Does tree oil kill bed bugs? Maybe you’re thinking of using tea tree oil as a home remedy to kill and rid of bed bugs. Or perhaps you’re just curious to find out if you can use this essential oil to prevent a bed bug infestation.
Bed bugs can be a menace and since they reproduce and populate fast it may be difficult to get rid of them. The problem is they bite, feed on human blood, cause itchiness, rashes, and allergies, and can deprive you of your sleep. What’s worse, they are becoming more resistant to chemical pesticides.
Tea tree oil is an organic natural insecticide that can get rid of bed bugs. It’s therefore essential to educate yourself on the best possible ways to kill and repel bugs with tea tree oil.
So does tea tree oil kill bed bugs? The answer is yes and no. You see, it’s true tea tree oil has some insecticidal properties that can kill larvae and bedbugs. But this can only happen if they are in direct contact with undiluted tea tree oil.
In this article, we will examine and debunk the facts and myths of whether this “natural remedy” really works when put to use. Keep reading to get answers you may have about tree tea oil and bed bugs and how you can introduce this essential oil safely into your home.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) plant, which is native to Australia. Also known as melaleuca oil, it has a fresh, medicinal scent and a pale yellow or clear color. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries by indigenous Australians as a traditional medicine.
In addition to using it to prevent and kill bed bugs, it’s used for various health issues, including skin problems and respiratory infections. In modern times, tea tree oil is popular as a natural remedy for a wide range of ailments, including acne, dandruff, fungal infections, and even insect bites.
It’s also known for its antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, and is considered a safe and natural alternative.
Tea Tree Oil and Bed Bugs
Several studies show that tea tree oil has both insecticidal and antiparasitic properties which means it can be used as a “green pesticide” to kill and repel bed bugs and for application on bug bites.
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other animals. They cause itchy bites and are notoriously difficult to get rid of and can cause a variety of health problems, including skin rashes, allergies, and insomnia.
While the tea tree oil solution is promising, it should come into direct contact with the bed bugs so that it can penetrate their exoskeleton and block their airways. Since bed bugs are nocturnal— they attack when you’re sound asleep.
Unfortunately, they hide inside your mattress, bedding, and in dark corners of your bed, and furniture where they breed and multiply fast. Eliminating them is difficult considering their small size.
Please note that tea tree oil should not be relied on as the sole method of bed bug control. It may be effective at killing or repelling some bed bugs, but it is unlikely to eliminate an infestation entirely.
Before looking into other ways of repelling bed bugs, let’s first see how tea tree oil works and its efficacy against bed bugs.
Scientific Evidence: Does Tea Tree Oil Kill Bed Bugs?
It’s true tea tree oil has anti-insecticidal properties and a few studies show its efficacy in killing bed bugs.
However, it doesn’t mean this DIY can eliminate bed bugs. In fact, no studies have shown the specific toxicities of tea tree oil against bed bugs. Even if tea tree oil can kill bed bugs, imagine how difficult it would be to ensure each bed bug comes into contact with the oil.
If your home is infested with thousands of bugs, this method would be futile in getting rid of them. Remember they hide in dark places and corners? It would be a never-ending battle to get rid of them.
Ridding your house of bed bugs requires a proven approach and we will look at some of the steps you can take to kill these nagging bugs. Let’s look at the chemical components of tea tree oil.
Terpinen-4-ol has been studied as a natural pest control agent and research suggests that it is an effective botanical insecticide. Its efficacy can be enhanced when combined with other terpenes. This component can harm and eliminate bed bugs by harming their nervous and respiratory system. Also, bed bugs may avoid places treated with terpinen-4-ol due to its strong scent.
Studies on 1,8 cineole, a major component of Eucalyptus Oil, show it has insecticidal properties. It has been found to be effective against carriers of dengue fever and the white fly plague.
Gamma-terpinene and alpha-terpinene are also classified as bio-pesticides due to their ability to combat certain fungal pathogens. This trait is likely part of their natural role within the plant. Other terpenes have shown similar properties as well.
Does Tea Tree Oil Repel Bed Bugs?
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Yes, as previously mentioned tea tree oil has components that can repel and even kill bed bugs. The only problem is how to make the oil stick to surfaces and bed bugs. The smell of the oil encourages the bed bugs to leave the area and run away.
Since the oil can destroy their exoskeleton, you can use the essential oil in dark corners where you believe they are populating. Not only will your house have a good scent, but you’ll also reduce pest infestation.
Can I Spray Tea Tree Oil On My Bed
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Yes, you can. Use a mixture of water and a little soap so the oil sticks to your bedding. Use sparingly on your beddings and allow them to dry because concentrated tea tree oil can cause…
- Allergic reaction and skin rash (dermatitis)
- Itching and skin irritation
- Stinging
- Burning
- Scaling
- Redness
- Dryness
The idea is to repel bed bugs from your bed and kill those that come into contact with the tea tree oil spray.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil to Kill Bed Bugs
There are several ways you can use tea tree oil or bed bugs but first;
- Clean your room and take your bedding outside. Yes, take the mattress and covers outside in the sun. Before you start spraying the oil you should first clean and remove any unwanted items from your space.
A messy congested room only creates room for bed bugs and other insects or rodents to thrive. Clean all the clothes and spray some oil in the closets.
- Bed-bug-proof your room. How do you do this? By fixing any cracks in the walls or furniture. If you suspect one room has bed bugs then keep the doors closed and fix any gaps between the wall and the baseboard. Also, work on eliminating the bugs before they spread into all the other rooms.
- Once everything is organized, put your mattress and bed sheets outside, and begin by spraying your bed. Pay close attention to the bed frames and ensure the spray gets in there.
Spray inside your closet before organizing your clothes back in, bedside tables, chairs, and other furniture. Remember to pay close attention to all the corners. Top and bottom of your furniture and frames. Give it two sprays.
- After, go outside and spray your mattress and pay close attention to the corners, buttons, seams, and folds. Flip the mattress and spray every inch of it. Spray your bed frame in the same way.
Keep your room organized, never pile dirty clothes and remove unwanted boxes or items from the room. Just don’t give them an opportunity to thrive.
Because tea tree oil is not as strong and effective as other pesticides, repeat this process over and over again. You can do it once or twice a week and see how it works.
Use as a Spray
This is the most common method. However, water and oil don’t mix. So what do you do to ensure the mixture mixes? Add drops of dish wash soap and shake it up well. Soap attaches to the fat molecules of the oil while the other end attaches to the water molecules.
The good news is if you spray a higher concentration the better the results. This recipe is simple, effective, and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Once the spray comes into contact with the bed bug’s exoskeleton, it suffocates and makes it hard for them to ” breathe”. Tea tree oil blocks these ducts and stops the bugs from breathing.
Use this spray several times a week and allow it to dry. It repels and kills those that come into direct contact.
Studies show you can use a concentration of 1% to 10%. The higher the better the results.
You can use this table as a guide
| 1-2% Concentration | 1-2 ml of tea tree essential oil | 98-99% of water |
| 5% Concentration | 5 ml of tea tree oil essential oil | 95 ml of water |
| 10% Concentration | 10 ml of tea tree essential oil | 90% 0f water |
There are other effective essential oils against bed bugs. I’ll mention them below. Keep reading.
Add to Cleaning Detergent
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your cleaning detergent. Use a few drops of oil when cleaning or when washing clothes. Add to your soapy mopping water or in the washing machine.
Add Vinegar
Vinegar has a strong scent and so does the smell of tea tree oil. This mixture with a little bit of soap and water leaves a strong odor and can last a few hours after spraying and cleaning. This is great for repelling bed bugs.
Combine With Other Essential Oils
To make your tea tree oil spray even more potent you can add several other essential oils known to be the most effective against bed bugs. Keep reading to see them below.
How Does Tea Tree Oil Kill Bed Bugs?
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Unlike human beings, bed bugs breathe via their exoskeleton. These openings are known as spiracles and this is where the oxygen flows into the bloodstream.
So what happens when they come into contact with tea tree oil? When in direct contact with tea tree oil, their spiracles and tubes block and the bed bug suffocates to death. That’s good news, right? It’s an effective treatment.
The bad news is it’s impossible to actually get drops of tea tree oil on all the bed bugs. So yes, tea tree oil works on bed bugs but it’s not a permanent solution.
For to eliminate bed bugs you should combine different methods which we’ll discuss.
Does The Effect Of Tree Oil Diminish After Dilution?
Tea tree oil is a strong, potent oil it can be irritating if used undiluted on your skin. The oil can cause hives, redness, rashes, burning, and stinging.
However, since our purpose here is killing and repelling bed bugs, you can use it in a more concentrated form. Dilution doesn’t necessarily diminish the strength of the oil. While it’s more powerful in its concentrated form, it’s safe to dilute and mix it with water; mix 50% of tea tree oil with 50% water in a spray bottle or container.
As mentioned earlier use a little bit of liquid soap so the oil and water mix. Keep reading to see what combination of tea tree oil works best to get rid of these thirsty bloodsuckers.
How to Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
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Vacuuming
Use a vacuum cleaner first and suck these suckers before applying your potent tea tree oil spray. Make sure your vacuum bag is tight to prevent the bugs from escaping. This together with the spray can do wonders you can reduce bed bug infestation.
Heat
Using heat is a very effective method. However, it may be difficult to apply heat in crevices and cracks where these creatures hide.
If the weather is favorable get your mattress and bedding outside and see how fast they escape. Alternatively washing your clothes and sheets using high temperatures can kill those left behind. If you have a steam cleaner, use it on your carpets, furniture frames, and drapes,
Hire A Professional Exterminator
When everything else fails hire a professional. This costs money, and time leaving the house but may be the best solution or course of action. That being said, when you come back home your bed bug problem would be gone.
Oil Scents That Keep Bed Bugs Away
Rubbing Alcohol
Utilizing rubbing alcohol to repel bed bugs is a great way to keep your home bug-free. The strong scent of rubbing alcohol is unpleasant for these pests, so spraying it around your home can help keep them away.
Not only does the odor ward off eggs and larvae, but it can also dry out the adult bugs’ bodies and lead them to death. This makes it an effective natural solution for those looking for a way to safely get rid of bed bugs without using harsh chemicals or relying on costly exterminators.
When you use rubbing alcohol as a remedy, spray large amounts at high pressure around the house and around furniture or areas that may be prone to bed bug infestations.
Also, pay attention to tight cracks and crevices so that no area goes untreated. Doing this regularly reduces the number of bed bugs in your home by nearly half! Rubbing alcohol is an easy and inexpensive option compared to traditional extermination services, so it’s worth considering if you’re dealing with a pesky infestation.
Lavender oil
Lavender essential oil’s strong smell helps keep away moths, aphids, bugs, fleas, and bed bugs. It’s more effective than synthetic repellents because it’s easy to use and much kinder to the environment.
When using lavender oil for pest control, the key is to spray it in areas where bed bugs are known to hide or gather – like under beds, inside closets and furniture, or along wall edges. doing this regularly can recede the bugs.
While it takes patience before any visible results show up, using this natural blend of oils ensures safety better than chemical insecticides and pesticides. So you’ll never worry about harming your home or family. You can also mix it with water for easier application in hard-to-reach places and benefit from its fragrance at the same time.
Blood orange oil
Blood orange oil is an effective, solution for dealing with bed bug infestations. It’s a great option to use if chemical pesticides are not ideal. Blood orange oil has been proven to kill bed bugs by blocking the pests’ airways and suffocating them. The powerful scent of the oil also acts as a deterrent, keeping bed bugs away and preventing them from coming back.
To use this essential oil against bed bugs, you can spray it on the surface of mattresses, pillowcases, clothes, or any other area where you think bed bugs might be lurking. You can also diffuse blood orange oil in a diffuser to spread the scent all around your home or room and keep those pesky critters at bay.
Be sure to regularly re-apply the blood orange oil in order for it to remain effective against those pesky invaders. With regular use, you can rest easy knowing your home will be free of bedbugs!
Carvacrol
Carvacol is derived from several plants like oregano and thyme; thymol (thyme); citronellic acid (lemongrass); and eugenol (clove). These essential oils are the most effective EO on bed bugs
Studies show that when used as fumigants, thymol, carvacrol, linalool (common in basil) and camphor (camphor tree) are natural insect repellents for bed bugs.
Powdered pepper
Powdered pepper is an effective solution for bed bugs and can help keep to keep them away from your home. It has been used for centuries as an effective deterrent, due to its smell and active ingredients that make it unattractive to pests. The aroma alone sends them running.
You can buy powdered pepper in almost any grocery store, or you can grind up your own dried peppers at home with a food processor or blender.
Using powdered pepper is easy enough; all you have to do is sprinkle it around the affected area where bed bugs may be found lurking. This help to keep them away and discourage them from coming back again in the future.
You can even sprinkle it on your furniture or mattresses, as long as they are not made of delicate fabrics such as silk.
As a bonus, powdered pepper has also been found to help repel other kinds of insects such as ants, cockroaches, and spiders too! With just a little effort on your part, you can enjoy a bug-free environment in no time — making the use of powdered pepper well worth the effort!
Conclusion
In conclusion, while tea tree oil can be effective in killing bed bugs, it’s not a recommended course of action when attempting to eradicate infestations. Its main use is as a topical treatment for bed bug bites. Remember to always dilute tea tree oil and other essential oils with carrier oil before application.
It helps reduce itching and prevent further infection. Overall, tea tree oil is a common home remedy for those looking for natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. But its effectiveness on bed bugs should not be overestimated in severe infestations.
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