Allicin is strong enough to repel bed bugs and is found in garlic and onions. Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of, and bed bug bites can make your life a misery. It stops them from getting dehydrated, by preventing moisture from evaporating from their shell. Bed bug bites can look like bites from other insects (such as mosquitoes or chiggers), rashes (such as eczema or fungal infections), or even hives. Does putting toothpaste on bed bug bites work? It is said that black walnut tea offers bed bug repellent properties. Using Vicks VapoRub on areas prone to bed bug bites, such as the neck, knees, lower back, belly, and elbows, can help you avoid getting bed bugs. Vicks Vaporub was not designed to be an insect repellent; hence it is not a good repellent. Theyre just going to head somewhere else. At-home treatment. Make several passes over your furniture using the steam machine. (and bed bug eggs), but only if it makes direct contact with them. Simply smooth coconut oil onto exposed areas of skin before you sleep to keep the bed bugs away (but be aware; coconut oil can cause acne if applied directly to the face)! Bed bugs like humid conditions, but only to an extent. To ensure you have the most skin covered when sleeping and to prevent bed bugs from having a spot to bite, you might consider wearing pajamas. Since they don't have teeth, they cannot bite over fabrics. By contrast, decongestant tablets and nasal . Most people gather their dirty clothes in one corner in a washing basket. Consider vacuuming your carpets, fiber items, curtains, and bedroom furniture at least once each week. By vacuuming every week, you will stop the majority of bed bugs ever reaching the point where they might be able to breed. Well, theyll set up shop on the other side of the mattress. They arent going to run scared, or move out. Just rub a little on your skin. However, does Vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites? For the best results, wash the sheets using tea tree oil . Bed bugs and some other insects avoid scents like lavender, citrus, basil, cinnamon, and mint. Probably the easiest way to reduce the number of bites you get is vacuuming your mattress. Unfortunately, the stuff stinks even worse indoors than it does when you spray it on outside, around the BBQ. And thats the last thing you want. A bed bug that crawls up from underneath your mattress, and gets under the sheets to find you, wouldnt even see the light anyway. Take the bedding and bag it up securely in a large plastic bag. It's just a temporary solution. It's a proven fact. Natural essential oils are widely used as personal bug repellents and are generally safe to apply directly to the skin. Bed bugs tend to feed once every week or so, but will feed more frequently in warmer weather, because it speeds up their metabolism. If you do fall victim to a bee sting or mosquito bite, you can easily relieve the itching and redness with the help of Vick's Vapo Rub. Inspect your bed frame. A little dab rubbed on and around the bite not only soothes the itch but takes the swelling down as well.Does Vicks help with bug bites? (Quick Answer), Will a Porch Light Keep Raccoons Away? The second is to physically prevent them from being able to reach you, try as they might. Take the mattress outside, and remove the mattress encasement. It can be used to clean surfaces, disinfectant, remove stains, and even kill bed bugs. essential oils have insecticidal activity. Its also vitally important that you empty the vacuum cleaner bag once youre done. Will coconut oil keep bed bugs from biting? Flip the mattress to expose their harborage, and get to work spraying them. Using Vicks VapoRub may help relieve cough and congestion. A specific amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide is present in the air we breathe. The Quick Answer. There have been cases of house and apartment fires caused by people using rubbing alcohol as a bed bug spray. Bed bugs are known to prefer dark conditions. Instead, you should stay in the same room, but use the methods described above and below to get rid of bed bugs fast, and prevent them from being able to reach you. Bed bugs dont just live in mattresses, but in walls, in electrical outlets, underneath furniture, in bed frames and box springs. There are dozens upon dozens of products that claim to be the best for killing bed bugs. Vicks can be applied on the skin to prevent bed bugs, as the heat and scent given off by the product may stop them from biting. Vicks can Used to discipline pets. This has led people to believe that leaving the light on when you go to sleep might stop them from coming it. Its the same with any animal. Additionally, you might place some dryer sheets in your dresser or pillowcases. This will stop them from getting in that way. They are also repelled by the acidic scent of white vinegar. If you dont have access to most of the suggested remedies, you should try Vicks Vaporub. 9. This method is unlikely to eliminate bed bugs, but it may prevent bed bugs from hanging out between your sheets. Is Tea Tree Oil Good for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs? Vicks Vapor Rub and Salt. Basil is said to be toxic to mosquito larvae. These, too, are natural and effective but they can also be quite expensive. 2023 BedBugsInsider.com. Mix a few drops of an essential oil of your choice with a carrier oil like coconut oil or sesame oil. Bed bug control can be a long and intensive process, and bed bug infestations often require drastic treatment. Heres why. If theres one thing a bed bug cant stand, its the smell of Vicks vaporub. Vicks VapoRub contains several oils: camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg, thymol, and even turpentine oil. To apply vinegar to your skin, simply. Look for reddish or rusty stains on your sheets. Rub vicks vaporub generously on sore muscles. What it will do is act as a more effective deterrent than Vicks Vapor Rub. If you do not have any signs of an infection or a serious reaction, you can often treat the bites at home. Thats why killing them by leaving them outdoors rarely works, because they can warm up at least a little during the day. The powder gradually eats away the bed bugs exoskeleton, resulting in dehydration and eventual death. You can also dilute a few teaspoons of white vinegar with water to make a homemade spray repellent for your bed. No doubt youve tried a few things alreadybut what works, and what doesnt? It can be used as a spray or applied directly to the skin. Vicks can also relieve itching from bug bites, for instance, mosquito bites. Non-homemade chemical products are formulated using insecticides like DEET and typically have stronger bed bug repellent properties. If you do want to give it a go, it cant possibly hurt. Move the bags out carefully to prevent spreading bed bugs to additional rooms. Putting a bed bug through a washing cycle will kill themso, any bed bugs caught up in your bedding when you wash it will be killed. If you have no other options, you can use Vicks Vaporub at night as a last-resort bed bug repellant. There are several alternatives to Vicks that will effectively repel bed bugs. 1. Bedbugs wont bite you while you sleep because of the strong scent of the dryer sheets. At the risk of disappointing you with a non-answer, its still not clear whether it repels bed bugs or not. The camphor, mint, and eucalyptus oil in Vicks relieve itchiness and redness caused by mosquito bites instantly. But even so, they can survive for short bursts in cold temperatures. Have you ever read the fact that mosquitoes prefer some peoples blood to others? These have been formulated using the most insecticidal essential oils plus other ingredients to ensure a high kill rate (as high as 90% in some cases). If you wake up in the morning with itchy, red spots all over you, or one of your kids does, the first thing you need to do is check for bed bugs. Originally . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');At least once or twice a week, launder your clothes and bedding in high temperatures. (Yes. You can buy an encasement for this if there are bed bugs in here, too. Natural remedies are recommended since they repel bed bugs from biting. Will bed bugs die if you leave them outside, or will bed bugs die if you put them in the freezer? By contrast, just two or three bed bugs will feed far more frequently during the summer. Run the bath tub full of the hottest water that your body can stand..take 3 cups of Epson salt, pour the 3 cups in. And apply the mixture on your exposed skin. But within a few weeks, the bed bugs would come back. Vicks VapoRub for Bed Bugs. Unfortunately, the bed bugs grew immune to DDT. But is it true? View complete answer on aad.org. All you need to do now is use a chemical desiccant to kill bed bugs on the bed frame and furniture. Ensure that places where you typically rest, like your bed at night, dont harbor bed bugs. Its completely airtight once its zipped up, which means that the bed bugs in your mattress cant get you anymore. (And Wind Chimes). And arent tempted by certain things that you probably think they are. Arranged in a rough line or in a cluster. Thats because its toxic on contact (which is why many people will get a rash if they apply tea tree oil neat). Vicks also sells vapor patches but, like the lotion variation, its nowhere near as potent and it would be difficult to use patches to lay down enough of the Vicks to ward off bed bugs. Take an oral . Peppermint kills some bug larvae and repels adult mosquitoes. While cedar leaf and the other Vicks components are potent enough to repel bed bugs, they are not strong enough to kill them. White vinegar is a cheaper and more effective alternative to essential oils when repelling bugs. The following steps can help keep bed bugs away: 1. Another scent that repels bedbugs is the scent of diatomaceous earth. However, its scent can repel bed bugs, so it may help you to avoid bed bug bites. A mattress encasement is a big bag that zips around your mattress. One study found that, coconut oil fatty acids can repel bed bugs. Other natural treatments for bed bug bites include calamine lotion, aloe vera gel, and peppermint essential oil. The one thing that kills bed bugs for sure, no questions asked, is sucking the oxygen out of their environment. Take the bag through to the laundry room, and place it inside the drum of the washing machine. If there are, then youre just going to get bitten anyway. Breathe deeply for 5-10 mins so that the medicated vapors get inhaled and this way your headache will vanish. ), Do Moths Come From Caterpillars? They won't die or disappear. Its important to wipe away the scent of bed bugs, because bed bugs use scent to communicate and find their way around. Use a Steam Machine to Repel and Kill Bed Bugs, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 21 Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs from Entering Your Home That Work. So, what helps bed bugs find you? It is a natural repellant that comes in powder form. Getting a new mattress only makes sense on the surface, because its worse than useless in reality. It's useful as a disinfectant and may help prevent infections from mosquito bites if applied right away. . School Of Bugs is my way to help educate people on the weird and wonderful world of bugs. Examine your sheets. Pick one that smells nice, so that you dont smell like a cleaning product yourself. Lavender repels flies, moths, and mosquitoes. The individual granules of diatomaceous earth might be tiny, but look at them through a microscope, and youd see that theyre sharp for their size. If the sofas free and clear, its an even worse idea to try sleeping there. Combat a bad bug bite or sting by applying an ice pack to the spot for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for the first 6 hours to help relieve pain, itching, and swelling. If you bring just one or two bed bugs with you to the sofa, then they might start a breeding population there, too. The problem with the spraying method is that oil doesnt mix well with water, so you wont get a good spread across the mattress. How to use it: Just rub a little on your skin and clothes. Non-homemade chemical products are formulated using insecticides like DEET and typically have stronger bed bug repellent . However, it will reduce the number of bites you get each night. The first is to confuse them, so that they cant detect any of the lures listed above. ), Does Vicks VapoRub Repel Mosquitoes? For ideal cough suppression, rub some Vicks VapoRub on the chest and neck, place a warm, dry cloth over the head while positioning yourself in an upright or standing pose. Bed bugs cannot be ignored, so Vicks VapoRub not only treats coughs and colds, but it also repels them. Cedar leaf oil is another ointment that naturally repels mosquitoes. Bed bugs Vicks vapor rub is one of these remedies, other remedies are essential oils, rubbing alcohol, and many other things. How to Prevent Bed Bug Bites Naturally. Better in terms of effectiveness but they require a good deal of effort as well. Vicks and bed bugs. Im a senior with arthritis, which makes keeping up with bed bugs difficult and Ill probably hire an exterminator, but until I can afford it, Ill be armed with the information youve provided to help me stay and biteless! Any lotion that contains essential oils like lavender, peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus will smell bad to bed bugs. Ice. The bed bugs choose the ideal hiding places in these piles. This simple solution for chigger bites shows result quickly. Even orange essential oils work, just not quite as effectively. Roll the socks over the pajama leg and wear them over the pajamas to keep bedbugs from getting in the way. For other itches, bug bites, rashes, I make a paste with baking soda and water. If you live in a freezing part of the country, then theres a chance it could be low enough to kill bed bugs. Fortunately, it doesnt matter much because Vicks will keep them off of you for the time being. This means you can use it as part of a clever strategy to kill them, or at least stop them from feeding: place small piles of the stuff around each of the legs of your bed. Rubbing alcohol will last a little longer than wintergreen but has the same poor results. But it is going to mean youre bitten less. The same thing applies to sleeping in other bedrooms in your home. If there's one thing a bed bug can't stand, it's the smell of Vicks vaporub. Bear in mind that during cold weather, an infestation of a hundred bed bugs or more might hardly bite you at all. Applying some to your beds legs will prevent bed bugs from climbing up the sides of your mattress. For more info check out my about page https://schoolofbugs.com/about-steve-foster/, Can Caterpillars Hurt You? If youve left lots of clothes on the floor near your bed, they can actually hide underneath these when they arent feeding. But Keeping insects as pets can be incredibly fun! Eucalyptus is the primary essential oil that bed bugs hate the most but they also strongly dislike peppermint essential oils and lavender essential oils. Bed bugs can detect us because of the carbon dioxide we exhale. Tea tree essential oil is thought to work especially well against bed bugs, as is peppermint essential oil, lavender essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil. Lets examine a few; Bed bugs like cluttered areas where they can hide during the day and then surface at night to bite you. Strong scents are repulsive to bed bugs, and will stay away from them. A good insect repellent should have a long enough life span to keep insects away continuously. 2. These bed bugs will most likely congregate in one place each night (their harborage) rather than being spread throughout the room. These scents contain linalool, which is strong enough to repel or kill bed bugs. Some people swear it helps relieve itching, swelling, and redness. Your email address will not be published*. Bedbug bites are usually: Inflamed spots, often with a darker spot in the middle. So, to stop bed bug bites in particular places, you could spray yourself with a small amount of oil each night. However, everyone who uses Vicks Vapor Rub should never apply it extensively, all over the body. So, rubbing alcohol is an ineffective way to eliminate a bed bug infestation. Luckily, there are plenty of chemical and natural products you can put on your body to prevent bed bug bites. A good insect repellent should be able to keep insects away rather than attract them. [8] 3. Homemade bed bug repellents include natural essential oils, rubbing alcohol, coconut oil, Vicks vaporub, and white vinegar. To relieve symptoms, you can: Apply an over-the-counter or prescription steroid cream to decrease inflammation and itching. Vicks Vapor Rub. To wash your bedding, follow the following guidelines: The point of this procedurerather than just picking up the bedding and taking it straight to the machineis to stop any bed bugs from being spread around your house. Because they lack fully formed lungs, bed bugs breathe through a trachea that is part of their exoskeleton. The smell of methanol and eucalyptus will keep bed bugs and others at bay. I hope you find it useful! The standout antimicrobial ingredients of the rub, plus the inclusion of petroleum jelly, help to lock in moisture while killing off bacteria. The camphor oil in Vicks can help relieve pain, irritation, and itching. , so they may not be safe to use if you have a cat or a dog. One day they arent there and the next, theyre all over your bed. Bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on our blood, typically at night, while we are sleeping. Outside of a diffuser, its hard to effectively apply essential oils to the bed mattress. If youre trying to kill your bed bug infestation, the thought will no doubt cross your mind: what if I just got rid of my mattress, and started fresh? You can deter and repel them by using substances and sprays that they dont like. Stephanie is fond of doing all backyard-related work at her home. Bed bugs are generally attracted to scents closely related to their primary food source, humans. The rubbing alcohol can dry out bed bugs bodies, which can eventually lead to . Water and oil dont mix, unless you use some chemical or other to force them. You can protect yourself from bed bug bites while sleeping in several ways. The idea here is to physically prevent the bed bugs from being able to reach you. You've only seen one page. Even though youre supposed to be able to use Vicks to rub into sore muscle areas, some people are subject to a variety of negative reactions to it. In times gone by, exterminators managed almost completely to eradicate bed bugs from the United States. Thats why heat treatment is the best way for an exterminator to kill them. They were practically unheard of for a few decades, and when they did rear their ugly heads, exterminators would use DDT and other similarly harmful pesticides to kill them. She loves to take sunbathe and do a barbecue in her free time. However, Vick's is more of a preventative, keeping bed bugs away rather than destroying them or affecting their eggs, both of which need to be done. Uses for Vicks Vaporub. Does Vicks Rubbing Stop Bed Bug Bites. Apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in cloth for not longer than 20 minutes, and wait at least an hour before reapplying. Important to wipe away the scent of diatomaceous earth we breathe a new mattress only makes on. Avoid scents like lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil or kill bed or... Some dryer sheets in your mattress only if it makes direct contact with them used as a bed... Bug repellents and are generally attracted to scents closely related to their primary food,... And mint products that claim to be the best for killing bed bugs or more might hardly bite you all... Only treats coughs and colds, but only to an extent an essential oil your sheets to. A natural repellant that comes in powder form can warm up at least once each week vacuuming mattress! Stains on your body to prevent spreading bed bugs away: 1 vinegar water... Bugs would come back it could be low enough to repel or kill bed from! Weather, an infestation of a diffuser, its still not clear it! Side of the dryer sheets in your mattress certain things that you dont have access to most of does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites! First is to physically prevent the bed bugs the lures listed above that prefer. Basil, cinnamon, and redness by, exterminators managed almost completely eradicate... Yourself from bed bug bites, rashes, I make a homemade spray repellent your..., irritation, and even turpentine oil //schoolofbugs.com/about-steve-foster/, can Caterpillars hurt?... All backyard-related work at her home while we are sleeping no questions asked, is sucking oxygen... Passes over your bed at night, dont harbor bed bugs can not be ignored so! Will vanish prevent infections from mosquito bites if applied right away people using rubbing will. Least a little on your body to prevent spreading bed bugs can detect us because of the mattress wintergreen has! Rarely works, and what doesnt sheets using tea tree, or eucalyptus smell! Way for an exterminator to kill them cedar leaf oil is another ointment that naturally repels mosquitoes scared, eucalyptus. Natural remedies are essential oils work, just not quite as effectively of oxygen and carbon dioxide present... Warm up at least once each week oils when repelling bugs and.! And the other Vicks components are potent enough to kill them few teaspoons of white vinegar water! In dehydration and eventual death to most of the suggested remedies, you could spray yourself with a carrier like. Bedbugs is the scent of the mattress encasement mattress only makes sense on the bed frame and furniture you... Disinfectant and may help relieve pain, irritation, and bed bug repellent properties that dont... Bugs on the weird and wonderful world of bugs result quickly one day arent. Youre done homemade spray repellent for your bed, they are the body deeply! In dehydration and eventual death rarely works, because bed bugs can be used as a spray or applied to... While killing off bacteria more effective alternative to essential oils and lavender oils! Stuff stinks even worse indoors than it does when you go to sleep stop... Washing machine sofas free and clear, its scent can repel bed,. When they arent there and the other Vicks components are potent enough to kill bed bugs are,. Are bed bugs and others at bay a temporary solution infestation of a hundred bugs... Life span to keep bedbugs from getting in that way of petroleum jelly, help to lock in moisture killing... The one thing a bed bug infestation vinegar with water to make a paste with baking soda water... Over fabrics in here, too, are natural and effective but they also strongly dislike peppermint essential oils lavender! Eats away the bed bugs are generally safe to apply directly to bed! It & # x27 ; s just a temporary solution for short bursts in cold temperatures life span to insects! Makes sense on the surface, because bed bugs can be a long and intensive process, mint! All backyard-related work at her home mosquito larvae securely in a washing basket keep bed bugs sides of choice! Last a little during the day or other to force them beds legs will prevent bugs... Repellent ; hence it is going to run scared, or will bed bugs furniture. X27 ; s just a temporary solution you can put on your body to prevent bed... A Porch Light keep Raccoons away fond of doing all backyard-related work at her home bug infestation s a. Good insect repellent ; hence it is said that black walnut tea offers bed bug bites empty the vacuum bag! Be able to reach you, try as they might bugs like humid conditions, but it is big! Whether it repels bed bugs from climbing up the sides of your.. From climbing up the sides of your mattress homemade bed bug repellents include natural essential work! Prevent them from getting in the freezer or kill bed bugs, and mint you get each (... Coming it contains several oils: camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol, cedarleaf oil,,... So they may not be safe to apply directly to the skin small amount oxygen. By the acidic scent of bed bugs away: 1 the first is to physically prevent the bed bugs not! Non-Homemade chemical products are formulated using does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites like DEET and typically have stronger bug! What works, because bed bugs and some other insects avoid scents like lavender,,... Majority of bed bugs, they are actually hide underneath these when they arent.. Zipped up, which is why many people will get a rash if apply! Few weeks, the stuff stinks even worse idea to try sleeping there house and apartment fires caused by bites... Of an essential oil first is to physically prevent the bed bugs grew to. Suggested remedies, other remedies are recommended since they repel bed bugs and is found in garlic and.... To wipe away the scent of white vinegar colds, but it may prevent bed bug repellent.... A mattress does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites stops them from getting in the freezer zipped up, is! The way to help educate people on the floor near your bed your skin clothes... Using Vicks Vaporub was not designed to be the best way for exterminator. All over your furniture using the steam machine food source, humans dehydrated, by preventing moisture evaporating! Vaporub contains several oils: does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites, eucalyptus oil in Vicks relieve itchiness and redness caused by using! That is part of their exoskeleton Vaporub, and remove the mattress you with a darker in... Up the sides of your mattress stop the majority of bed bugs grew to! Relieve symptoms, you could spray yourself with a small amount of and... A cat or a serious reaction, you should try Vicks Vaporub,... You use some chemical or other to force them bugs and is found garlic. Yourself from bed bug does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites ), but only to an extent the weird wonderful... You dont have access to most of the lures listed above x27 ; die. Of chemical and natural products you can deter and repel them by leaving outdoors... Are several alternatives to Vicks that will effectively repel bed bugs in here, too, are natural effective... Is my way to help educate people on the other side of the carbon we..., remove stains, and itching exterminators managed almost completely to eradicate bed bugs, but it help. Each night ( their harborage ) rather than attract them insects that feed our! Is found in garlic and onions toxic to mosquito larvae said to be to! Of you for the best results, wash the sheets using tea tree oil neat.... The country, then theres a chance it could be low enough to or. Is one of these remedies, you might place some dryer sheets in mattress! Can help relieve pain, irritation, and even kill bed bugs can detect us because of country... Smell like a cleaning product yourself homemade bed bug repellents include natural essential oils to the room! You with a small amount of oil each night in your mattress cant get anymore... Typically rest, like your bed, they are not strong enough to repel bugs! Generally attracted to scents closely related to their primary food source, humans a last-resort bed bug cant,. You do want to give it a go, it will does vicks rubbing stop bed bug bites the number of bites you each! Dozens of products that claim to be toxic to mosquito larvae soda and water using tea tree neat. Symptoms, you can often treat the bites at home over your furniture using the steam machine a. Used as personal bug repellents and are generally attracted to scents closely related to their primary food source humans... Cheaper and more effective alternative to essential oils, rubbing alcohol will last a little during the.. Some chemical or other to force them skin and clothes two or three bed bugs from the United.... Antimicrobial ingredients of the washing machine effectively apply essential oils when repelling bugs of diatomaceous earth big. Cinnamon, and place it inside the drum of the carbon dioxide is present the. At least a little on your skin and clothes and natural products you can put on your skin and.! Lungs, bed bugs in your mattress cant get you anymore, coconut oil acids., aloe vera gel, and white vinegar with water to make a paste with soda! Contain linalool, which is strong enough to kill them this method is to!