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Essential Oil for Bed Bugs Prevention
You might be wondering what is the Best Essential Oils for Bed Bugs Prevention.
You can learn more about Essential Oils and their properties here.
Next, we’ll discuss the reasons why bed bugs live in bed linens and what you can do to prevent them.
We’ll also discuss how to use Essential Oils on your skin to combat bedbugs.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular essential oils.
What are Essential Oils
What are Essential Oils for Bed Bug Prevention and How Do They Work?
If you are looking for an effective solution to combat the presence of bed bugs, essential oils may be your best bet.
Essential oils work by interfering with bed bug nervous systems.
In general, they’re not enough to get rid of a bed bug infestation.
The main reason why essential oils for bed bug prevention are so effective is that they’re safe to use around children and pets, and they’re chemical-free.
Essential oils also don’t harm your home furnishings, clothes, or pets.
You can use a few drops of one of the many essential oils to spray on your bed, linens, and bed frame.
To be even more effective, try combining at least three different essential oils.
For more effective bed bug prevention, you can soak cotton balls in essential oil-based solutions.
You can also place cotton balls in your suitcases if you’re traveling.
While these essential oils may not be 100% effective, they are a great choice for prevention.
Keeping your bedroom free of clutter, removing all bridges between the floor and the bed, and spraying your linens with essential-oil repellents are some of the best ways to avoid bed bug infestation.
Tea tree oil is another essential oil to keep in mind when preventing and treating bedbugs.
Tea tree oil is known as a powerful antiseptic, and it has been proven to be effective against the creatures that inhabit beds.
Lemongrass and tea tree oil are also powerful essential oils, and both are derived from evergreen trees in Southeast Asia.
In addition to being effective against bedbugs, they also refresh and revitalize the mind.
Lemongrass oil works well in repelling bedbugs.
Lemongrass essential oil is known for its antimicrobial and insect repellent properties.
Lavender oil, while effective against bed bugs, does not work as well as tea tree and lemongrass.
It is a good alternative to harsh chemicals that are available commercially.
But don’t expect overnight results. It’s best to check with your local pest control company before applying any products.
Properties of Essential Oils
One of the best essential oils for bed bug prevention is peppermint.
This fresh scent is great for keeping your bed free of bugs and can reduce the stress in a room.
Peppermint is also great for a number of skin problems, including psoriasis.
You can dilute it and use it on your bed.
Fortunately, peppermint is also non-toxic, which means it’s safe to use around children.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a white powder made from fossilized diatoms.
Its dehydrating properties make it a great bed bug repellent.
It can be sprinkled on bed frames and mattresses to eliminate bedbugs and their eggs.
Use caution though; large amounts of DE can be toxic to humans.
It is not recommended to spray your entire room with DE, as this can cause adverse reactions.
While essential oils do not directly kill bed bugs, they can help you recover from them.
Not only do they relieve the pain and discomfort from an insect bite, but they can also help prevent infections.
Just remember that these oils are potent and should be diluted before applying them to your skin.
Use them with care and avoid them near children or pets.
Always remember, though, to use essential oils in moderation.
If you do apply them to the skin, use only certified essential oils and do not ingest them.
There are many essential oils that can be applied to your skin for bug protection.
Cinnamon essential oil is made from the bark of the cinnamon tree.
Although it may burn your skin, it has an anti-bacterial effect that helps keep bugs away.
It is not recommended for use on your face or around your eyes.
Those who are allergic to cinnamon should avoid the smell, as this may cause irritation.
Eugenol is a phenol compound found in various essential oils.
The EPA has banned formulations that contain more than 10% citronella.
Nonetheless, citronella is effective for bed bug repellent, as well as in killing some of them.
But be careful: citronella is not effective for soothing bites from bedbugs, so you should use it only on the bugs you’re trying to prevent.
Cause of Bed Bugs
The first step to removing bed bugs from your property is to understand the cause of infestation.
Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that live in and on human blood.
They cannot fly, unlike mosquitoes, and therefore have to crawl towards their source of food.
They can survive months without a blood meal. In order to avoid becoming infected, bedbugs will hide near the food source.
Once they’ve fed, they’ll crawl back to their hiding place.
One reason for the resurgence of bed bug infestations has to do with mobility.
Historically, only a limited number of individuals were likely to harbor an infestation.
But with the advancement of transportation, people are increasingly mobile.
This makes it difficult for bed bugs to survive without a specialized host.
Besides, most vector-borne diseases are based on the use of a native vertebrate that serves as both reservoir and amplification host.
The absence of these hosts may make the vector-borne disease difficult to maintain, although computer modeling lends credibility to this theory.
While you may have been unaware of the possible cause of bed bug infestations, they are most often the result of travel.
Bed bugs can hitchhike on clothing, luggage, and personal belongings and can get into your home when you travel.
Traveling increases the likelihood that bed bugs can spread to your home.
If you’re in a hotel, make sure you check your room for signs of bed bugs before you leave.
It’s also important to inspect mattresses and other bedding in case they’re infested.
While this resurgence is most common in developed countries, it’s not as prevalent in less-developed nations.
Bed bug infestations are most prevalent among the poor, and New York City’s report shows that social inequity is a significant factor in the spread of the bedbug epidemic.
Despite the widespread resurgence of bedbugs, the overall impacts are likely to increase.
That’s the reason why it’s essential to identify the cause of bed bug infestations.
Best Essential Oil for Bed Bug Prevention
Although essential oils can be harsh if used in concentrated concentrations, it’s important to dilute them with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil.
A spray bottle containing 10 to 15 drops of essential oil will do the trick for most areas of the home.
After shaking the bottle, spray the mixture on affected areas, including bedding, before bedtime and around the perimeter of your home.
One option is diatomaceous earth.
This powder is made from fossilized aquatic organisms and is regarded as one of the best natural insecticides.
It kills bed bugs by disrupting their exoskeletons and their odorless, pungent scent.
You can purchase diatomaceous earth at a home improvement store or online.
Once it’s sprayed on your living space, you can sleep soundly knowing that your home is bug-free.
Peppermint oil is effective as a repellent and can kill bed bugs as well.
You can either spray it on your mattress or underneath the bedding.
You should also spray the mattress, pillows, and headboard.
Just remember to clean thoroughly after you use it.
If you’re not comfortable applying peppermint oil to your bed, consider hiring a professional pest control company.
Tea tree oil, also known as ‘bed bug repellent’, is another popular choice.
Not only is it effective at repelling bed bugs, but it also kills their eggs.
While essential oils aren’t 100% effective in killing bed bugs, they’re effective for prevention and control.
In addition, they smell great to most humans.
As a bonus, lavender oil can also be used as a bed bug repellent.
Cedarwood is a popular choice because it repels many insects.
In a study in 2010, Rutgers University confirmed that cedarwood is toxic to bedbugs and has a long residual effect.
Citronella, on the other hand, comes from a plant called citronella.
Both citrus and citronella share similar appearances and smells.
Citronella essential oil is effective at repelling mosquitoes and is an excellent antifungal agent.
It’s so effective that it’s also used as a food flavoring.
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Legal and Medical Disclaimer
Information provided on the site is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
You MUST consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.
We do not provide any medical advise.
