To effectively eliminate bed bugs, the best approach is to hire a professional pest control service. However, if you’re unwilling to spend money on an expensive treatment, there are also some home remedies you can try.
Rub alcohol on bed bug hotspots may kill some adults, but it doesn’t eliminate all problems as some eggs and nymphs remain alive.
Baking soda
Bed bugs are one of the most obnoxious insects you can have in your home, feeding off of human blood and leaving behind itchy red bumps all over your body. Bed bugs feed off of human blood, leaving behind nothing but itchy red bumps in their wake.
Thankfully, there are natural treatments for bed bugs that work just as well as chemical insecticides. Baking soda, for instance, dehydrates bed bugs and keeps them away.
This DIY technique works on the theory that baking soda, when mixed with water, breaks down and absorbs all of a bed bug’s thick fluids on its exoskeleton, dehydrating them. Additionally, cutting into their shell causes internal bleeding which ultimately kills them.
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock can be ground into a fine powder that can be sprinkled into cracks and crevices. While it may take up to 10 days for the powder to take effect, its tiny shards contain tiny bacteria which kill bed bugs when exposed.
Bed bug saliva also absorbs moisture from them, leading to dehydration that will eventually kill them. This natural remedy works great alongside heat treatment for optimal results.
Another natural solution for bed bugs is Diatomaceous earth (DE). This substance is made from fossilized sea creatures called diatoms that formed exoskeletons made of silica.
Mint leaves
Mint leaves are an effective natural remedy for bed bugs. Not only do they deter them from entering your home, but once they do make it there, mint leaves can effectively kill them off.
Leaves contain microscopic hairs which act as a trap for insects, making them immobile and preventing them from moving through. This can help stop them from spreading to other parts of your home and laying eggs in mattresses.
Mint leaves can also be made into a spray that repels bed bugs. All you have to do is stir one cup of lightly crushed mint leaves into two cups of boiling water and let cool before straining and pouring into a spray bottle. Use this solution on cracks and crevices around your home where bed bugs might hide, as well as on mattresses to eliminate their presence.
Beauveria Bassiana
Fungi are an effective natural remedy for bed bugs, and one type in particular called Beauveria bassiana can be used to help eliminate them. When this fungus germinates on the surface of its insect host, its spores penetrate through their cuticle and spread inside where they produce toxins and sap away essential nutrients.
These spores can then kill the insect, and are highly selective against their targets. This means they can effectively eliminate bed bug populations while leaving other bugs unharmed.
Researchers recently tested a biopesticide called Aprehend that utilizes an naturally occurring spore from Beauveria bassiana to combat bed bugs. It works by spraying the spores as barriers in areas where bed bugs typically move, and the spores stick to their legs and bodies when they cross over it.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass oil contains citral, an anti-inflammatory and healing agent. As such, it can help soothe pain and discomfort caused by insect bites.
The oil also kills fungi, making it ideal for athletes’ foot and other skin conditions caused by these organisms.
Lemongrass is an effective repellent to mosquitoes, ants and fleas. Simply spray it on your clothing or linens to keep these pests away from you.
Essential oils are an increasingly popular alternative to chemical-based bug sprays due to their non-toxicity and safety for children and pets. They can be sprayed on furniture, clothing, or other areas where bed bugs might hide to discourage them from crawling.