An infestation of bed bugs can be hard to deal with especially when you have no clue on how to. But did you know you can get rid of bed bugs with natural home remedies fast? Some of the home remedies can kill the bed bugs instantly. Find out how in this post on homemade remedies that can repel bed bugs.
Bed bug infestation in your home has nothing to do with hygiene. Bed bugs are not attracted to food or any other thing other than human blood. No matter how clean your house is, it still possible to have an infestation of bed bug.
Although washing your beddings frequently may reduce their numbers but is it really enough? Here is where natural home remedies come in. They will eliminate them for good. In this post, I am going to share with you all the natural home remedies that have worked to get rid of bed bugs.
Reasons Why You should Choose Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Here are some of the reasons why you may be interested in taking natural approach to get rid of the bed bugs:
a) cost effective
Most natural home remedies will cost you less compared to pesticides or any other commercial products. If you have to factor in the cost of professional exterminators, then this approach is the way to go. In fact, some natural remedies may be even free
b) Saves time to book a professional exterminator
When having an infestation of bed bug, one would have to schedule an appointment with an exterminator. In some cases, it may time getting an exterminator meanwhile the bed bugs would still be causing havoc denying quality sleep.
c) Toxic free
The other advantage of using natural remedies to eliminate bed bugs is that, most are toxic free compared to the ones exterminator use when they deal with bed bugs infestation.
What are Bed Bugs?
Before we begin on the process of getting rid of bed bugs, let’s in brief discuss what bed bugs are. Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on nothing other the human and animal blood. They are usually active during the night.
Bed bugs are notorious and so clever such they hide and move swiftly in the dark, soft places and crevices. Your bedding or mattress is an ideal place for these tiny creatures to hide and settle.
A bed bug is a tiny creature and it can be hard to spot. Their bites are very itchy and uncomfortable though harmless.
What are the Signs of Bed Bugs Infestation?
Here are some of the signs of bed bug infestation to look out for:
a) Itchy Bites on the Skin
This is one of the common signs of bed bugs infestation. Having bites on your skin should tell you that you have bed bugs in your bed. Unlike mosquito or flea bite, bed bug bites always show up in groups. They appear in a straight line since the bed bugs happen to travel up to your arm or leg.
b) Red and Rusty Stains
If you are keen you may notice red or rusty stains which implies that it is your blood coming out from the bed bug bites.
c) Black Dots
If you happen to see black dots in your bed, usually they may be stains on your bed, this should tell you something. Black dots is an indication of bed bug fecal matter.
d) Egg Shells
Although bed bug egg shells may be hard to spots since they are too small and light in color, if you are keen enough you may notice them on your bed or furniture.
e) Living Bugs
This is an obvious sign of bed bug infestation. You may see the bed bugs moving around. Although they are tiny, obviously you may notice them occasionally. A fed bug is slightly bigger, redder and easier to notice.
Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Fast
Here are some of the best natural home remedies to get rid of bed bugs fast.
1. Vacuum Cleaner
This is simple but effective natural home remedy to get rid of the bed bugs. Just suck the bed bugs with a strong vacuum cleaner that has a powerful hose attachment. To completely get rid of the bed bugs with a vacuum, do this every few days to deal with the bed bug infestation.
Here is how to do it. Start vacuuming on elevated surfaces and gradually make your way downward giving attention to the carpets, floors and in any cracks in the walls.
While using a vacuum cleaner, also check in electrical appliances like fans. Once done, discard the vacuum bad outside far away from your home.
2. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning should be one of the simplest but effective natural home remedy to get rid of the bed bugs. This can be applied where a vacuum cleaner cannot reach. The heat in steam cleaner should be enough to kill the bed bugs.
You have to expose the bed bugs to high temperatures exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The instructions on how to use are usually indicated. Be careful not to damage your furniture.
3. Silica Gel
You those little packets you find in shoe boxes and food products. Those are silica gel meant to keep contents dry and also to kill insects.
Surprisingly, you can use silica gel to get rid of bed bugs too. To use them grind up the beads and scatter the powder around the surfaces where you highly suspect that there are bed bugs roaming around.
When using silica gel, make sure your kids or pets are kept far away as direct exposure and inhalation is harmful. If not, you cannot totally avoid this remedy and go for baking soda which has the same result.
4. Borax
Borax is an excellent natural home remedy that is effective in getting rid of bed bugs. Other than being a household cleaning agent, use it to suffocate the bed bugs.
- Sprinkle adequate amount of borax over your mattress
- Leave it for a couple of hours
Although, the bed bugs wouldn’t eat the borax, they will suffocate when they crawl over the borax.
Alternatively, you can add some borax to the washing machine when doing your laundry. Borax will dry the bed bugs.
5. Rubbing Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the effective natural home remedy to get rid of bed bugs. Not just any kind of alcohol out there will get rid of the bed bugs. Make sure you are using the right kind and apply it well.
The kind of alcohol to use must contain at least 70% of rubbing alcohol. But if you happen to get one that has 99% of rubbing the better. This is the appropriate alcohol that works effectively to eliminate bed bugs in your home.
You can apply the alcohol directly on the bed bugs and their eggs or spray on the infested surfaces.
Alcohol is lethal to the bed bugs skin. Once they bugs come in contact with the alcohol, it penetrates them through their shells thus drying them out from the inside.
6. Diatomaceous Earth
This powder is an excellent natural home remedy that works wonder on all types of pests including fleas, bed bugs and ants.
This powder is made from fossilized aquatic organisms. It has the same effect as rubbing alcohol. It kill bed bugs by drying them inside out though it doesn’t kill the bed bugs instantly.
You have to patient once you apply the powder. It takes a couple of days before the bed bugs die from the exposure to diatomaceous earth.
You can purchase diatomaceous earth online – Buy on Amazon.
7. Baking Soda
You can also effectively get rid of bed bugs in your home with baking soda. This natural home remedy works on the principle of absorbing water or moisture from the bed bugs. Spread baking soda on the infested areas such cracks, crevices and your furniture.
To get effective results, apply several times in a week. Be sure to vacuum the treated places days after application.
8. Double-Sided Tape
Here is another way to naturally get eliminate bed bugs in your home. Double-sided tape is one of the ways to prevent bed bugs from invading your home. To effectively use this method combine with other natural method that kills bed bugs instantly like rubbing alcohol.
Double-sided tape makes sure the bed bugs don’t find their way back in your home. Place the tape around the circumference of the legs of your bed frame. When the bed bugs try to climb their way up, they will get stuck on the tape.
9. Silicone Oil
Use silicone oil to get rid of the bed bugs in your home. This natural remedy doesn’t kill the bed bugs immediately but it is still effective to eliminate the bed bugs in your home for good.
Silicone oil is odorless and colorless thus safe to use. The bed bugs will have to come in direct contact with the oil.
10. Stiff Brush
Stiff brush is another natural homemade remedy to eliminate bed bugs in your home. Run a stiff brush along the mattress seams. This helps to dislodge any clinging bed bugs and their eggs. It is effective when used after a vacuum cleaner.
11. Hair Dryer
A hair dryer is one of the effective natural homemade remedy to get rid of bed bugs. A hair dryer can be used when you are about to sleep. Blast your hair dryer over the mattresses and any other infested place in your bedroom or furniture. The heat in the dryer will the bed bugs.
12. Freezer
Bed bugs cannot survive in extreme cold temperatures. If the temperature is set at zero degrees Fahrenheit, this will kill the bed bugs in a days.
Other (Herbal) Bed Bug Home Remedies
You can also try any of the following herbal methods to repel bed bugs in your home.
13. Tea Tree Oil
Use tea tree oil to repel bed bugs from your home. Tea tree oil eliminates bed bugs by suffocating them. You may want to use tea tree oil undiluted to get the most effective results but this isn’t safe your health.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen is also another natural remedy to kill bed bugs, but it can only be used as a contact killer spray for bed bugs. Just note that that hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and may damage your beddings.
15. Lavender and Peppermint Oil
To repel bed bugs from your house, use lavender and peppermint oil. The scent of these natural herbal remedies is strong enough to repel bed bugs from your house. Lavender and peppermint oil spray may not kill the bed bugs on contact but the smell deters them from coming to your house.
- Add 10 drops of lavender oil to 10 drops of peppermint oil
- Add 20 drops to the mixture
- Shake well and put in a spray bottle
- Spray where you thing the bed bugs are hiding
- Repeat this procedure several times in a week until all the bed bugs are gone completely
16. Cinnamon
Use cinnamon just like any other herbal remedy mentioned above to repel bed bugs from your house. Cinnamon doesn’t kill the bed bugs on contact but the scent is strong enough to deter the bed bugs from coming into your house.
17. Lemongrass
Lemon grass is not only effective in repelling the bed bugs like the herbal remedies mentioned above, it also kill the bed bugs. The acid level in lemongrass is too strong for the bed bugs and their eggs to survive. Bed bugs cannot survive the smell of lemongrass.
18. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is effective to get rid of bed bugs. It works effectively and kill bed bugs on contact when mixed with herbs such as ginger and oregano.
- Grind ginger, and add oregano oil (one teaspoon each)
- Mix one teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- Make solution and put it in a stray bottle filled with ¾ of water
- Spray on the bed bugs and places where you suspect the bed bugs are hiding.
