Category Archives: Bed Bug Home Remedies

Bed bugs are parasites that belong to the cimicid family. They are small, oval, brownish insects that feed exclusively on blood. While there are quite a few parasites of the cimicid family that feeds on animal blood, the cimex lectularius, the common bedbug, is the famous one as it prefers feeding on human blood. While an adult bed bug has a flat body, and looks pretty much like an apple seed, after feeding, its body swells and also turns a reddish color. Bed bugs usually feed on their hosts quite unnoticed.

Though bed bugs are believed to be more active during the night, they are not nocturnal creatures. A female bedbug can lay hundreds of eggs in its lifetime. These eggs are usually the size of a speck of dust and can be brought into your house along with adults, via luggage, used furniture, used beds, clothing, etc. Bed bugs cannot fly. However, they can move quite quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings.

While some adverse health conditions may be caused as a result of bed bug bites, like skin rashes, allergic symptoms, and even psychological problems, bed bugs are unknown to transmit any disease pathogens.

One of the most evident signs of bed bug infestation is finding itchy areas on your body when you wake up after a sleep. These itchy areas may also present as small red bumps. Small blood stains on your sheets or pillow cases, bed bug excrement on the bed and bed linen or walls, egg shells or shed skins in areas where bed bugs usually hide, and sometimes even a musty odor from the bugs scent glands are some other giveaways to a bed bug infestation.

Since bed bugs have flattened bodies, it makes it easy for them to hide in the tiniest of spaces, like mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards. Though bed bugs do not have nests, they tend to live in groups. Over time, they tend to scatter through the bedroom, moving into any crevice or protected location, and even to adjoining rooms.

If you suspect that you may have a bed bug infestation, remove all bedding and dust covers and blankets, box springs etc. and check it carefully for signs of the bugs or their excrement. You must also check the area around the bed, including inside books, telephones, radios, carpet edges, and even electrical outlets.

Once you have identified a bed bug infestation in your house, it is understandable that you want to jump right in and eliminate them. But this will be a long, drawn-out battle, and there is nothing like patience and preparation to win it.

Getting rid of bedbugs begins with cleaning up the places where bedbugs live. Now, this is not an easy task as it includes washing and drying bedding, linens, curtains, clothing, etc. in hot water and then meticulously checking that it is indeed bed-bug free. The cleaning up process also calls for some heavy-duty vacuuming. The entire house, furniture, linens, furnishings etc. need to be regularly vacuumed. After each vacuuming session, ensure you remove the vacuum cleaner bag into another plastic bag and place it in the garbage bin outside the house.

Another way to get rid of these bugs is to freeze them. Although bed bugs can live for up to a year in a cool room, they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. Freezing infested items for at least two hours at -17C should kill them off.

Like cold, steam too can help get rid of bed bugs. Steam can penetrate mattress linings, crevices and cracks effectively and efficiently. Steam cleaning infested items and rooms at about 140F (60C) can destroy bugs as well as their eggs without damaging the surroundings.

You can also try out some natural insecticides to get rid of the bed bugs and their eggs. In this regard, plant essential oils have gained importance as a significant natural source of pesticides. They represent a market estimated at $700 million. The total production of essential oils in the world is estimated to be around 45000 tons. Most essential oils affect the inner cell membranes of insects, causing cytotoxic effects. It is this property that proves beneficial when tackling any kind of bug or insect infestation. And while the essential oils are toxic to the bugs, they are safe for humans. Here we look at some essential oil based natural insecticides as well as some other less harmful repellents to help get rid of bed bugs.

Studies show that tea tree oil is an effective insecticidal. The essential oil of tea tree effectively disrupts the permeability barrier of cell membrane structures, thus resulting in the loss of chemiosmotic control and fatality. It is this membrane-damaging property of tea tree oil that makes it an effective natural insecticide in fighting bed bugs. You can use the homemade spray in hard-to-reach places, like cracks, crevices, and furniture joints.

To Use: To make a natural insecticide with tea tree oil, mix two teaspoons of tea tree oil with 50 ml of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray liberal amounts of the natural insecticide in all areas where you think bed bugs are living. Use this application daily until all the signs of bed bugs have disappeared. Remember to shake well before each application.

Like tea tree oil, lavender essential oil can also be used as an effective natural insecticide to kill bed bugs. Lavender oil is also believed to destroy bed bug eggs as well. It is also said that it is the smell of lavender that kills the bugs. However, the oil probably acts as a cytotoxin and thus kills the bed bugs.

To Use: To make a spray, mix 1015 drops of lavender oil with 50 ml water. Shake well, pour into a spray bottle and use in areas where the infestation is seen. You can also use lavender soap or powder as a spray. Another method is to place fresh lavender leaves or flowers in and around the infested areas to get rid of the bed bugs.

A combination of lavender oil and peppermint oil was also found to be highly beneficial in exterminating bed bugs.

To Use: Add 1015 drops of lavender essential oil and 1015 drops of peppermint oil into a spray bottle. Fill it with water. Then shake well and spray in affected areas.

Citronella, or lemongrass as it is more commonly known, is another essential oil that can repel and kill bed bugs as well as its eggs. Citronella oil is believed to increase the acidic condition within the bugs, thus effectively eliminating it. Like lavender, the smell of citronella is also believed to help get rid of bed bugs.

To Use: Add 10 drops of citronella oil to a small bowl of water. Pour it into a spray bottle, shake thoroughly, and spray in affected areas to get best results.

The evergreen, mighty trees of the eucalyptus can be seen in most places across the world. The essential oil found in its foliage is widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, etc. It is also used extensively as an insect repellent. Eucalyptus is believed to exhibit ovicidal activity, as well as insect repellency against bacteria, fungi, insects, weeds, nematodes, and mites.

To Use: To make the spray, take two ounces of water, 1.5 ounces of witch hazel or vodka and 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Pour all this into a spray bottle and shake well to mix it. Then spray the solution on the affected areas. Repeat the spraying every two hours of so.

Orange oil contains d-limonene which is classified as an insecticide. This is a nerve toxin which kills the bugs and insects within minutes of contact.

To Use: Make a spray solution by mixing 1 cup of compost tea, 1 ounce of blackstrap molasses and 2 ounces of orange essential oil in 4 liters of water. Mix all this together well and spray in the affected areas.

For generations, neem oil has been used for various medicinal and insecticidal properties. The tree, the leaf, the seeds are all used for medicinal purposes with beneficial results. Studies show that neem oil, especially cold pressed neem oil, has high toxicity, and antifeedancy and can repel a number of pests. It was also shown to have high larval growth inhibition properties.

To Use: To make a spray solution, add 1 ounce of concentrated neem essential oil to 4 ounces of water. Add teaspoon of soap in order to emulsify the solution. Mix it well. Then spray and wipe down beds, sheets, walls, crevices and all other potential bed bug hiding places. Do this three times a day for the first three days. Then shift to treating your home every alternate day for a total of 18 days.

Sweet flag or acorus calamus, is an uncommon, semi-aquatic, perennial plant found in Eurasia and the Americas. Valued for its rhizome and fragrant oils, this plant has been used medicinally as well as for its insecticidal properties, since time immemorial. Recent studies have also revealed that the sweet plant possesses antifungal and antibacterial properties. The antimicrobial property makes the sweet flag effective against bed bugs.

To Use: To make a spray, boil 100 grams of sweet flag and 50 grams of turmeric powder in one liter of water. Boil this for an hour. Then keep the solution in a closed container for 24 hours. The next day, filter and dilute the solution in 10 times the water. Transfer to a spray bottle and spray lavishly in affected areas and its surroundings.

Did you just think folk lore when you read the word kidney beans? Well, push that thought aside. Studies have shown that the leaves have microscopic hairs called trichomes on its surface that entangle the bugs onto it, literally stopping them in their tracks. Unlike a Velcro effect, the trichomes actually get hooked onto bugs legs, trapping them.

To Use: Scatter kidney bean leaves all over the house, especially in infested areas. You can also place the leaves under mattresses. You can either wait for a couple of days before getting rid of these leaves or opt to use fresh leaves every day for a few days. Since the bugs are stuck on the leaves, getting rid of the leaves will ensure the bugs never return.

Thyme oil or thymol concentrate are effective bed bug repellents. They are also shown to be effective deterrents for egg laying by mites.

To Use: You can tie a thyme stick with a cotton cloth and burn it near the infested area, or in the infested room. Alternatively, place thyme leaves in net bags and place them in and around the infested areas. Remember to replace these bags with fresh leaves every third day. Continue the process for up to a month to ensure all bed bugs have been killed.

Like most other essential oils, clove oil too possesses insecticidal and insect repellent properties. It is believed that the acidic pH of cloves, as well as its pungent smell, disturbs the survival of the bugs, thus destroying them.

To Use: Mix 1 teaspoon clove essential oil with 1 cup water. Pour into a spray bottle, shake well, and spray in affected areas.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a non-toxic insecticide that is used for the protection of stored products and to control pests in the home and garden. It is a natural product that harms neither the earth nor people. It can be conveniently used in any space, even crevices on walls and other inaccessible regions. DE comes as a fine crystalline powder. Fine for the human eye, but the crystals trap and tear up the bed bugs.

To Use: Spray or sprinkle food grade DE on the bed, the floor, the crevices, and other areas where bugs are likely to hide. Let it stay for up to three days. After three days, vacuum or broom up the entire house. Some other products that work effectively against bed bugs are baking powder and boric powder. While boric powder is toxic, baking powder is harmless for humans.

Also, remember that most essential oils should be effective in getting rid of bed bugs. This is because, as mentioned, the oils function as cytotoxins, destroying the membranes of the bugs. So, go ahead, get started on ridding your home and hearth of those pesky blood suckers.

Disclaimer: The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.

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11 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Naturally

Bedbug is one of the most common household parasites. It feeds on human or animal blood. Bites of these insects can cause a lot of troubles. So if you have become a victim of these parasites you should consider getting rid of bed bugs.

Due to the geometry and flexibility of its segmented body a hungry bedbug is hardly vulnerable to mechanical methods of bed bugs removal. A full bug becomes less agile; its body becomes rounded and dark because of blood.

Parasitic lifestyle is typical for adult bed bugs of both sexes, as well as for the larvae. During daytime bed bugs hide in wall chinks, under wallpapers, in the grooves of furniture, books, clothing, electronics, darkened and warm places and in the cages of animals and birds. At night they creep out to eat. Bedbugs survive equally well in almost any environment. Very hungry bugs in big populations can attack even in daytime. Since the insects are so common, everyone should know how to get rid of bed bugs.

The average life expectancy of bed bugs is one year. Normally an adult insect feeds regularly every 5-10 days mostly on human blood, but it can attack domestic animals, birds, rats and mice. Bed bug larva feeds almost every day, as it needs a lot of blood to grow. Bedbugs do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. At a temperature of -15 C they can live for one day, at a temperature of over +49 bugs die. So the best way to get rid of bed bugs fast is to expose them to high or low temperatures.

At present it is not proved that the bugs can carry diseases. The greatest harm they do to people is biting, which deprives you of normal rest and sleep and thereby reduces your performance. Furthermore, in some cases, bed bug bite can cause skin rashes and allergies or become a stressful factor. When feeding, a bed bug leaves several bite marks on your skin, as it needs to make a few holes to suck the needed amount of your blood. The distance between the bites can reach several centimeters. If your house is extremely infested with bed bugs you will possibly have 100 or more bites in one night.

There are quite a number of methods that help to kill bed bugs. Here are some tips on what to do if you have bed bugs at home:

There are some home remedies to get rid of bed bugs:

It must be noted that natural means are not as powerful as chemicals, so it is effective to use them in combination with chemicals. Complex treatment will help to remove the insects for good.

To prevent bed bugs appearing in your house you should:

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How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs Fast - Best Ways and Home Remedies

Can We Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

The answer to this simple questions is YES. Bed bugs can be quite a menace, and you can get harassed in your home and of all the places on your bed. Bed bug bites can cause rashes, irritation, and blisters on various parts of the body. Also,it can cause quite a discomfort. Just image that you are sharing your bed with these annoying creature is enough motivation for you to do something about the bed bugs that have invaded your home and particularly your bed. Between a sleepless night and enjoying a peaceful night without any interruptions, you would surely settle for the 2nd option but that would involve taking advantage of some home remedies to get rid of bed bugs. Below are some solutions for setting your house and rooms free from bed bugs.

Any fabric for example bed sheets, blankets, etc. that have come into contact with the bed bugs should be cleaned thoroughly with very hot water. Hot Water up to 100C kills the bed bugs instantly without leaving any.

One of the main characteristics of bed bugs is that they like to hide in places that are not easily accessible especially with cracks. Therefore, it is very important to use a vacuum cleaner or hover as it can pull out the bed bugs from their hiding. Bed Bugs should also be cleaned from items such as electronics and furniture etc.

After applying mentioned above steps it is important to remember that unless you get rid of bed bug eggs laid on the infected mattress and surface all your hard work is reduced to nothing. Over the span of time if those eggs are left unattended then it is just a matter of time before a new breed of bed bugs emerges again. Although the bed bugs may survive many treatments, but they cannot survive a hot steam that is done on an infected mattress or surface. This is one of the most efficient home remedies to get rid of bed bugs.

Wipe the affected areas after vacuuming & hot steam. Cleaning should be done using the best disinfectant available such as Lysol to get rid of any remaining bed bugs. Regular cleaning off is the only way to make your rooms bed bugs free.

If encasing is done properly especially on pillows and mattresses can go a long way in preventing bed bugs from escaping to other places to cause devastation. Encasings your pillows can also act as protective gears from bed bug bites.

Alcohols such as Isopropyl are used as disinfectants so as to disinfect areas of the body bitten by bed bugs or other insects or pests. However, it is important to mention that several types of rubbing alcohols can be used in spraying places where bed bugs grow.

The emanating smell of tea tree oil that is quite irresistible acts as a deterrent for bed bugs as they cannot withstand the smell. Spraying all the infected areas with tea tree oil can prevent the bed bugs from giving you a hard time while your sleep. This is yet another very important home remedies to get rid of bed bugs.

Bed bugs cannot withstand the strong smell of lavender oil. For the best results use dried lavender and place it in between two pieces of cloth and then stitched somewhere onto the bed to keep the bed bugs away by its fragrance. Applying the lavender oil on the floor of your bedroom can go a long way in keeping off bed bugs.

Because of the high temperatures that used in dryers, it is impossible for bed bugs to survive on clothes that have been washed and dried using a dryer. Running the dryer for a maximum of fifteen to twenty minutes will ensure that the annoying parasite has been gotten rid of.

The major components that are present in the diatomaceous earth are small fossils of algae whose rough and pointy edges pierce the bed bugs leading to their fast and immediate death. Sprinkling the Diatomaceous earth around your bed can help you to a very great extent to protect yourself from any harassment by the bed bugs.

Each of the mentioned above home remedies is important in their way, but it is necessary to mention that there are many more remedies that are effective. Thus, success in combating bed bugs is not limited to the ten remedies that have been listed above. Therefore you are not restricted to just one solution for getting rid of bed bugs, but you have to choose the one that works well for you or the one that is most efficient.

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Effective Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs are a nightmare. These little bloodsuckers can last a year and a half without a meal. They work their way into the tiniest of spaces, hide out in your bedroom and furniture, and keep biting. The little pests are masters of disguise, sneakiness, and making things itchy. Bedbugs can be very difficult to get rid of but some best practices can make managing and eventually eliminating them a smaller mountain to climb.

You can recognize if you have bed bugs when either you notice bites after a night's sleep or begin to notice blood smears or black fecal matter around your bed. Always check in and around mattress seams, in pillowcases, and the bedframe or headboard. A fully grown bedbug is about the size of Abraham Lincoln's head on a US penny.

Because bed bugs are exceptional at hiding and enjoy living in small and secluded places, a bug bomb won't work well. The aerosol mist from the fogger can't make its way into the nooks and crannies where these bedbugs are hanging out. In addition to this, foggers can be dangerous and harm you and your family if not used properly. Using a fogger properly involves some serious planning and management: you need to keep you family and pets out of the house, you need to make sure you don't have food in your home, you need to let your home air out afterwards, and if they don't do the job, you can't use them too frequently without endangering you or your family.

So the foggers aren't the best choice, but what about the exterminator? Much of what he can do to help you get rid of bed bugs is rely on similar chemical pesticides to those in the foggers. If that doesn't work, he may recommend fumigating your home. The problem here is similar to those with foggers, there are parts of your home where bedbugs might be hiding that won't be affected by fumigation. In addition, fumigation treatment for your home can run you thousands of dollars, and makes it a completely unviable option for many people suffering with a bed bug infestation.

In addition to all of those negatives, any poison based control can have serious knock-on effects. Studies have shown that bed bugs have grown more resistant to chemical pesticides over time. In order to combat them effectively, it is essential to pursue alternatives that do not rely on poisons.

There are lots of places around the internet that will tell you they have an amazing homemade spray you can use to combat bed bugs. They are often touted as a solution you can make in your home at a minimal cost and are effective at killing bed bugs. The problem is, most of these recipes will kill bed bugs only when they are treated directly. You have to find them and spray them. This can present a huge problem for actually tackling your bed bug infestation. It can be a great secondary tool for when you encounter an actual bed bug, but outside of that situation, these sprays won't help much.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a great all-round choice for combatting bed bugs. This non-chemical pesticide defeats bed bugs' ever growing resistance to chemical pesticides. This bed bug powder is all-natural and safe to use around you and your family, so there should be no worries about getting a little on your hands, or sitting somewhere that has been treated with it. You should actually sit in places that have been treated with this pesticide because it will help kill any potential bed bug hitchhikers.

DE looks and feels like a fine white powder but if you looked at it under a microscope, you would see hundreds of tiny shards. To humans, these shards are inconsequential; to insects like bedbugs, they are like shards of glass. DE punctures insects' exoskeletons and absorbs their internal fluids dehydrating them quickly and effectively.

The powder is so fine that it can be easily worked into furniture and applied in tight spaces easily, this makes it ideal for combatting an infestation which likes to hide out in places foggers cannot reach. DE is safe to use around your family by any measure and won't harm you, your family or pets. It's a cost effective option which can also deter future infestations when combined with some best practices for handling bedbugs.

In any bed bug situation you need to follow some of the common best practices. Regardless of how you choose to treat your home, these methods are necessary to have any success combating bed bugs.

These best practices include thoroughly cleaning your home using a vacuum and steam cleaner; washing all of your linens and clothes and storing them in airtight containers; and "hunting" for bed bugs around your home. Dismantle your bed or furniture as much as possible and vacuum your way around the pieces. Go back over the same areas and other crevices with a steamer. Wash and dry any fabric on a high heat before storing to help get rid of bed bugs and their eggs.

These best practices when combined with an all-natural bed bug powder like diatomaceous earth put you in the strongest position to win back your home and keep your family safer, happier, and healthier.

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Why Home Remedies for Bed Bugs Are Your Only Option ...

It can be a really scary experience when your house is infested with bed bugs. Complete eradication of the parasite is extremely difficult and in some cases the bugs infest the entire house and you need to seek a professional pest control service to get out of this situation.

Here are some wonderful home remedies that can be employed as soon as you see bed bugs in your house. This will help control the breeding and take care of the situation before things get out of hand.

Vacuum cleaning is one of the best ways by which most of the bugs can be removed in a swish. Vacuuming will trap all the bugs into the suction air and the bugs can be removed or destroyed after this procedure. Vacuuming must be done several times and for several days to be effective.

It is also important not to use the areas where you are doing the vacuum treatment during these days. This will help the bugs to starve and die. Avoid using the area for at least a month to ensure that they are destroyed completely.

Another safe and simple way to kill the bugs is to sprinkle talcum powder generously on the area so that the bugs will be suffocated to death.This too would require patience and you might have to do the treatment several times for taking care of all the bugs. At this time, you must also ensure that you avoid sleeping in these areas. Baby powder is the best for killing bugs.

This naturally occurring powder which is made from water plants that are fossilized, diatomaceous earth contains particles that have very sharp edges and help in killing the bugs and other insects when they come into contact with them. As this powder can be dangerous for your lungs, ensure that you wear a dust mask while you use it. This powder is very effective in controlling as well as treating many insects and pests.

The antimicrobial properties of neem will help in eradicating bed bugs effectively. Take a handful of neem leaves and crush them gently. Sprinkle these leaves in areas, which are infected with bed bugs. Spread fresh neem leaves once they turn dry.

Neem water can be prepared by adding neem leaves to water and boiling the water for ten minutes. This water can be used for taking bath and treating the infected area of the skin. Neem water is also good for taking bath before you are off to sleep as the smell will repel the bed bugs.

Bed bugs cannot thrive in hot environments. Thus,treating all the upholstery and affected areas with very hot water is beneficial in killing the bugs. Clothes that have been treated with hot water can be ironed as well in high temperature for killing the bugs. Upholstery and furniture can be left under the hot sun to kill the bed bugs and discourage them from further infestation.

Just like heat treatment, steam too can kill bed bugs as they cannot tolerate the hot moisture and intense steam. For this, a steam vacuum cleaner can be used. Steaming has to be done several times in order to kill all the bed bugs.

Steaming may not be very effective if the bed bug infestation is very intense and has gone deeper than half an inch under your mattress. In such cases, you may try a combination treatment like hot and steam treatment and leaving the affected clothes, upholstery, and furniture under the sun as well.

Another way to treat bed bug infestation is to use alcohol on the affected areas. Alcohol has a dehydrating reaction on the eggs of the bugs and destroys them. Sprinkling alcohol on the bugs will kill them instantly. However, the effect of alcohol will remain only when you spray them and not after that.

A solution of 70-90% isopropyl can however have a residual effect as well and is better preferred than others. Use a spray bottle for spraying the alcohol on the bed bugs and eggs. This can be a painstaking task, but a very effective one.

Bed bugs can also be killed by treating them with extreme cold. During winter season, this becomes an easy task as all the upholstery and furniture can be left outside under the harsh winter climate. Clothes and other smaller items can be left in the freezer for killing the bugs. You can also wash your clothes in very cold water or leave them in water along with ice cubes for killing the bugs.

Sprinkling boric acid on areas where there is bed bug infestation is another effective way to kill the bed bugs. However, after the treatment, care has to be taken to ensure that the boric acid powder is thoroughly cleaned from the areas where you reside. It is not recommended to sprinkle boric acid on your upholstery and bed as it will be difficult to remove them completely after the treatment.

Thyme oil and smoking thyme are known to repel insects and bed bugs effectively. Thyme sticks can be tied to cotton cloths and burnt near the infected areas of your house and surroundings to repel and expel these insects.

However, thyme is only a repellant and does not actually kill the bed bugs. So it has to be used in conjunction with other home remedies or to just bring the bed bugs out from their hiding places and kill them using alcohol or other methods mentioned above.

Black walnut too is known to be an effective repellant and insecticide against bed bugs. The dried tea can be used for sprinkling in areas that are infested with the bugs like the closet areas, interior areas and creases of beds etc. This will effectively kill and bring out the bed bugs from their hiding places. Once they are out in the open, it becomes easy to remove them from the areas.

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11 Home Remedies To Kill Bed Bugs - Natural Treatments ...