Bed bug outbreaks. Dealing with them is an absolute nightmare. After all, these tiny and stealthy insects thrive on your blood as you sleep.
Luckily, there are natural ways to help ward them off or help prevent an infestation in the first place.
Let’s explore some natural substitutes before you dash to the supermarket looking for a commercial-grade fix. Many of these ingredients can already be found in your garden shed or kitchen cabinets.
The Danger of Bed Bug Infestation
Basically, bed bug infestation is hard to treat since the pesky bloodsuckers are elusive and resilient little creatures. Worst of all, they can infest the innermost corners of your mattress, behind the headboard, and even the holes in your walls.
They also live in unlikely places sometimes, such as bathtubs and jacuzzis.
While bed bugs do not transmit diseases, their bite results in excessive itching and allergic reactions and can cause high distress and, thus, insomnia. Once the infestation starts, it spreads rapidly. Hence, pest control becomes rather difficult.
Most of the bed bugs are resistant to a variety of insecticides, so most products prove to be inefficient. It is at this point that the concept of natural repellents comes in.
Surprisingly, they can be really successful in keeping them away, especially when a good cleaning schedule accompanies the insecticides.
The Potential of Essential Oils
People have used essential oils for healing and protection for centuries. These concentrated plant extracts are natural remedies for a variety of diseases. Several essential oils have shown promise in repelling bed bugs thanks to their powerful smells and insecticidal qualities.
Here are the most commonly used ones:
Tea Tree Oil
Popular for its antifungal and antibacterial qualities, tea tree oil is considered an effective bed bug repellant. Its strong scent stops bed bugs from invading your furniture and bedding. Thus, diluted tea tree oil should be mixed with water to disinfect the most affected regions.
Lavender Oil
Although lavender has relaxing effects, it can be used to prevent insects. That’s because it smells strong enough to repel bed bugs.
Peppermint Oil
Bed bugs find the strong menthol scent of peppermint oil repugnant. Thus, spritz peppermint oil all over, if available.
These oils can help discourage bed bugs, but they are not perfect either. In the case of a severe infestation, essential oils will not kill the bugs nor stop them from returning. However, they are useful as a temporary bug repellent.
Regardless, they can be considered as a preventive tool, especially if you are travelling or suspect a low-level infestation.
Diatomaceous Earth: Nature’s Bed Bug Slayer
This substance belongs to a family of algae and is extremely thin and powdery. It is highly effective in penetrating the exoskeleton of bed bugs, thereby dehydrating and killing them.
The cherry on top is it is non-toxic for both humans and animals, letting you avoid using chemicals altogether.
Thus, start by sprinkling under your mattress, under your bed frame, and in any places you feel bed bugs are lurking.
However, there are downsides to diatomaceous earth, which include how slow-acting it is and how difficult it can be to clean. Moreover, you would have to reapply it often, particularly if signs of bed bugs are still present.
The High Effectiveness of Heat Treatments
Bed bugs cannot survive high heat. Temperatures over 45°C (113°F) can destroy their eggs, as well as the tiny creatures themselves. Therefore, one of the most dependable natural approaches to dealing with an infestation is heat.
Heat treatments are quite effective and, most importantly, free of chemicals. Nonetheless, if you ignore the source of the infestation, the heat by itself will not stop bed bugs from resurfacing.
If you wish to keep these bloodsuckers out, regularly wash, vacuum, and steam clean as part of your daily schedule.
Alternatively, you can use the help of professionals to remove the bed bug infestation if you find this cleaning regimen too exhaustive.
Next, wash your bed, clothes, and sheets with boiling hot water to eradicate any bed bugs in the fabric. Once they are cleaned, toss everything into the drier on the highest setting for at least thirty minutes.
Use high-temperature steam cleaners for things that cannot be placed in the washing machine. These include mattresses, couches, or carpets. The steam can reach far into the fibres where bed bugs are hiding, and it can effectively kill them off without using pesticides.
Clove Oil and Lemongrass
Lemongrass and clove oils effectively help chase away bed bugs. Both of them contain strong smells that pests detest. The reason for these strong aromas is the acidic nature of clove oil.
As a matter of fact, some experts think its strong scent can kill bed bugs on direct touch. Similarly, lemongrass has the same pungent effect.
Therefore, mix these oils with water to produce a homemade bed bug spray. Later, spray around your bedroom and concentrate on locations where you have seen bed bugs.
Although this homemade spray is not a long-term fix, this natural cure can momentarily make the bed bug habitat inhabitable. All in all, they are helpful weapons to prevent and contain minor outbreaks.
Staying Vigilant To Prevent Infestations In The First Place
Naturally, the ideal approach to handle bed bug infestations is to prevent them entirely. In order to avoid a breakout in the first place, use natural repellents, such as essential oils. Later, spray them all over your bedding.
In case you come back from travelling, make sure to spray them on your bag to drive them away from catching a ride back home.
Additionally, regular deep cleaning should be practised, such as vacuuming the corners and the furniture. If an infestation already started out, deep cleaning keeps infestations from spiralling out of control.
Furthermore, wrap your mattress with a cover. Any existing bed bugs can be caught with a mattress encasement, which also keeps fresh ones out.
Mattress covers and encasements are a cheap and easy approach to safeguard oneself. Ultimately, when you combine natural repellents with preventative actions, your bed will be free of any bugs.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are troublesome little creatures. In order to completely eradicate them, however, it’s best to call the experts, as infestations can spread rapidly.
As discussed above, essential oils, along with heat-based cleaning methods, can help with bed bugs, but if things spiral out of control, consider bed bug removal services. Rest assured, they will deal with these unwelcome visitors and ultimately eradicate them from your house.