The moment you see the bugs in your bed is something you’ll remember. Tiny insects crawling on you while you sleep? Not good. And the fact that they feed on your blood makes it even worse. Bed bugs leave evidence of their presence in the form of bites: some large, others small, but all irritating. You may notice their existence from this, or may you see the bugs themselves. Once you realize you’ve got an infestation on your hands, you’ll need to do something about it. But what can you do? Products are on the market now that can kill and prevent bed bugs, coming in several different forms, including sprays.
So you’re looking for an excellent spray to treat your bed bug problem. But you don’t want just any spray product; you want the best. The seemingly endless list of companies peddling pest control products helps to know which ones are effective and which are mediocre.
Here I suggest some of the best sprays you’ll find:
My Recommended Top 3 Best Bed Bug Sprays Comparison Table
| PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our #1 Rated [tablepress_img id="16452" alt="Bayer Advanced Home Pest Insect Killer RTU Spray review"] | Bayer Advanced Home Pest Insect Killer RTU Spray
| Check Price |
People's Choice  | Eco Defense Bed Bug Spray
| Check Price |
 | EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer Spray
| Check Price |
Bed bug eggs hatch in a week and mature into full-grown critters within a month. They reproduce fast, and their eggs may resist standard forms of treatment.
Bedbugs are stubborn bloodsuckers that hide in the daytime and resurface at night to feed on their sleeping prey. They can hide so well, and they reproduce very quickly; this makes them very challenging to get rid of these pesky bugs. The nymphs and adults may go for many months without feeding, and when they attack you, they bite any exposed skin areas while you are asleep. A typical bed bug bite is painless and unnoticeable. It would help if you had the right bed bug killer spray to remove the pests from your home.
Top 9 Best Bed Bug Sprays Reviewed
When buying bed bug sprays, pick pesticides with organic ingredients. Check the specifications and purchase a product containing 100% natural ingredients. The market has numerous bed bug killers with different levels of efficiency. Pick a bedbug product with caution. Purchase pesticides that will deliver direct results.
After much research, some products stand out more than others. And the winner is Bayer Advanced Home Pest Killer Ready-to-Use Spray.
Here is a list of the Best Bed Bug Killer Sprays and a review of each product:
1. Bayer BioAdvanced – Best 30-days Bed Bug Spray for Long-Term Use (Editor’s Choice)
Bayer offers a spray that shoots from an angle, kills resistant bugs, and lasts 30 days.
Ingredients include 0.05% β-Cyfluthrin, and 0.30% Sodium O-phenylphenate. BioAdvanced spray will kill eggs as well as adults. It kills on contact and leaves a long-lasting residue. Bayer spray doesn’t stain fabrics and doesn’t have an odor.
You can buy it in aerosol cans or one-gallon containers.
2. Eco Defense – Best Recommended Bed Bug Killer Spray (People’s Choice)
Eco Defense is the most lethal killer for the deadly blood-sucking critters. It is made from a blend of both natural and chemical ingredients. As evidenced by sales records, buyers experiences from most home appliance stores prefer this product. It shows that most people trust the Eco Defense bed bug killer as the most active ingredient for bed bug elimination in homes.
It is a natural bed bug killer spray that destroys bugs on the spot upon contact with bugs. The spray contains safe organic elements capable of killing bedbugs at any phase, from the egg stage to the fully-grown adults. This substance does not stain your bedsheets, unlike other bed bug pesticides. Eco Defense works expediently and is easy to use by spraying directly on infested areas.
Other products for permanent removal of bedbugs include:
Eco Defense has a safe exterminator formulation to produce high performance. Customers get a 60-day free trial. The product eliminates bed bugs, especially those that have developed resistance to conventional pesticides.
- Cost effective.
- No staining.
- 100% safe for domestic environment.
- Kills on contact.
- Fast treatment.
- Produces a slightly strong scent for asthmatic people.
3. EcoRaider – Best Pet-Friendly Bed Bug Spray
EcoRaider is a proven non-toxic organic insecticide. The American Entomological Society publication wrote an article highlighting that Eco Raider is an organic bed bug sprayer with 100 percent efficiency. Research entomologists conducted field tests in public housing projects infested with bedbugs and found this insecticide quite valuable for highly populated environments.
This powerful insecticide also has extended residual protection. When leftover for two weeks, EcoRaider kills bed bugs long after drying. It is eco-friendly and safe to use on children’s beds and around their rooms. The substance is also dermatological safe. You can spray directly on the mattresses and the box springs. It has a micro-active ingredient that infiltrates the exoskeleton, leading to sudden paralysis and the eventual death of the critter.
- Instant bed bug killer.
- Safe.
- Natural product.
- Non-toxic.
- Kills stubborn bedbugs.
- Lasts longer hours after spraying.
- Destroys all bed bugs within weeks of spraying.
- Strong Scent with a bearable smell.
4. Proof Killer – Best Indoor/Outdoor Contact-Killing Bed Bug Spray
It contains a concentrated mixture of natural ingredients that destroy bed bugs in all stages. The active ingredient contained in this insecticide is 5.5% Cold Pressed Neem Oil which contributes to its success in eradicating bed bugs. It’s formulated in a non-staining water base. A stain-free insecticide kills on contact with the blood-sucking critters. Provides instant solution upon spraying on infested areas.
Proof Bed Bug Spray is safe to use within homes, in nursing establishments as well as hotels. It can be sprayed directly on furniture, beddings, and other surfaces. It is environmentally friendly to use around children’s bedrooms, pets, and workplaces because it destroys bed bugs swiftly at all stages.
The Proof insecticide spray guarantees safety when used in the home environment. The product may be used outdoors and in places like porches or warm sitting areas that may attract little bugs. The insecticide has an alluring neem oil smell that kills resistant bedbugs.
- Safe to use domestically.
- Eco-friendly, contains natural ingredient’s.
- It destroys resistant nymph and bedbug eggs.
- Kills bed bugs instantly.
- Kills at all stages.
- Mild scent.
5. Bed Bug Patrol – 100% Natural, Non-Toxic, Environmentally Friendly, Family&Pet-Safe
The most popular bed bug spray is preferred for its clover/peppermint scent. Bed Bug Patrol is also safe to use domestically on home furniture and on the mattress and bedding. It kills bed bugs instantly when sprayed directly on the critter hideouts. This bed bug spray works efficiently and has a pleasant mint odor. It does not stain bedding; therefore, safe to spray directly on your bedding and mattress, where bedbugs like to hide. Bed Bug Patrol kills within minutes of contact and long after the spray residue has dried to eliminate any hidden eggs.
- Provides money back guarantee usage period.
- Stain free when sprayed directly furniture and beddings.
- Safe for use near children and pets.
- Pleasant peppermint and clove scent.
- No cons can be identified with this product.
6. Harris Bed Bug Killer – Liquid Spray with Odorless and Non Staining Formula
This product is a water-based odorless spray made with deltamethrin that kills bed bugs upon contact; commonly known as “instant death,” it is simultaneously used with the Harris Diatomaceous Bed Bug an Earth Powder. Harris Bed Bug Killer significantly reduces the bed bugs population in your home within two weeks of simultaneous application.
It’s non-staining and safe for use on mattresses.
They also offer the Harris Egg Kill formula in a 32-ounce aerosol can.
7. Hot Shot Bed Bug Killer
Hot Shot is available in several forms, including a formula containing an egg killer. This ingredient kills all the bed bugs in your home and the tiny eggs upon contact. Safe for use in your furniture, including pillows, chair seams, folds, mattresses, and vent holes. But it isn’t recommended for use on mattresses.
The insecticide does not stain your beddings and sofas. It obliterates bed bug eggs and tiny bugs hidden in crevices.
You can buy it in aerosol cans or one-gallon containers.
8. Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug Killer
The fast-acting spray is made with imidacloprid, and other ingredients are known to kill bed bugs. Using components that kill even pyrethroid-resistant bugs, Ortho bed bug spray is long-lasting and guaranteed to kill bed bugs fast.
It’s available in several sizes for your convenience.
9. Transport Mikron Insecticide – Can You Buy Commercial Grade Bed Bug Spray?
Commercial bed bug sprays are intended for use in apartments and hotels. Many products are available only in concentrated forms for use by professional exterminators. Some are marketed as kits, as it often takes more than one product to kill bed bugs effectively.
Transport Mikron – made from acetamiprid and bifenthrin. It kills on contact and leaves a residue to keep on killing pests.
What is the Best Bed Bug Sprays in 2024? – Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
You’re trying to eliminate an infestation of bed bugs. Although pest exterminators are in your town, you want to save money and eliminate the bugs. There are lots of products available through online vendors. And you can access complete information on some of them, but most products aren’t fully described. As a result, you decided to shop locally so that you can read the labels of all the products. But what is the best bed bug spray in stores? Keep reading. We have a summary here of the products for you.
Bed bugs present a huge household problem for many people. Naturally, they can dwell anywhere in your home, hiding deep cracks in bed frames, furniture, or any fabric such as curtains and beddings. If you suspect bed bug activity in your beddings, it’s time to buy bed bug killer solutions for your home to eradicate the little suckers as soon as you notice itching or soreness on your skin.
Pesticide sprays provide the fastest solution to kill bed bugs instantly. In this article, we will detail the best bed bug killer sprays to use according to the level of infestation in your home to help you to make the right choice.
Is Effective Bed Bug Spray Available in Stores?
You can purchase bed bug repellents, but your success will probably be limited. Bed bugs feast on warm blood, and your body attracts them. Chemicals rarely repel them. You have to kill bed bugs to get rid of them. The best way to kill them is to spray an insecticide directly on their ugly little bodies.
In selecting a bed bug killer spray, consider the following:
- The severity of the infestation.
- How quickly the spray kills pests.
- Will the product stain your mattress.
- Is the spray safe to use if you have pets or children?
- Does the product have a residual effect?
There isn’t a particular product that’s best for everyone.
You have more than one choice; namely, sprays that are manufactured from:
- Natural ingredients.
- Artificial chemicals.
- Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs).
Each type has advantages and disadvantages.
Natural Sprays
The natural bed bug sprays contain a variety of ingredients. According to tests by independent agencies and customer reviews, two natural products are effective bed bug killers.
They are:
These are both oil-based sprays.
EcoRaider contains geraniol (extracted from geraniums) and cedar oils. Bed Bug Patrol is made from clove, coconut extract, and peppermint oils. Both products include other ingredients, and both kill on contact.
EcoRaider and Bed Bug Patrol are generally safe to use around children and pets, but you still must exercise care in using them. Regardless of your spray, it’s nearly impossible to kill all bed bugs with one treatment. Although these two are very efficient insect killers, you must spray more than once. The instructions will specify how long to wait before treatments.
Some organic low-toxic homemade bed bug spray can kill bedbugs when sprayed directly on the critters, but they do not affect the bugs once the liquid dries up. The resilient little bugs do not die quickly and avoid areas sprayed with pest killers.
Artificial Chemical Sprays
These days’ pyrethrum-based bedbug pesticides remain the most widely used chemical sprays. They kill bed bugs by attacking nerve cells and causing nerve agitation. That ultimately paralyzes the insects leading to instant death. Pyrethrum insecticides are also expected today and are considered potent pesticides when sprayed directly on bed bugs.
Pyrethrin is derived from a particular species of Chrysanthemum. It’s been used for thousands of years to eradicate numerous insects. Kenya currently supplies the central portion of pyrethrin. It works on the nervous system of insects.
Most bed bug sprays in stores contain a form of pyrethroid, the synthetic version of pyrethrin. Numerous kinds of pyrethroid are manufactured today, as the long-time use has led to bugs becoming resistant to the earlier versions.
The (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency
, approved licensed bed bug killer sprays including 16 pyrethrins, four neonicotinoids, chlorfenapyr, three inorganic compounds, propoxur, DDVP (dichlorvos), and organic sprays made from neem oil, alcohol and S-hydroprene.
Other groups of pesticides include, but aren’t limited to:
- Chlorfenapyr – destroys cells in insects.
- Dichlorvos – disrupts the functioning of the nervous system.
- Neonicotinoid – paralyzes, then kills insects.
- Propoxur – acts quickly to kill on contact and has a residual effect as well.
These are all classes of insecticides, and each has a variety of forms that differ slightly.
For example, the Neonicotinoid group includes:
- Acetamiprid,
- Clothianidin,
- Dinotefuran,
- Imidacloprid,
- Nithiazine,
- Thiacloprid,
- Thiamethoxam.
Most products also contain alcohol, neem oil, and inactive ingredients.
Although many types of insecticide are included in the two lists above, you’ll see other names. New insecticides come on the market frequently. Each is formulated differently than its predecessors to overcome insect resistance.
Over-the-Counter Products Aren’t Strong
Many of the products you can buy won’t have vast amounts of insecticide. That’s due to environmental, health, and safety regulations. Commercial pest eradication products contain insecticides in much stronger concentrations.
Because of the reduced strength of products available to consumers, the sprays work best when sprayed directly on bed bugs. They don’t have effective residual action. Bed bugs don’t eat poisons or baits.
Bed bugs are attracted to wherever humans are because their preferred food is human blood. A bed bug infestation is not an indication of poor housekeeping or your social status. It doesn’t matter who you are or how clean your house is; bed bugs will move in because you’re there.
Insect Growth Regulators Products
Specialists in the Entomology Department in Virginia explain that only one insect regulator, hydroprene – is marked for bed bug control. IGRs are marketed with the promise of sterilizing bed bugs. Once the adults die off, the problem is solved.
However, research has revealed that IGR products aren’t working as promised. They do not sterilize bed bugs. The poisons in them slowly kill insects. Bed bugs can reproduce a generation of critters before dying.
Because IGRs do effectively kill bed bugs, you may choose to use a spray that contains an IGR in combination with other ingredients. If you see hydroprene and kinoprene on the product label, you buy an IGR spray.
I Need Something Effective
When it comes to a spray, you want something that works, first and foremost. There are many different products out there you can buy that use top ingredients shown to kill bed bugs quickly.
Ingredients you may notice in these sprays include:
- Pyrethrins: This liquid is the most common pesticide used for bed bugs and other insects and is derived from the chrysanthemum flower. Not only will it kill bugs, but it will also flush them out of whatever hiding place they’re in.
- Desiccants: This substance works to destroy the protective waxy coating surrounding the bed bug. Once stripped of this coating, the insect will dehydrate and die. A huge advantage to Desiccants is that bed bugs can’t become resistant to them.
- Biochemicals: An example of this is Neem oil, the only biochemical pesticide registered specifically for bed bugs.
- Neonicotinoids: This uses synthetic forms of nicotine to destroy pests. Their nerves will repeatedly fire until the nerve itself dies, thus slowly killing off the nervous system and the insect.
- Insect Growth Regulators: This type of pesticide messes with the way the bed bug grows, which then, in turn, kills it.
Spray for Clothing
You may not know that bed bugs can cling to your clothing, meaning that you can easily transport them from place to place. All they have to do is crawl into that shirt bunched up on the floor and take a ride with you to your friends or family’s homes.
First and foremost, if you have bed bugs, wash all your clothing with boiling water and soap to kill the bugs and their eggs. Then, if you wish to go a step further and use a spray, try a DIY one made from essential oils that will leave everything smelling nice.
Travel Products
Many sprays come in a convenient travel size. If you’re staying in a hotel or another location where you may worry about bed bugs, consider bringing one of these smaller sprays. They’ll kill the bugs and keep them from biting you and returning home with you.
- Store-bought: An example of this is the <strong>EcoRaider Bed Bug Travel Spray</strong>.
It’s the right size to fit your luggage but potent enough to where you don’t need more than a light layer of spray. - DIY: Combine essential oils and water in a small travel sprayer and use all over bedding, mattresses, furniture, and carpets. A huge bonus is the pleasant smell you’ll leave behind!
Nobody needs to go out and spend a ton of money on bed bug products when you may have the ingredients sitting right in your house! Go here for more details on homemade bed bug spray.
- Diatomaceous Earth: This powder isn’t so much of a spray as a liquid is, but it can be sprayed out in powder form. It’s made from fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton and not only dehydrates bugs but cuts up their exoskeleton, as well.
Bed bugs like to travel. They change locations primarily by crawling inside your luggage, especially in hotel rooms. Some experts advise setting luggage on plastic sheeting rather than on hotel beds or floors. You can also buy products to spray on your luggage to help prevent hitchhikers.
Treating Bed Bugs on Furniture
Bed bugs don’t just hide in beds. They’ll go anywhere they can disappear, which includes couches, armchairs, mattresses, and even carpets.
To control insects hiding in furniture, you’ve got to go where they go. Crevices in cushions and mattresses, underneath footrests, and the undersides… can be anywhere. Pick a good spray and cover every inch of your furniture, taking care to get inside crevices and other tight spots.
Sprays Safe for Babies
If you have babies or small children at your home, you’ll want to make sure you use a spray safe for them, as their body systems are much more fragile than an adult’s.
A few examples of sprays that are all-natural and thus safe for children to around include :
How Exactly do I Spray for Bed Bugs?
Is there a specific technique you need to know? What about some tips and tricks?
Some rules to follow when it comes to spraying for bed bugs:
- Don’t just assume they must not be there because you can’t see them.
- Get inside crevices and cracks.
- Don’t forget the carpet and your luggage.
- They can crawl inside tiny holes in your box spring. Because of this, you’ll have to spray in and around any holes you find in the fabric or take the box spring out of your room all together.
Depending on your spray, you’ll need to re-apply daily to monthly.
Can I Use Roach Spray?
While there are many poisonous ingredients in roach spray that would help to kill bed bugs, it’s best to use a spray labeled explicitly for bed bug use. Why? Because they’ve got certain traits and resistance that require certain pesticides to get rid of them.
Using Disinfectant Spray
Disinfectant spray is another example that might kill some bed bugs, but it won’t get rid of your problem. While this spray will kill deadly bacteria, it’s not designed to kill bugs, especially ones as hardy as the bed bug.
Bed Bug Bombs
Bombs are also known as “foggers, ” and are a kind of pest control that uses a smoke-like gas pesticide to get rid of bugs. The cloud of poisonous gas spreads throughout the room and heavily saturates everything, covering every square inch, just like a bomb. The pesticides used in bed bug bombs usually use pyrethrins as their poison, although different brands use different ingredients.
Lice Spray as an Alternative
The lice spray is not a good alternative for bed bugs. Lice aren’t nearly as tough and live completely differently from the human body. They may die much more easily from poisons, so their products don’t need as strong a dose.
Even if you might kill a few bed bugs with lice spray, it’s not the solution for eradication.
Where to Spray
Unless the instruction labels indicate otherwise, spray the following areas:
- Mattress buttons, seams, tears, and holes.
- Box spring and bed frame.
- Furniture, such as dressers and nightstands.
- Behind pictures and another wall decor.
- Behind switch plates and around light fixtures.
- Gadgets.
- Carpeting and tack strips.
- Baseboards.
- Under or inside anything that provides a hiding place.
Bed bugs can get into highly tiny cracks and crevices.
You need to kill every bed bug to stop the infestation. If there’s one survivor, there are hundreds of others. Some products will kill adults, juveniles, and eggs. Even those will probably require subsequent applications because of the bed bug’s skill at hiding.
You won’t know until you’ve tried if your bed bugs resist a particular spray. You may have to try more than one brand before successful eradication efforts. Even if you aren’t getting bitten at night, you’ll notice little back spots of feces and dried blood on your bedding if you still have bed bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bed bug sprays are highly effective because they contain a substance that reacts with a chemical compound on the insect's outer shell, causing it to perish in about an hour.
The spray typically contains pyrethrin derived from the chrysanthemum flower and is ten times more effective than DDT in laboratory tests. Pyrethroid insecticides have some drawbacks, too: they don't stay on surfaces for as long or affect bed bugs' ability to make new eggs.
Insecticides usually work by affecting the insect's exoskeleton and either killing them by drying them out or irritating their systems sufficiently that they are washed away.
That is why you will often find warnings on the label to ensure no children or pets are in the room while you spray, as these could easily be harmed if they are rubbed up against treated surfaces after being exposed. Bedbugs aren't generally harmful to humans, but it doesn't hurt liberally spraying down your bedding just in case!
The same applies to any seemingly inert surface such as furniture or walls - make sure there are no animals around before spraying those too!
The best place to spray the bed bug is where the live bed bugs are visible. Although foggers, foams, and aerosols can kill bed bugs hiding out in cracks and crevices, they won't work as well as killing them on the surface. So it's a good idea to start treating high-traffic areas and then get fussier with more sensitive places like your underwear drawer or nightstands.
Since it may be challenging to lift furniture to locate these insects, spraying all four corners of each piece of furniture is also beneficial for adults and nymphs alike.
Do keep in mind that not all insecticides will reach into every possible hiding spot; so the best place to spray a bed bug repellent is in the four locations where they are most likely to live:
- near where you sleep,
- close to the headboard,
- on your mattress (including any creases),
- on your box spring.
Bed bug sprays work best when spraying onto surfaces that don't collect clothing or linens.
Please ensure all other rooms in your house have been inspected for bed bugs before spraying because it can take hours for bed bugs to metabolize insecticide and die after spraying.
And remember, no matter how often you've sprayed an area with an insecticide, scout closely anyway. Even a low concentration of bedbugs will be able to ignore these treatments.
It can take at least 14 days for bed bugs to die, and while it's not entirely clear how long the chemicals in a standard spray would last, likely, these chemicals will often last longer than two weeks. Any protection from sprays following this timing should also be expected to decrease over time.
Spray should be reapplied after two weeks, as bedbugs grow out of their eggs at that time and require more treatment.
Conclusion
So you’re looking for an excellent spray to treat your bed bug problem. But you don’t want just any spray; you want the best.
Best is a very subjective word. What is best for you may not be the best for others and vice-versa. The seemingly endless list of companies peddling pest control products helps to know which ones are effective and which are mediocre.
Three products that are highly rated for effectiveness and safety are:
They have various combinations of ingredients.
If you’ve got bed bugs, don’t think for a second that a spray isn’t good enough. With all the store-bought options out there, plus the homemade recipes available now, bed bug sprays are effective and may even be the best method you can find!
Do-it-yourself bed bug eradication is possible. You will probably need to use more than one product and apply even the best bed bug sprays in stores more than once . Although some sprays say that they can be used around pets or children, none of them are entirely safe. The most important thing is always to read and follow all the instructions.
I very much appreciate the information at this site regarding the removal and prevention of bed bugs. There are so many negative stories out there on how to deal with them, I got confused and very anxious as soon as I knew I needed to deal with this nasty problem. This site informed me very clearly and fast on what to use for all aspects of control, including the best products and where to buy them. Man, I’m on my way to Home Depot right now.
I had an extermination company spray the apt with the S/C spray.
then caulked all cracks between trim and brace boards. I spray Harris Bug spray once a week. I placed diatromercous earth in three empty canvas bags which I leave open. Then sprinkled baking soda on air mattress. I wash and dry clothes every day and place in plastic containers. I vacuum apt every other day and throw away bag. Also have 91 percent rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. if I feel the slightest itch, I spray liberally on body. I also bombed car and work truck. don’t bomb apt or home. Just vehicles. I have seen great results. I will continue this routine for quite a while. Minus the pesticide company. Good luck and my prayers to anyone suffering from bed bugs
Can bed bugs sliver through fabric ? Like sheets?
Hi, thank you for the above information, my query is I have a just born baby in just 10 days, and we have very much suffered from bed bugs in two bedrooms and cots too. How to get rid of bed bugs with not effecting the small baby and children?
Thanks.
It’s important to know that bed bugs do not spread disease. That being said, they are still an unpleasant visitor in your home, and many people worry about their safety with small children around who are more like to pick on the bites or accidentally ingest some of them.
So how can you eliminate these pests without endangering your whole family? With these three steps:
These three methods will exterminate any bedbugs present by suffocating them before they reach your children!