![]() ![]() Understanding how to repel bed bugs is necessary to avoid hiring an exterminator for a larger problem. When you know the familiar hiding places for bed bugs, setting a trap or repellent in the correct location is easier. Bed bugs prefer to hide in the hidden cracks and crevices around your bed frames, headboard, baseboards, and mattress. ![]() Knowing how to repel bed bugs is essential to avoid an infestation in your box spring and mattress. Rubbing alcohol might repel bed bugs, but the risk of burning down the house in the process isn’t worth it.A bed bug infestation is an annoying problem that overtakes your mattress or couch. So by the time it’s dried and safe, it’s no longer working against bed bugs. This happens to be the only time rubbing alcohol is effective at repelling or killing bed bugs. Rubbing alcohol is extremely flammable while it’s wet. The major problem with rubbing alcohol to repel or kill bed bugs is its flammability. It acts on them by drying out their bodies. ![]() Like the other scents bed bugs hate, rubbing alcohol is only effective at killing when it directly touches the bodies of bed bugs. The higher concentration is the most effective. Rubbing alcohol used to repel or kill bed bugs should be at least 91% isopropyl alcohol, not 70%. It has a strong scent and is also an effective way to kill bed bugs. Rubbing Alcoholīed bugs can’t stand the smell of rubbing alcohol. You could also blend it with another effective repellent essential oil. You probably won’t want to douse your bed in clove oil, even when diluted.īut it can be used in small amounts around the zone where you think bed bugs are hiding. The downside to using clove oil to repel bed bugs is that the scent is so strong, it can even be overpowering to humans. Clove oil is also effective because of its highly acidic pH levels, disrupting the bed bug’s system. This is why some people recommend placing a clove or clove oil in the mouth for a toothache. Cloves contain a compound called eugenol that is toxic to bed bugs and other insects.įor humans, eugenol acts as a natural anesthetic. Clove oil has a stronger scent than actual cloves, so it’s more effective.Ĭloves come from the flower buds of a tropical evergreen tree native to Indonesia. But all bed bugs seem to agree that the smell is terrible. Some people like the smell of cloves, but others find it off-putting. You can also put several drops of peppermint oil into a spray bottle with water to increase the amount of area you can cover, but know that it won’t be as effective this way. That’s not effective enough to deal with an entire infestation, but you’ll be glad to know the peppermint oil trick if you happen to find a few bugs. In fact, the menthol in peppermint oil is strong enough to kill bed bugs on contact. Undiluted peppermint oil is too strong to apply directly to human skin, so imagine what it does to the scent receptors and bed bugs’ bodies!īed bugs can smell the menthol in peppermint oil, and it’s incredibly overpowering to them. While peppermint oil feels and smells cooling and brisk to humans, it’s a powerful weapon against bed bugs. It’s found in over-the-counter products like Icy Hot and Vicks VapoRub. That’s the substance that gives peppermint its cooling effect. It works because it has a very high menthol content. Peppermint (especially the potent peppermint oil) is known to be one scent that keeps bed bugs away. You probably have a few of these in your home right now! Here are the smells with the power to expel. Keep reading to learn all about the five scents that are known bed bug repellants and why they work. Or maybe you’re just curious to know what scents bed bugs hate. Perhaps you’ve finally gotten rid of a bed bug infestation and want to prevent them from coming back. Maybe you’ve called a pest control company to take care of your bed bug infestation and want a temporary fix. You can use these bed bug-repelling scents as a way to keep the bugs away from you at night in the meantime. If you’re actively dealing with an infestation, the best thing to do is contact a pest control company right away.īut that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use these scents to your advantage, too. It’s fine to temporarily use DIY remedies or wait for your pest control company to arrive, but don’t rely solely on them. They’re just not proven to work well enough to get rid of a bed bug infestation on their own. Health officials in the United States always advise against using any DIY bed bug control techniques. ![]()
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