, it is necessary to mention such product brands as “Tornado” cockroach chalk (30g), Insect repellent, “Rubit” in the form of chalk.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the product are:

• Can be bought everywhere, the product is available for free sale
• Extremely low price
• Easy to use
• Convenient release form
• The product does not crumble during application
• The chalk does not wear off under the influence of moisture
• No unpleasant odor
• The dense consistency of the chalk does not allow it to wear off or crumble for a long time;
• After applying the drug, ventilation and wet cleaning are not required;
• The product is quite effective against several types of insects: bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches, flies
• Chalk can work for two months after application
• No unpleasant odor
• After applying the drug, no ventilation or wet cleaning is required.
• The product is effective against several types of insects: bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches, flies

Disadvantages include:

• Ends quickly
• The effect appears no earlier than after a week
• Leaves visible, unsightly marks on furniture
• Not the fastest and most lethal result
• The composition is not resistant to direct light rays
• Will not cope with large numbers of insects

Advantages and disadvantages

Having understood the composition and method of using the Mashenka pencil, you can move on to considering the advantages and disadvantages of this product designed to combat bedbugs.

The positive aspects of this chemical preparation include the following:

• No pungent odor, which does not make ventilation after application necessary;
• The dense consistency extends the life of the chalk, preventing the drawn stripes from crumbling or quickly being erased;
• Versatility. Pencil Mashenka effectively fights not only bedbugs, but also cockroaches, flies and fleas;
• Convenient release form that allows you to easily process surfaces of any complexity;
• Affordable price, not exceeding 40 rubles;
• Safety is Mashenka’s main advantage! Side effects of the insecticide do not apply to people and animals.

But, despite all the significant and quite impressive advantages, this remedy, which is fatal to parasites, is not without its disadvantages:

• The drug has a cumulative property, due to which insects do not die immediately, but over a certain period - up to 10 days;
• Chalk is unarmed in front of a horde of bugs;
• Upon contact with ultraviolet light, the product loses its properties that are lethal to parasites.

Be careful! If there are children in the house, it is necessary to protect them from contact with the chemical.

Pencil "Mashenka" - user reviews

Galina (Samara):

“I got bedbugs. I use Mashenka chalk as additional insurance. It is not difficult to apply and is not expensive to purchase. Therefore, let “Mashenka” also work until the heap.”

Victor (Belgorod):

“My mother is firmly convinced that this is the best remedy for ants and cockroaches. As soon as an insect appears in sight, we begin to paint everything around with chalk. Recently, cockroaches came from our neighbors, so we got rid of them in a week. And, in general, our house is clean and comfortable, no one crawls, flies, or bites. Maybe because mom is such a neat person, what if chalk helps so much?!”

Alexey (Moscow):

“The chalk disappointed me. It was not possible to get rid of cockroaches cheaply. I had to call specialists and carry out a complete renovation of the apartment. Poison insects with professional, not household means.”

Veronica (Ramenskoye):

“We all know where cockroaches come from. If there is a garbage disposal in the house, infection cannot be avoided and cockroaches cannot be scared away with chalk. If you want them to disappear, you need heavy artillery."

Pencil Mashenka and protecting the apartment from bedbugs

It is convenient to work with chalk and to prevent the appearance of bedbugs in the apartment.

Prevention is carried out in cases where bed bugs have already appeared in the premises before, or if it becomes known that one of the neighbors has them. Mashenka's bedbug repellent is perfect for such cases, since the room can be used immediately after it has been treated.

The algorithm for preventive treatment is almost the same as for exterminating insects. The only difference is that you don’t need to coat the treated areas so thickly; a strip 1 cm wide is enough.

In order to prevent bedbugs from entering the apartment from neighbors, the areas under and around the windows, as well as the frame and threshold of the front door, should be treated. If there is a vestibule near the apartment, it is advisable to carry out preventive treatment there as well.

After the insecticide expires (4-6 weeks), it will also need to be washed off with a soap-soda solution.

Chalk Mashenka allows you to fight bedbugs with little effort and without serious financial costs. The price of one pencil today is 6-10 rubles, and to process an apartment you will need about 3-4 pencils. Therefore, if it is very expensive to call a pest control team, but you need a really working method, you can use Mashenka chalk.

Interesting video: experiment on the effect of Hector powder on bedbugs