Bedding

Published March 22, 2022

12 min

What kills bed bugs instantly: Home Remedies

Nectar Editorial Team

Table of contents

What are Bed Bugs?Signs that You Have Bed bugsMyths around home remedies to kill bed bugs9 Home Remedies for Bed bugs Worth TryingConclusionFrequently Asked Questions

Bed bugs are blood suckers that can leave behind red spots and rashes on the skin giving a long lasting itch. They can be killed by using a powerful vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming can help you get rid of the bugs and their eggs at-a-go. Similarly, one can even try killing the bed bugs by using a steam cleaner. The high temperature produced by a steam cleaner will put both bugs and the eggs together. You must target cleaning the areas where you think they may be hiding– under the furniture, in cracks, inside wall cracks, etc.

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny insects that tend to feed on human and animal blood. They are active at night, hiding behind dark corners, cracks, and crevices. While it's your mattress which is basically their favorite dine-in arena since it gives them easy access to your skin. Their bites can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. But what kills bed bugs instantly? Are home remedies effective on them? Well, to have your worries answered, in this article we will uncover the tips and tricks on how and what kills the bed bugs instantly at home.

Signs that You Have Bed bugs

Before you can get rid of bed bugs, you will need to determine first if you have a bed bug infestation on your hands. The problem with these tiny insects is that they are hard to spot. However, there are tell-tale signs that can help you identify whether bed bugs are living in your mattress.

Rusty or red stains – If you see red or rusty-colored stains on your mattress or bedding, it’s most likely dried blood from these bugs.
Egg shells – Egg shells are not that easy to spot because they tend to be small and are lighter in color, but keep an eye out for tiny specks of white or ivory on your bed, carpet, or even your furniture as these are egg shells of bed bugs.
Black dots – If you spot tiny dark stains or black dots on your bed or mattress, these may be fecal matter, as well as the skin of younger bugs when they shed.
Living bed bugs – Although these insects are tiny, they can grow bigger and more visible after they have fed. If you spot them on your furniture or your bed, you will need to take steps to kill bed bugs immediately.

Besides, the above-suggested points are these things that bed bugs love the most about your house. They are:

Carbon dioxide: It is the reason why bed bugs get most active at night, as the excessive release of carbon dioxide released from respiration is the most irresistible for them after midnight.
Dirty/Unwashed laundry: Bed bugs naturally attract dirty, used, or unwashed clothes. The reason behind this is because your clothes smell of you, which makes them mouth-watering to it, letting them home in it.
Humidity or Warmth: Home walls are warm, and if in case of any dampness or moisture, our houses become a welcoming spot for them. The same is the reason why they prey on human and animal blood. Given that our bodies are always warm, we make a morsel for them.
Dark-colored bedding: Bed bugs like darkness as it gives them a place to hide and camouflage well. So if you're into dark shades of bedding and linen, but your home suffers from a severe case of bed bugs and other insects, you must switch from dark colors to light or white-colored beddings.

Myths around home remedies to kill bed bugs

There are a few DIY methods around getting rid of bed bugs. You may have tried those methods to keep these pests at bay but ultimately being witness to no affects. Yes, some of the remedies aren't remedies instead pure myths and they do no wonders for you. Here's what you should stop using and bust these myths for others as well

Mothballs – Mothballs may be efficient in repelling insects from eating your clothes and bedding, but they don’t do anything when it comes to removing bed bugs.
Rubbing alcohol – Spraying rubbing alcohol on areas where bed bugs tend to hide may kill some of them, but there are more out there that can multiply easily. What’s more, rubbing alcohol can be flammable, which poses a fire hazard, especially when you spray it on upholstered furniture and your mattress.
Dryer sheets – There are some people who believe that using dryer sheets to wipe down their furniture or mattress can remove the bed bugs. However, there is no proof that this can help remove those pests in your home.

9 Home Remedies for Bed bugs Worth Trying

Are there home remedies for bed bugs that actually work? Normally, you should leave your bed bug problem to the experts. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t take matters into your own hands while waiting for the bed bug exterminator to arrive. Here are a few steps that may help you reduce the colony of the bedbugs at your home.

1. Hot water

If you suspect that bed bugs have made a home in your bedding, blankets, and even your clothes, it’s time to give your items a thorough wash by a splash of steamy heated water. It’s important to use hot water when washing these items, as long as they can withstand the heat, to kill bed bugs. Heat treatment is an effective method for getting rid of these pesky creatures because they get dehydrated due to the intense heat. Place your clothes and linens in the dryer too to give them another dose of heat. The bed bugs will have little chance of surviving this.

2. Vacuum

Make it a point to vacuum your bedding, furniture, and even the tiny cracks that you see on your bed frame, walls, and wallpaper. Even the box spring must be vacuumed as much as possible. Get a brush and use it to help loosen up any bugs and eggs that you see on your mattress, upholstered furniture, and the like. Afterward, remove the vacuum bag and seal its contents before disposing of it. Don’t forget to clean your vacuum too while you are at it.

3. Steam cleaner

If you have a steam cleaner at home, you can also remove the bed bugs from your mattress and box spring. Research suggests that intense heat is one of the most effective ways to get rid of bed bugs instantly. However, an even better option is renting a professional steam cleaner or seeking professional help. The team may provide you with an in-depth analysis of the situation with the bugs at your place and what treatment is more likely to be effective. You may choose between- Hot Treatment, Cold Treatment, and Chemical Treatment as per convenience, need, and budget.

4. Diatomaceous earth

When it comes to natural remedies to get rid of bed bugs, diatomaceous earth is a good option to consider as it is a chemical-free powder that can eliminate different types of pests, including bed bugs. What it does is dehydrate the bed bugs, which kills them off. It may take up to a week before you see results. Be careful when using diatomaceous earth as it can be easily inhaled. Use a face mask to prevent this and make sure that you use gloves too. Only use the variation of diatomaceous earth EPA approved for this use.

5. Baking soda

Another example of home remedies to get rid of bed bugs is baking soda, which dehydrates the bugs by removing moisture. You can sprinkle a light layer of baking soda on areas you think these critters are staying in. Let the powder sit for a week before using your vacuum cleaner to suck up everything. You will need to do this often until there are no bugs or eggs left.

6. Black walnut tea

Black walnut tea has antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties that can contribute to getting rid of the infestation in your home. Instead of tossing your used black walnut tea bags, place them in areas that are considered hiding places for bed bugs. This includes all cracks, crevices, and even on the baseboards and such. You can even sprinkle the dry tea leaves on your mattress, as well as bedding to remove not just the bugs, but the eggs too.

7. Tea tree oil

Another possible remedy to use to remove bed bugs in your home is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is known for its antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, and antibiotic properties, but it also has antiparasitic properties which can eliminate parasitic bed bugs. This remedy is only effective if you have a mild infestation on your hands. You should dilute 20 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle filled with water and spray on all the furnishings, mattress, cabinets, cushions, curtains, and the like. Any clothes, linens, and bedding must be washed in hot water to kill them off completely.

8. Cayenne pepper

What other home remedies for bed bugs can you use? How about a combination of cayenne pepper, oregano, and ginger? While this method will not kill bed bugs, the spiciness of ginger and cayenne mixed with the strong scent of oregano essential oil can repel these insects. It can also assist, along with other methods in controlling these pests. You will need one teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, oregano essential oil, and grated ginger, plus a cup of water. Mix all the ingredients in a pan and let it boil for about seven minutes. Strain afterward and transfer into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on all possible entry points of rooms that you feel will have bed bugs.

9. Lavender or peppermint oil spray

Lavender is commonly associated with rest and relaxation, so it may come as a surprise that it can be used to combat bed bugs. Just like in the case of tea tree oil, lavender oil can be used to spray on possible hiding places of bed bugs. You don’t even have to worry about any side effects because lavender essential oil is safe for you and your pets even. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, can help repel these pesky creatures because of its strong scent . Combine the two, and you will have a natural spray that can help get rid of bed bugs in your home.

Conclusion

Facing a bed bug infestation can be exasperating, especially when they keep on coming back. That said, while waiting for the exterminator, you can use these best pest control remedies for bed bugs to control them as much as possible. This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to get rid of bed bugs? A professional exterminator might charge about $300 or more per room based on the level of infestation and size of the room. Should I throw away my mattress if it has bed bugs? No, you should not throw your mattress because of bug infestation. Instead, you should go for its treatment as it would also prevent it from spreading further. How to get bed bugs out of a mattress? Doing laundry, scrubbing, using mattress-safe insecticides and bed-bug-proof covers can help get rid of bed bugs. You also need to monitor it to re-treat when required. How to identify bed bugs? Look out for the signs like blood stains, dark spots, eggshells, excrement, and fecal spots over the mattress, sheet, walls, and clothes. A foul odor can be a sign too.