Bed bugs are tiny, oval-shaped insects that sneak into your bed, carpet, and furniture, and they bite or crawl upon you while you sleep or just sit and watch TV.
So, the next morning you wake up with red and itchy spots all over your body, wondering what has happened during the night.
The worst thing is that you might not experience any reaction at all to the bites of these pesky little pests. So, you may be bitten and not be aware of it, and this could happen again and again.
However, those that do experience symptoms of bed bug bites can notice:
- Red, swollen area with a dark red center
- Hives or blisters at the bitten area
- Bites grouped together in a small area, or forming a line
Bed bugs can bite you anywhere on the body. However, they usually attack areas exposed while sleeping, like your hands, legs, arms, and face.
So, what to do to eliminate these pesky bugs and have a clean bed once again?
11 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
First, you need to vacuum your entire house, including your bed, linens, furniture, curtains, clothing, etc. You can also use steam to clean every crack and crevice. However, there are also some natural remedies that can help you get rid of the disgusting bed bugs more quickly.
1. Tea Tree Oil Spray
This oil is a powerful insecticide if used properly. Add 2 teaspoons of it in a spray bottle with 50 ml of water. Shake before use, and spray in every area you think they live. Repeat this technique every day until you’re sure there are no bed bugs in your bed and room.
2. Lavender Oil
Besides killing bed bugs, lavender oil can also kill their eggs. Add 10 to 15 drops of it to 50 ml of water and pour into a spray bottle. Then, just spray in areas you expect to find them.
Also, you can use lavender powder or soap to spray the infected areas.
As an alternative, put fresh lavender flowers or leaves around the places they usually appear. You can even mix 10-15 drops of this oil with the same quantity of peppermint oil to create a powerful insecticide against bed bugs.
3. Lemongrass Spray
Lemongrass, or citronella, is a natural bed bugs repellant. Just pour ten drops of it into a spray bottle filled with some water, and shake before spraying the infested areas.
4. Eucalyptus Oil
You can use this essential oil to repel insects, bacteria, nematodes, weeds, fungi, and mites. Just pour 2 ounces of water into a spray bottle, and add 1.5 ounces of vodka or witch hazel, and 30 drops of eucalyptus oil. Shake well and spray in the affected areas. Do this every 2 hours.
5. Orange Essential Oil
D-limonene in the orange essential oil acts as a nerve toxin which kills insects and bugs minutes after getting in touch with it.
Add 2 ounces of orange oil, 1 ounce of blackstrap molasses, and 1 cup of compost tea into 4 liters of water. Pour everything into a spray bottle and shake well. Then, just spray the areas where you expect to find bed bugs.
6. Neem Oil
Neem essential oil is said to inhibit the growth of larvae, especially cold pressed neem oil. Here’s how to use it to repel bed bugs. Mix 4 ounces of water with 1 ounce of concentrated neem oil into a spray bottle. To emulsify the solution, add half a teaspoon of soap and stir well.
Then, spray and wipe down sheets, beds, crevices, walls, and other spots you expect to see them. Repeat this 3 times daily, 3 days in a row. Then, do this every other day for a total of 3 weeks.
7. Sweet Flag
This plant has antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties which help repel bed bugs.
To prepare an effective natural bug bed repellant, add 50 g of turmeric powder and 100g of sweet flag into 1 l of water and boil for one hour. Store the solution in a container with a lid and let it sit for 24 hours.
After that, filter and dilute it in water 10 times the amount of the solution. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution in and around the infested areas.
8. Bean Leaves
Bean leaves have trichomes, microscopic hairs on their surface which entangle bed bugs onto them. So, to use them in the fight against these pesky bugs you need to scatter them in the affected areas, as well as around the house. Also, you can out few of them under your mattress.
Then, wait for several days before replacing the leaves with new ones. But, if you notice there are bugs even the first day, make sure to get rid of them immediately and replace with fresh ones.
9. Thyme
Thymol concentrate or thyme oil are great ways to repel bed bugs. For that purpose, take a cotton cloth to tie a thyme stick, and then burn in near the affected area.
Also, you can take few thyme leaves and put them in a net bag which should be placed around the affected areas. You should replace the bags every 3rd day, for a month.
10. Clove
Clove oil has a pungent smell and high acidic pH levels which help repel these bugs. All you have to do is pour a cup of water into a spray bottle and add one teaspoon of clove oil. Then, shake and spray the infested places.
11. Diatomaceous Earth
This natural product is a non-toxic insecticide which helps control pests in the garden and home, without harming people or nature. You can use it in any space, like cracks and crevices and other hard-to-reach spots.
Its fine crystalline powder form appears attractive but what it does is trapping and tearing up these pesky little bugs.
Sprinkle or spray food grade Diatomaceous Earth on the floor, bed, the crevices, and other infested areas. Allow it to stay for up to 3 days before vacuuming up the entire house.
Via: Cure Joy | WebMD | Healthline
