Bed bugs are known to be a challenging pest to control. Before you roll up your sleeves, it is important to know the best approach for your situation. For this reason, we’ve gathered some tips for natural home remedies for bed bugs to help you control the situation.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to kill bed bugs naturally, how to prepare before treating your home, what methods to use (and what methods you should avoid), and some home remedies for bug bites in case you get bitten.
Is it Legal to Use Home Remedies Against Bed Bugs?
Before trying home remedies for killing bed bugs, you should first check your local legislation. In some states, renters are required to notify landlords, who are responsible for hiring a professional to treat the house or building and inspect adjacent apartments.
So, before taking any of the measures discussed in this article, remember to check what is legal in your state.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally
When getting rid of bed bugs, it is important to keep in mind that using non-chemical and DIY methods alone can be less effective or might not work at all. Additionally, it can be more labor-intensive than having a pest control pro treat your home.
The best approach for bed bug control is to employ an integrated pest management plan that combines preventive action against bed bugs, non-chemical methods, careful use of EPA-registered pesticides, and ongoing monitoring of the situation.
Now that you’re aware of these facts, let’s talk about how to get rid of bed bugs naturally. The first step is to prepare before treating, followed by the usage of home remedies for bed bugs (including non-chemical methods). Additionally, we’ll discuss what doesn’t work against bed bugs so you can spare your precious time and money.
Prepare Before Treating
Before treating your home for bed bugs, it’s important to prepare. Bed bugs are sneaky and can easily spread, so follow these precautions before treatment to prevent the infestation from spreading:
- Declutter: Put trash and other infested items that are disposable in a plastic bag and throw them away in an outside bin. Eliminate cardboard, newspapers, and magazines.
- Vacuum thoroughly: Vacuum the entire room, around and under the bed, including the mattress and the box spring. Then, dump the contents of the vacuum canister in a trash bag and place it in an outdoor trash can.
Vacuuming will help you detect live bed bugs, since in large infestations they can be hard to see among their shed skins, hatched eggs, and other debris. However, it is important to note that vacuuming will not get rid of bed bugs’ eggs, and the infested bag should be discarded outside. - Isolate your bed: Move the bed away from the wall (at least 6 inches) and remove all bed bugs from the bed frame, from the footboard to the headboard. Soapy water can help you remove them.
- Use mattress encasements: Cover your bed with bed-bug-proof mattress encasements. Remove any items from under the bed.
- Set bed bug traps: Bed bug interceptors can be placed under each one of the bed’s legs to trap the bugs before they reach the bed. You can build DIY bed bug interceptors or buy them in stores.
- Dry clothes and bedding: Wash clothing items and bedding in hot water and dry on high heat for 30 minutes. Washing alone won’t get rid of the bed bugs, but the heat from the drying process will kill them instantly. Then tuck all bedding under the mattress to prevent it from touching the floor.
- Inspect furniture: Check for bed bugs in furniture, baseboards, drapes, behind picture frames, and behind switch covers. Then remove any bed bugs or eggs that you see.
- Reduce bed bugs’ possible habitats: If a playing card can pass through, there is enough space for a bed bug to hide, so fix any cracks or crevices with caulk. Pay special attention to baseboards and wall switches. Additionally, fix any loose wallpaper and wallboard damage.
See in this video how you can prepare your home for bed bug treatment:
Pro tip: Some of these measures, such as decluttering and using bed-bug-proof mattress encasements are also great ways to prevent bed bugs, another important pillar in bed bug control.
Use Home Remedies That Work
The best strategy to kill bed bugs is to employ an integrated pest management approach, which combines non-chemical methods with the use of registered pesticides. By contacting a pro, he can help evaluate the severity of your infestation and which methods should be used to effectively control your bed bug situation.
But maybe you want to take immediate action while waiting for the pro’s scheduled visit, so let’s discuss what you can do to control bed bugs at home. Here are some home remedies for killing bed bugs (including non-chemical methods) that will help you get rid of them without pesticides:
- Steam: The most common method of killing bed bugs with heat is by using a steamer. Steamers are usually effective to treat in mattresses, couches, carpets, or where insecticides should not ideally be applied. Baseboards and bedframes can also be treated with steaming.
The temperature must be at least 130 F and a diffuser should be used to reduce airflow (which can scatter bed bugs, further spreading the infestation). Steaming will reduce bed bug numbers quickly, but will not eliminate an infestation alone. - Heat treatment: Clothes and sheets can be dried on high heat for 30 minutes to get rid of bed bugs. You can also place these and other infested items in a plastic bag inside a closed car under the sun to kill bed bugs with the heat.
- Cold treatment: If your home freezer reaches 0 degrees F, you have another option at your disposal. Leave the infested items in a bag inside the freezer for three days. During this period, regularly check the temperature with a thermometer to ensure the 0 degrees F mark is constant.
Photo Credit: SprocketRocket / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
- Diatomaceous earth: You can also get rid of bed bugs with diatomaceous earth. Apply small amounts of the powder in crevices and cracks where they typically hide.
Diatomaceous earth powder dehydrates and kills bed bugs within a few days. Make sure to opt only for EPA-registered products, and wear a mask when handling them. Do not use pool-grade or food-grade diatomaceous earth, as it poses a bigger health risk if inhaled.
- Essential oils: One study has shown that substances in oregano, thyme, lemongrass, and clove oil are effective against bed bugs. You can spray them on the furniture or use them in the washing process. Using essential oil soaps from pine, orange, or lemon is also recommended.
Essential oils are mainly used in the cleaning stage before pesticide treatments, but it is important to note they have not yet been proven to eliminate entire infestations alone. Also, no data indicates they can prevent new infestations.
So when opting for essential oils, combine them with other methods mentioned above or with professional pesticide treatments.
Avoid Home Remedies That Don’t Work
Home remedies might be popular and seem like a practical solution; maybe a neighbor you know swore by them. But to save you time, money, and keep you and your family safe, here is a list of home remedies that don’t work (and are potentially dangerous) that you can stay away from:
- Bleach, ammonia, rubbing alcohol, gasoline, kerosene, or any other substances that pose a fire hazard.
- Baking soda and vinegar can’t kill bed bugs. Despite popular beliefs, there is no substantial evidence of their efficacy.
- Sticky traps don’t work against bed bugs but are effective against spiders and cockroaches.
- Using a thermostat, fire, or propane space heater to raise temperatures and attempt a heat treatment is highly dangerous. Using propane heaters requires professional training and even so, its use is limited since some buildings have structural issues that make using this method impossible.
- Food or pool-grade diatomaceous earth has bigger diatoms than pesticide-grade diatomaceous earth, making them more dangerous if accidentally inhaled.
- Dryer sheets and moth balls are also ineffective in repelling bed bugs.
Home Remedies for Bed Bugs Bites
Oh no, you’ve been bitten! But don’t panic: Bed bugs aren’t known to transmit diseases, but their bites may cause redness and itchiness. Here are some home remedies for bed bug bites to help alleviate these symptoms:
- Wash the area: Your first step is to sanitize the area by washing it with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress: Make a cold compress with an ice pack or a cold, damp cloth for about 10 minutes.
- Do oatmeal baths: Soaking the area in an oatmeal bath can help relieve itchiness as well.
- Use a baking soda paste: Mix baking soda (1 tablespoon) with enough water to create a paste and apply it to the affected area. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse off the paste.
If after applying these methods the itchiness persists, resort to these other solutions or call a medical professional:
- Calamine lotion
- Corticosteroid cream (there are over-the-counter options)
- Oral antihistamine medication
FAQ About Natural Remedies for Bed Bugs
How Do I Know If I Have Bed Bugs?
If you’re unsure whether you have bed bugs or not, you can collect the bugs with a vacuum or a bed bug trap and closely examine them. Bed bugs look like apple seeds in shape and color, but are smaller. You can also contact a local Cooperative Extension Service or a pest control pro to help you identify the bug.
Does Baking Soda Kill Bed Bugs?
There is no concrete evidence to suggest baking soda kills bed bugs.
What Home Remedy Kills Bed Bugs Permanently?
No home remedy can get rid of bed bugs permanently. Successful control of bed bugs requires a combination of multiple strategies (non-chemical methods, synthetic insecticides, professional expertise) and continuous monitoring of the results and prevention efforts.
When to Call a Pro
If the bed bugs are bugging you, count on the experience and knowledge of a trusted pro to solve your problem. Contact pest control pros near you today and say goodbye to the bed bug bites.
Main Image Credit: Pvl 0707 / Canva Pro / License
