Bed bugs don't like lavender and other essential oils because they're toxic. Lavender contains compounds that can kill bed bugs and their eggs. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the plant's leaves, but the bugs hate it.
Lavender oil is a known insect repellent that effectively destroys all bed bugs and their eggs. It is one of the best natural remedies for these persistent pests as they hate its taste, smell, and aroma.
Peppermint
One of the most researched solutions for keeping bed bugs away is peppermint. This plant can provide a smell which bed bugs and other pests hate. The scent will drive any pest which will keep your home pest-free and fresh at the same time.
To make a lavender oil spray for bed bugs, all you need is three things - pure lavender essential oil, water, and a spray bottle. Ensure your spray bottle has been cleaned and dried thoroughly. Use filtered water if possible, or you can use some cooled boiled water.
1. Lavender. Not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant, but it is known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths.
Lavender oil is used to address many pest problems, and bed bugs don't like them either. You can use it as a deterrent by spritzing it on your mattress. And if you find a bed bug or eggs, a direct spray will kill them. However, it is not a thorough treatment.
Bed bugs don't like lavender and other essential oils because they're toxic. Now, this is a touchy point for some people. But upon ingestion, essential oils are poisonous. Essential oils can poison cats, dogs, children, and adults (although adults are less severely affected due to being bigger).
Sleep in long-sleeved clothing
Human blood is the primary source of food for bedbugs. These sneaky creatures will feast on exposed areas of your skin, but they can't bite through fabric. Lower your risk of getting bedbug bites by wearing long-sleeved pajamas with pants while sleeping.
Place a source of heat in the room. Since body heat attracts bed bugs, it would be a nice trick to lure them out with a device set at the same temperature. Release some carbon dioxide near their hiding spots. Bed bugs find this gas irresistible, as it signifies that a person is sleeping nearby.
Bed Bugs Are Attracted to Carbon Dioxide: FACT
Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, as it is in the breath of a potential food source. Carbon dioxide serves as a marker that a suitable living host is close at hand.
Like many other animals, bed bugs hate the smell of citrus plants. Citrus, particularly oranges and lemons, will smell gross to them. As a result, most bed bugs will not want to stick around this aroma for too long. There are several ways to make this work for you if you want to repel insects.
The acidity of vinegar is potent enough to disrupt the insect's nervous system and kill it. Vinegar is often used as a contact type insecticide, which means that you need to spray it directly unto the spotted bed bug to make it effective. Vinegar offers short term and limited effects on your fight against bed bugs.
Lavender.
About the only insects you see around lavender are bees. They love the flowers, but other bugs stay away. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it.
This is because lavender contains a non-toxic compound called linalool, which is used in many pest control products. Apart from mosquitoes and ticks, lavender also often deters spiders, ants and fleas.
Instructions: In a 2 ounce bottle, add the 1 1/2 tablespoons of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, 1 teaspoon of vodka or witch hazel, and 15-25 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake well and spray on skin.
Baby powder can be used to smother and suffocate bed bugs. A 70% isoprophyl solution will also kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. Both of these methods, however, may require multiple applications to fully eliminate an infestation.
How can bed bugs get into my home? They can come from other infested areas or from used furniture. They can hitch a ride in luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces. They can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings, such as apartment complexes and hotels.
Steam Clean Often
The heat of the steam can kill bed bugs and their eggs. Take your steamer and slowly spray each room with it. Pay extra attention to the baseboards, closet shelves, window trim, and even the carpet. Make sure the steamer is set to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit and use a low setting for the airflow.
Sprinkle talcum powder around the bed bug hotspots such as underneath bedroom furniture. Similar to baking soda, it is believed that talcum powder will get rid of bed bugs by causing them to dehydrate. Create a trap by putting some talcum powder in a bowl and placing it underneath your bed.
If you've already gone inside your home, use a steamer to clean the carpets, drapes, linens, and mattress. Wrap your mattress in a bed bug proof cover. Place bedbug interceptors on the feet of your bed for a few nights just to be sure you killed everything.
Repel Ticks, Bugs and Mosquitos
Many attribute the oils in Vicks in helping to prevent bug bites and ticks from latching themselves onto the skin. Vicks VapoRub contains cedarleaf oil, a mild pesticide which may actually repel insects.
Steam – Bed bugs and their eggs die at 122°F (50°C). The high temperature of steam 212°F (100°C) immediately kills bed bugs. Apply steam slowly to the folds and tufts of mattresses, along with sofa seams, bed frames, and corners or edges where bed bugs may be hiding.
Bed bugs can live for as long as 4.5 months or more in an empty house before completely dying off. The two primary factors that determine how quickly or slowly the bed bugs could die off are the existence of a blood meal host, and the temperature of the house.