Natural Ways to Kill Bed Bugs At Home

The control of bed bugs is by no means a new problem. In fact, bed bugs have been mentioned in literature throughout the ages, with the first reliable written record of bed bug infestations in the 1500s.[1]With this long history, we humans have spent a whole lot of time trying to figure out exactly how to successfully kill bed bugs. In the 1800s, people experimented with mercury-based poisons that were responsible for widespread human deaths due to accidental ingestion. During the 1930s, people tried burning bed bug effigies, while in the 1940s and 50s, more DIY solutions included re-stuffing mattresses and burning sulfur candles around the home. [2]

In the twentieth century, we are extremely fortunate to have discovered proven methods of controlling bed bug infestations by killing bed bugs in much easier and more inexpensive ways. This does not, however, always mean that treatments are safer. In fact, many mass-market bed bug treatments contain toxic chemicals that could be extremely dangerous for your family and pets. However, there are plenty of natural ways to kill bed bugs, which really begs the question: Why would anyone choose to fill their home with dangerous chemicals when safe options - which are proven to be just as effective as a cure and more effective in prevention - exist?

Natural Bed Bug Killers

A range of natural bed bug-killing ingredients and techniques exist, though some are more practical than others. One method to kill bed bugs, for example, is applying sufficient heat. [3] Bed bugs exposed to temperatures of 118°F for 90 minutes have a 100% mortality rate since it causes their DNA to completely break down.

• Adult bed bugs: Die at 119°F for at least 90 minutes
• Bed bug eggs: Die at 125°F for 90 minutes
• Bed bugs in a room: 131°F can kill bed bugs in a few hours, while 140°F will kill all stages of bed bugs after a few hours

Methods of heat treatment include portable heaters and clothes dryers - but this is a relatively expensive and impractical solution. [4]Bed bugs, after all, don’t just live on our clothes and bed linens; infestations are so hard to control because they live in cracks and crevices on our bed frames, inside closets, and even under floorboards and wallpaper. So, while you can easily throw your clothes into the dryer for a long cycle, cooking the rest of your home—especially without harming your family or breaking the bank—is not an easy task. One of the most effective ways to heat treat your mattresses and furnishings is using a steamer, then vacuuming afterward to suck up any bugs that have been killed by the heat.

So, what other options are on the table? Here, we turn to the earth, allowing nature’s preventative methods to do their thing.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is one of several essential oils that both kills and deters bed bugs. [5]That’s right: peppermint oil, a key ingredient in plenty of human recipes and something that is regularly used medicinally, is also capable of exterminating bed bugs. This is because of the high menthol content in peppermint oil. When applied liberally to a bed bug infestation, peppermint oil kills bed bugs by burning their skin and acting as an insecticide.

It is also very efficient in deterring them - meaning that your former bed bug infestation won’t return. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, the smell of peppermint oil is strong, making the bed bugs disorient. Secondly, it covers up the smells that the bed bugs rely on to both communicate with one another and find a food source. Bed bugs who encounter the strong smell of peppermint oil will be much more likely to find somewhere else to hide.

Citric Acid

Citric acid, the stuff that sometimes makes your lemons, limes, and oranges taste bitter or sour, occurs naturally in citrus fruits. Another ingredient that we commonly use in cooking is citric acid, which is intolerable to the nervous system of bed bugs. So, while you might enjoy the flavor of your citric acid-infused sour candies, this is exactly the stuff that can help to obliterate your bed bug infestation.

This natural insecticide will kill bed bugs by harming their exoskeletons and disrupting their nervous systems, ultimately leading to their deaths. As a bonus, the multi-sensory potency of citric acid also acts as an effective deterrent, ensuring that - with consistent treatment - bed bugs will not return.

Clove Oil

Another essential oil that is naturally primed and ready to help control your bed bug infestation is clove oil. This spicy oil is extracted from clove trees, which are common in Southeast Asia, and is regularly used in cooking and herbal healthcare treatments. In humans, clove oil is a common flavoring for tea and candy. It is also a popular remedy for toothaches due to its pain-killing properties.

However, for bed bugs, the story is very different. Clove oil is a well-known insect repellent, and it works in several ways. [6]Firstly, the chemical compounds that it contains are effective insecticides. Secondly, the strong, spicy smell of clove oil is unpleasant to bed bugs; while the smell is very pleasant to your home’s human inhabitants, it will also ensure that bed bugs stay well clear of your property.

Bed Bug Patrol and How It Helps

Harnessing the power of nature’s insecticide, Bed Bug Patrol is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your home completely bed bug-free. Our complete protection kits offer versatile ways to do it yourself, keeping bed bug elimination and prevention entirely in your hands. Unlike when you call in the exterminators or use toxic or carcinogenic bed bug treatment products, you won’t have to move out of your home. Nor will you have to throw away your treasured possessions or risk the health and welfare of your family and pets.

So how does it work? Natural Bed Bug Patrol Killer Spray is clinically proven in its effectiveness, with university studies and testing from papers in well-known scientific journals to back this up. Our all-natural bed bug solution uses seven non-toxic ingredients: Clove Oil, Peppermint Oil, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Oleic Acid, and Water. These seven powerful ingredients blast through the bed bug infestation in your home while also leaving your property with an aroma that pleases human senses and repels any bed bugs that might be tempted to enter your home in the future.

Treating Your Home In Three Easy Steps

With our Bed Bug Patrol products, we make treating a bed bug infestation really simple. The first step is to remove clutter and pop all your linens and fabrics in a hot wash. This will ensure that any bed bugs living on these surfaces are dealt with rapidly. Any fabrics that can’t be washed should be sealed in airtight bags for several weeks to suffocate any stray bed bugs.

Second, apply Bed Bug Patrol Natural Bed Bug Killer thoroughly to all affected areas. This will kill or immobilize the bed bugs that the solution encounters on your carpets, furniture, floors, and hard surfaces. To deal with these bed bugs, it is important that you vacuum immediately after application and dispose of the contents of the vacuum cleaner outdoors as soon as possible. This will guarantee that any stray bed bugs are unable to re-emerge in your home.

Finally, repeat the process. Because bed bugs hide in difficult-to-reach places, bed bug extermination can be a timely business, but it is worth it when the infestation is completely gone. We recommend cleaning with our professional-grade hot steamer regularly and laying bed bug traps in crevices to speed up the extermination process. Ultimately, with repeated application, the final eggs will hatch, and the larvae will be killed before they have the chance to reach maturity and lay any more eggs. The pleasing aromas of peppermint oil and clove oil will linger in your home, keeping it fresh while deterring any future bed bug infestations.

Preventing Reinfestation

Did you know that travel is one of the most common causes of bed bug infestations? Because your clothes and bags are in contact with beds, trains, and plane seats, your vacation is prime time for picking up bed bugs. These little critters are excellent hitchhikers, and they see your holidaying self as the perfect vehicle to take them to a new home. Thus, it is important to educate yourself on the signs of bed bugs and how to kill bed bugs on the go; taking these precautions will ensure that you are ready to eliminate the problem at the source. Our Bed Bug Blasting Travel Spray encompasses all the power of Bed Bug Patrol but in a handy travel-sized bottle to help you stay bed bug-free wherever you are in the world.

Our natural, plant-based Bed Bug Patrol Killer Spray provides an all-natural solution to infestations of bed bugs, as well as fleas, spiders, and other common indoor bugs. Our 100% natural solution is made in the USA. It relies on the power of natural ingredients like citric acid, clove oil, and peppermint oil to naturally deter these bugs from living in your furnishings and upholstery. Just spray our solution on affected surfaces twice per day, and it will get to work on exterminating your bed bugs and preventing their return. To keep you safe from bed bugs on your travels, arm yourself with our Bed Bug Blasting Travel Spray, which comes in a handy, TSA-approved travel-size bottle for your convenience.

[1] Doggett, S. L., Miller, D. M., and Lee, C. Y. (2018). Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bedbugs. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. [2] Ibid. [3] Miller, D. M. (2014). Using heat to kill bed bugs. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. [4] Ibid. [5] González-Morales, M. A., Terán, M. and Romero, A. (2021) ‘Behavioral responses of the common bed bug to essential oil constituents’. Insects 12(2). [6] Singh, N., Wang, C., and Cooper, R. (2014) ‘Potential of essential oil-based pesticides and detergents for bed bug control.’ Journal of Economic Entomology107(6).