Does lavender oil really repel bed bugs? Is it a lethal natural product to these bugs?
Let’s dig into the facts.
When dealing with a bed bug problem, you want to use any reliable remedy you can find. Natural bed bug control tends to be the most preferred option for homeowners.
This is mainly due to the non-toxic nature of such treatments. You might have heard about the repelling and exterminating effect of lavender for bed bugs.
Can lavender kill bed bugs? Do you stand a chance of repelling them?
This article is on a fact-finding mission. Join us as we discuss the effect of this plant, including its essential oil on bed bugs.
Common Uses of Lavender
Lavender serves a variety of uses.
When it comes to its health benefits, this plant and its oil can be used for relieving anxiety, treatment of hair loss, insomnia, depression, toothaches, skin irritations, nausea, acne, and cancer among others.
Lavender is also used for aromatherapy as well as for pest control. Due to the latter (pest control) being the basis of our discussion, it’s important to mention some of the pests repelled by lavender.
According to anecdotal evidence, lavender is used to control fleas, roaches, ants, and earwigs.
Others include mosquitoes, fire ants, termites, and bed bugs. So, is this a confirmation of lavender as a bed bug repellent and killer? We can say it is.
However, there’s no scientific study confirming the efficacy of lavender as a repellent and killer for bed bugs.
You’ll have to rely on personal accounts from homeowners.
Are Anecdotal Accounts Good Enough?
This is a tricky question that can’t be properly answered with a single statement. While some homeowners swear by its efficacy as a bed bug repellent and killer, actual use may not give desired results.
However, there’s no knowing for sure whether a failure in results is due to inefficacy.
It may simply be so because lavender treatment wasn’t applied properly. Even scientifically proven bed bug treatments may sometimes fail to give desired results when not properly applied.
This is why pest control products come with directions for use.
Bed bug problems are especially difficult to deal with. These bugs are nocturnal and hard to get rid of.
The use of lavender for purposes of repelling and killing bed bugs might be frustrating for many due to the absence of a prescription for use.
Ultimately, your mind should be made up by the end of this article.
Lavender For Bed Bugs
As mentioned earlier, there’s no scientific backing regarding the effect of lavender on bed bugs. However, what is known for sure is the chemical compound contained within its oils known as linalool.
This compound, though non-toxic to humans and pets is toxic to pests such as bed bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, ants, fleas and spiders, etc.
Due to its toxicity, linalool is used in several pest control products. Being acyclic monoterpene alcohol, linalool gives lavender its characteristic scent. To humans, such a scent is considered pleasant or appealing.
However, the same can’t be said for pests such as bed bugs.
The Point is to Introduce the Scent
According to different accounts, lavender has to be sprayed directly onto bed bugs to have a real chance of killing them. However, repelling them will serve just as fine for many.
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Do bed bugs really hate lavender?
So, the aim should be to introduce the scent within your space as much as you can.
Thankfully, lavender is pleasant-smelling to humans. So, while enjoying its scent, bed bugs and other pests are overwhelmed by the same.
As long as the scent permeates your room, bed bugs have no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere.
Using Lavender As A Bed Bug Repellent And Killer
Similar to its many uses, lavender can be applied in many ways to address bed bug problems.
Some creative ways to go about it include applying directly to the skin, the use of lavender-scented lotion, and also the addition of this essential oil to a mixture of dried spices and petals.
Other methods of applying lavender for bed bug control include using lavender-scented laundry detergent for laundry and cleaning of bedding. Also, consider mixing with carrier oil spraying around.
You may also want to add lavender to your spray cleaner for increased impact.
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Applying Lavender Directly to Skin
A few drops of lavender essential oil can be dropped on the skin and rubbed before going to bed.
However, you’ll need to avoid adverse reactions arising from its use. Test on a small area of your skin to see if any allergies result. If non shows up after a few minutes, it should be safe for use on other parts of your body.
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Use of Lavender-Scented Lotion
Similar to using lavender on the skin is the use of scented lotion. This is best applied before going to bed at night.
With the strong scent, bed bugs are kept at bay. As mentioned earlier, there’s no certainty that this method or any other mentioned here will give you results.
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Addition of Lavender to Dried Mixture of Spices and Petals
You can apply a few drops to a container of potpourri.
Get a bag (preferably one made of fabric) or sachet to empty the contents in. You can leave some in the container to be placed on your nightstand while the other is placed underneath your bed.
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Using Lavender Scented Laundry Detergent
The use of lavender-scented laundry detergent is also a creative way to combat bed bug issues. All bed bugs on bedding are killed during laundry.
Plus, the scent lingers on to further repel these bugs.
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Making a Spray
You may want to also make a lavender oil spray.
To do this, you’ll need some carrier oil and a spray bottle. A few drops of lavender added to the carrier oil do the magic. All you have to do is spray along infested areas.
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Adding to Spray Cleaners
You may also want to add lavender to spray cleaners for maximum impact. While cleaning, the residual effect of lavender remains to expel bed bugs.
DIY Treatments for Bed Bugs are Risky
The use of lavender or any other bed bug treatments is risky.
That is because lavender isn’t as effective as you may think when it comes to repelling and killing these bugs. Plus, their population may multiple within a short time.
It’s best to seek professional help for such treatment.
There you have it.
Lavender treatments might serve your repellent needs, however, no proven scientific data are supporting its repellent and exterminating properties on bed bugs.