There are different products you can use to kill bed bugs, and some of the oils you can use to destroy these bugs include neem oil, blood orange essential oil, diatomaceous earth (also available as a powder), tea tree, thyme, peppermint, and lemongrass oil. Some of these oils are more efficient than others, and they’re relatively more commonly used.
Neem Oil as a Natural Bed bug Pesticide
Neem Oil as a Natural Bed bug Pesticide
Neem oil is a natural product that functions both as a repellent and insecticide. This product is derived from leaves and seeds that come from the neem tree. In India, neem is among one of the most widely analyzed and that’s why this country is the lead producer of this product. Research shows that for thousands of years, oil, bark, and leaves from the neem tree have been popularly utilized for the treat different types of injuries, illnesses, and accidents. Neem oil is commonly used to repel bugs such as lice and mosquitoes. There are also cases that prove that a high concentration of neem oil poured onto bed bugs can kill them. You can as well complement it with products like other essential oil remedies and rubbing alcohol to use it as a bed bug repellent.
How To Use Blood Orange Oil as a Bed Bug Insecticide?
Spray Blood Orange Essential Oil to Repel or Kill Bed bugs
High concentrations of undiluted oil can be used to kill bed bugs. This essential oil is used as a bed bug repellent. A study done by Rutger university showed that blood orange essential oil is one of the best natural oils that functions as a bed bug repellent. This oil is effective when driving away bed bugs, and you can use it in different ways. Pour some of the oil into a diffuser then let it spread across spaces that these bugs most likely inhabit. The method is diluting it, putting the oil in a spray bottle and spraying it directly on bedbugs. Take cautionary measures when using this oil in your home, it’s best to follow the package instructions. The blood orange oil won’t cause side effects on your skin, however, it may be quite harmful if someone ingests it unknowingly. Keep blood orange away from children as well as pets.
Undiluted Lavender Oil as a Bed Bug Contact Killer
How to Use Lavender Oil To Destroy Bed Bugs?
This oil contains powerful effects as a bed bug treatment. For you to achieve the best results which entail killing bed bugs, you need to spray undiluted doses of lavender oil on the pests. Almost every person loves the scent produced by this oil, the same cannot be said for bed bugs and pests in general, which means it’s effective as a bug repellent. The only thing to remember is diluting the oil in case you plan to use it on your skin as a repellent. There are some individuals that may turn out to be allergic to the oil, to prevent any unseen reaction, test it on a skin patch at least a day before spreading it on the skin. This oil contains both anti-inflammatory and antiseptic features, and these qualities make lavender oil useful to calm the itching and inflammation effects that are likely to arise due to bed bug bites.
Does Diatomaceous Earth Kill Bed Bugs?
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth for Bed Bugs?
Another natural option for a bed bug repellent and pesticide is diatomaceous earth. You can easily eradicate bed bugs from your home using this product. What makes this natural product effective against bed bugs is its potency and the strong scent. You can easily acquire this product within the current market, it’s also available in many online beauty shops. You may also find this product in its powder form. For the powder, pour it on bed bugs notorious lurking spaces like cracks and furniture. To deter future bed bug infestation, spread the powder evenly across the room. Use the instructions on the package to know what portions of the powder to use.
3 Ways to Kill Bed Bugs with Diatomaceous Earth
For the best outcome while using diatomaceous earth combine it with other bed bug control options. Diatomaceous earth is effective as a bed bug contact killer; however, this product won’t be as effective when you’re dealing with a large infestation. You will notice some survivors if you use this product solely.
1. Take a medium-sized spray bottle and turn it into your DIY bed bug spray. To increase the efficiency of this product, spray it on the mattress, to kill the bed bugs when they come into contact with the spray. Diatomaceous earth works so well since it is both a repellent and a bug killer so that once it drives out the bugs, it kills them as they walk into places sprayed with oil. You can purchase a pesticide bug spray that maintains it potency for many weeks which will kill any surviving bugs.
2. Another option is filling bed bug interceptors with diatomaceous earth and placing them at your bed’s legs to kill any lingering bugs.
3. After hiring the services of an exterminator, you can use diatomaceous earth to supplement the fumigation and kill any bug that may have escaped.
Peppermint Oil Dilution for Bed Bug Spray
How Can Peppermint Oil Kill Bed Bugs?
We all know at this point that the more concentrated the essential oil is, the more effective it functions as a bug killer, and the same applies to peppermint oil. Two things you need to remember is the level of dilution and the area in which you spray when you’re fighting bed bugs. There was research that showed a concentration of more than 5% would be both cost-effective and offer the best results as a pesticide. Use an electronic weighing scale to get an accurate 5% concentration reading.
Is Tea Tree Oil Good for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs?
Do Tea Tree Essential Oils Kill Bed Bugs?
Pour a diluted Tea Tree oil in a spray bottle and spray it on the bugs to kill them through contact. This technique has one setback as you might guess, having to spray each bed bug individually can be tasking and unreasonable particularly if you’re dealing with a serious bug infestation. This oil is among the most common DIY solutions regarding natural bed bug remedies. The function of this oil is to both repel and kill the bed bugs. Tea tree oil is of Austrian origin and it’s quite toxic if you ingest it due to its anti-fungal, and anti-microbial qualities. This oil has a number of functions like treating skin complications like eczema and skin bites. You can also use this oil as a powerful natural pesticide against the like of tick, flea and mosquito bites. The oil seeps into the bed bugs structure and suffocates them. The oil works by soaking into the bed bug’s exoskeleton, suffocating them upon contact. This is the best way to use this oil to destroy bed bugs:
- Take 30 oz of water and 30 drops of tea tree oil.
- Mix these two liquids in a spray bottle, shake well and spray areas you suspect of infection. ·
There are mixed reactions for users of this oil as an insecticide, there are those who claim the oil will only kill a bed bug when in contact while others claim otherwise. Remember that you run a risk of developing a skin rash if your delicate skin rubs the oil. This solution may also turn out cumbersome especially when you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation.
Thyme Essential Oil as a Bed bug Insecticide
Can Thyme Oil Kill Bed Bugs?
The potency level of thyme essential oil makes it unsafe for use on both. Due to its potency, this oil functions as a repellent and as an insecticide. infants and pregnant women. Thyme oil is so potent it is not safe to use on pregnant women and small children. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, sprinkle some of this oil on your bed and bedding. It is widely known that thyme oil drives away bed bugs and also kills them. Mix thyme oil with a carrier oil to kill pathogens, boost immunity, improve blood circulation and relieve anxiety. The best approach before using this oil is seeking an opinion from a medical expert because the oil may raise your blood pressure.
How to Use Lemongrass Oil to Kill Bed Bugs?
Lemongrass Oil Contains Acid That Kills Bed Bugs
Lemongrass contains a citrus scent that’s quite tangy, this product is common in Asian cuisines. These aforementioned qualities are the same reason that most insects such as bed bugs cannot stand the product. The highly acidic component in lemongrass makes it effective as a bedbug killer. To achieve the best results you need to apply it directly onto the bed bugs, this product functions well as a contact killer. Another advantage of using lemongrass oil is it disrupts the life cycle of bed bugs by preventing the eggs from hatching. Lemongrass can also be used as a remedy for common disease symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, and muscle and joint pains. This oil repels other bugs as well, like fleas, ants, etc. Take care when using this oil to avoid burning your skin surface, don’t use it on your pet since it may result in skin rashes.
Ultimate Guide On How Certain Oils Kill Bed Bugs
Will Essential Oils Kill Bed bugs Effectively?
Cedar oil, blood orange, lemongrass, tea tree, diatomaceous earth are some of the few essential oils that kill bed bugs, you can as well use extra virgin oil and paraffin to destroy these bugs. The only catch is, you have to apply these oils directly on the body of a bed bug before you can kill it.
Most oils and particularly essential oils will kill bed bugs, however, they mostly function as contact killers. The only problem with a bed bug infestation is you won’t see every bed bug. This is the reason DDT has been effective because it’s a residual killer, meaning it stays chemically active long after you spray it on a surface. Exterminators and the pest control sector both use residual killers to kill the bugs within a short time. The only challenge is these chemicals breakdown easily, also people don’t like to have pesticide remains in their homes.
The way oils kill bed bugs isn’t through a chemical process but once they enter the bed bug’s exoskeleton, they suffocate the pests leading to their death. The most efficient way of killing bed bugs through this method is pouring them directly on the bugs. Even exterminators may miss some bed bugs the first time they come to eradicate these pests. For this reason, an average individual will have a hard time eradicating bed bugs by using over- the- counter chemicals. Tests have shown there’s no correlation between residual killing and oils, this means should you miss any bed bug you will still be stuck with your bed bug situation. You should, therefore, combine the oil remedies with the services of an exterminator to make the treatment more effective. The dismantle parts of the bed and pour the oils on each bed bug for you to achieve the most effective outcome. This may make your work a little complicated especially if you’re dealing with a serious infestation. Most pest control experts recommend supplementing the oil remedy with extermination and chemicals.
