Bed bugs are some of the hardest bugs to get rid of, let alone kill. You’ll find that they have no problem hiding in your bed, walls, and even other areas of your home. Unfortunately, getting rid of bed bugs can also be a financial burden. It can cost a lot of money, and sometimes that money may go to waste because sometimes they won’t die with the first treatment.
The good news is that essential oils can help you deal with bed bugs, and sometimes even kill them. So, what essential oils kill bed bugs? In this article, we answer that question and much more.
What Is Essential Oil?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what an essential oil is. These are oils that come from plants that you’re likely familiar with, like lavender or peppermint, but they’re highly concentrated. This is because essential oils are created through a process of steam distillation. The process works by having steam pass through the leaves, stems, and sometimes even the roots or bark of a plant/tree.
Once the distillation process is done, you’re left with a little bit of oil. To make essential oil, the oil is bottled in large quantities and sometimes even mixed with carrier oils, like jojoba oil and coconut oil.
Essential oils are popular due to their natural healing properties, both mentally and physically. They can calm your mind, assist with focus, help you maintain healthy-looking skin, and much more. What’s more, some bugs, like bed bugs, hate the smell of essential oils, so you can use them to keep bed bugs away.
Can Essential Oils Kill Bed Bugs?
Most essential oils don’t kill bed bugs. However, they can help you repel bed bugs because some potent aromas can mess with their feeding, mating, and sleep schedules.
That said, some essential oils can kill bed bugs, with the best one being peppermint oil. Some chemicals in the oil can kill bed bugs if they’re stuck in it or around it too long, so you won’t find them gathering near it.
What Essential Oils Kill Bed Bugs?
A handful of essential oils will help you manage a bed bug infestation, and sometimes, essential oils can even kill them. That said, you need to choose your essential oils carefully because they don’t all work.
Learn more about essential oils that kill bed bugs below.
1. Peppermint Oil
When it comes to killing bed bugs, peppermint oil is one of the few essential oils that kills them on contact. Spraying peppermint oil in areas where they gather, around your bed, or even just leaving cotton balls soaked in it around your home can help you manage a bed bug infestation.
While the fresh and minty smell may be pleasant for us, the menthol in the oil disrupts their pheromones. This impacts their feeding and mating schedule, and can even kill them.
2. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is one of the most versatile essential oils around, so it’s no surprise that it can help with bed bugs. While it doesn’t always kill them, spraying areas of your home, or leaving cotton balls soaked in lavender oil around can prevent bed bugs from gathering in that space.
This is because lavender oil disrupts their mating cycle, which leads to confusion and disorientation. Also, it can keep them off you.
3. Thyme Oil
Thyme oil is another great choice if you want to kill bed bugs. While it may not directly kill them, if you spray it around your home or soak cotton balls and leave them in spaces where they gather, you’ll notice some interesting results.
Studies show that thyme oil is potent enough to disrupt their mating schedule, feeding schedule, and much more. Plus, you may find some bed bug bodies in areas where you leave the oil out.
What Essential Oils Kill Bed Bugs? Our Final Words
At the end of the day, only a few essential oils can repel bed bugs, let alone kill them. So, what essential oils kill bed bugs? You’ll find that peppermint oil works the best because it’s one of the few essential oils that kill bed bugs, but thyme and lavender oils can also be helpful.
Regardless of the oil you choose, always make sure you choose the best essential oils for bugs to avoid wasting your time and money. Ensure that these essential oils are made with natural ingredients, third-party tested, and safe for use in your home; we recommend purchasing from this shop for reliable oil repelling oils.