Here I suggest the best bed bug repellent products with different brands for your consideration.
Top 3 Bed Bug Repellent Products in 2024 Comparison Table
| PREVIEW | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Choice  | Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug Killer
| Check Price |
Best Ultrasonic  | Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
| Check Price |
Best for Travel  | EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer Travel Spray
| Check Price |
The best bed bug repellents are the ones that work for you. Whether it’s natural or not, if it doesn’t feel good to use and makes your life harder in some way, then it probably isn’t worth using.
That being said, there are 3 products that I have found to be the most effective at getting rid of bugs without having to get into a lot of complicated details about what they’re made of, how long they last etcetera.
3 Best Bed Bug Repellent Products Reviewed
Are you looking for an effective way of eliminating bed bugs in your home and the best bed bug killer to use? After much research, there are definitely some products that stand out more than others. And the winner is Ortho Home Defense Max.
1. Ortho Home Defense Max – Best Bed Bug Repellent Spray (Editor’s Choice)
The Ortho Home Defense Max is a product that has been proven to be effective at killing bed bugs and their eggs. The active ingredients in this spray are 0.25% Bifenthrin, 0.05% Imidacloprid, and 0.45% Piperonyl Butoxide which will kill bed bugs on contact by drying the insect’s outer shell and preventing it from absorbing oxygen or water.
This all-in-one spray can also be applied every two weeks for continued protection against these pests. It kills them at all life stages through contact with the sprayed surface because of its high concentration of active ingredients (0.25%). People and pets may enter the treated area after the spray dries which makes it effective indoor protection for your whole household.
How to Use
- Spray directly on bed bugs and their eggs.
- When bed bugs are present, apply every two weeks.
- Kills bed bugs and their eggs at all life stages by contact.
- Protect your home from these pests with just one spray.
- Effectively prevents infestation when applied every two weeks.
- Difficult to apply as some surfaces may not allow for easy application, such as carpeting or upholstery on furniture (spray should still reach those areas).
2. Neatmaster – Best Ultrasonic Pest Repeller for Bed Bugs (People’s Choice)
The Neatmaster emits low-frequency ultrasonic waves that are harmless to humans but highly irritating to bed bugs, cockroaches, spiders, ants, and other pests. It’s also safe for use around pets and children.
Therefore, you can use this device in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, and dining area.
The unit covers an area of up to 120 square meters with powerful coverage against all sorts of pests. Best part? It only takes one unit for just one room!
How to Use
- Plug it in and turn on the device.
- Point away from yourself, pets, and children while operating.
- Point the device towards the walls/carpet/furniture where you have seen bug signs, and towards cracks or areas where bugs may enter your home.
- Safe for use around pets and children.
- Covers 120 m² per unit.
- Get a good night’s sleep without the worry of bed bugs or other pests invading your home.
- There is no perfect spot for the device, and it’s much more effective to use many units in a home.
- It doesn’t come with a power cord.
3. EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer – Best Natural Bed Bug Repellent for Travel
EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer is a potent, all-natural spray that quickly and efficiently kills bed bugs. It’s ideal for travelers who need protection against bed bug infestations in hotels or other lodging facilities.
The eco-friendly formula is safe to use around children and pets, making it the perfect solution for families on adventures! EcoRaider also has the added benefit of providing long-lasting residual protection even after it dries.
How to Use
- When you arrive at a hotel, go to a movie, take the bus, or stay the night at a friend’s place, mist this 2 oz aerosol can.
- Spray EcoRaider in all areas where bed bugs may be present, including mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, carpets, and flooring.
- Reapply as necessary.
- Non-toxic and dermatologically friendly.
- Cuts down biting incidents immediately.
- Kills adults & nymphs fast.
- Proven extended residual protection even after dried.
- Expensive.
- Tends to leave a residue when sprayed on fabric surfaces.
What’s the Best Bed Bug Repellent in 2024? – Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
Bugs are annoying to deal with in your home. When it comes to these insect invaders, you’ll find a huge variety from ants, to roaches, to crickets. One type you might see is a bed bug.
Just like their name, they usually come for you while you’re sleeping in bed, although they hide elsewhere in the day, sticking themselves into the smallest little cracks, waiting for you to go to sleep. And if that wasn’t horrible enough, they also bite you. In other words, these bugs have to be killed immediately. But how to do it? Along with many kinds of ways to destroy a bed bug, there are also ways to repel them.
Repellents and How They Work
A repellent isn’t quite the same as a killer. When you spray an insecticide or another deadly substance, the purpose is to kill the bug right away. Repelling has to do with keeping them away and is more about prevention than anything else.
Some common repellents you see in your every day life include:
- Mosquito spray.
- Roach spray or powder.
- Gopher lawn granules.
All of these are usually able to kill the creature it’s made for, although the purpose is more to keep them from coming back again.
Want to know more about some interesting ways to kill insects? There isn’t just spray anymore – now, there’s a bomb. Click here to find out more about the best bed bugs bomb.
What Bed Bugs Like and What They Hate
Some substances draw certain animals in, like sugar with ants. Warmth, perhaps, or the smell of your body, but whatever it is, each bug has a different craving. Bed bugs are drawn to the carbon dioxide we exhale. They can zone in on it and follow the trail until they find us in bed, unmoving. Then they get their favorite treat: blood. And they love it – sometimes you’ll wake up with ten new bites a night.
But sleep easy knowing there’s things they hate, including:
- Light: Bed bugs like the dark, which is why they hide in the daytime and come out at night.
- Heat: High temperatures are undesirable for them. If you have an infestation, throw clothes and sheets into a dryer and tumble hot for at least 10 minutes. Many of them will be killed this way alone, but further treatment is still the best option.
- Cold: Going to the other extreme, bed bugs hate being cold. This one is a difficult option, though, because sticking all your clothes and bedding out into the snow isn’t necessarily going to do anything, as bed bugs can survive pretty low temps. Also, they can go dormant while cold, hiding for prolonged periods of time, almost like hibernation, and seem like they’re dead when they really aren’t.
- Chemicals: Most bugs don’t like pesticides and bed bugs are no exception. Different ingredients go into these products but most include pyrethrins, pyrethroids, desiccants, and Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs). One thing to note, however, is that bed bugs are notorious for being pesticide-resistant.
- Scents: Essential oils are out there available for many different uses, including insect-killing, and certain types are more horrible for bugs than others. Something excellent about oils is their all-natural, non-toxic nature, and the fact that you can find them easily at grocery or health food stores.
Stop Bed Bugs from Crawling On While You Sleep
You probably won’t be able to sleep soundly knowing there are bugs around just waiting for you to zonk out. But what can you do?
Besides tips and tricks like putting your bed’s legs in small containers of baby oil, you can spray repellent to keep the bugs away while you sleep. Choose an all-natural brand, or create one of your own using oils, then spray all over your bedding, bed frame, and mattress. You can even sprinkle DE on the floor all around your bed as an added measure of protection.
Keep Bed Bugs Away from Your Skin
Your skin is a sensitive part of your body. You can’t put just anything on it, but what do you do if you’re trying to keep bed bugs from biting you? Essential oils are a good solution when it comes to this.
Here are some good combinations of oils that will not only act as a repellent to bugs, but smell nice on you as well:
- Lavender, tea tree, and peppermint.
- Cinnamon, clove, and lemongrass.
- Eucalyptus, orange, and lemongrass.
For application, you can combine 3 cups of water and 5 drops of each oil, then spray on your body where bed bugs might find you. Another way you can apply the mixture is through a lotion. Add 3-5 drops of each oil to ½ cup of coconut oil, mix thoroughly and rub on your skin. It’s moisturizing, it smells nice, and bed bugs will want to stay away.
So, how can you complete your treatment and get them to leave you alone? Get a repellent!
Chemical Products
At the grocery store, you’ll find many different pesticide products like:
Demon Max Insecticide
You may have to look harder for this one, but it boasts a powerful ability to kill a large bed bug invasion and leaves behind a residue that they’ll want to avoid.
Demon Max is a popular pest control product that can be used for many different things. First off, it features an active ingredient of 25.3% Cypermethrin which means that it is a multipurpose product and can be used indoors as well as outdoors to kill both bed bugs and general pests.
It also has dual action perimeter application with the active ingredient cypermethrin to control general pests which is good because you don’t have to worry about using multiple products for your various needs. If you are having trouble with any type of pest around your home or business, this would likely be a great solution for you!
How Does It Work
When it comes to using Demon Max Insecticide to get rid of bed bugs, it is important to understand how it works. This product is a contact kill product, meaning that it kills the bed bugs when it comes into contact with their bodies. It is also important to know that this product is not a residual product, which means that it does not linger after it has been applied.
This is why it is important to apply Demon Max Insecticide in areas where bed bugs are likely to be hiding, such as in cracks and crevices. You will also want to apply it around the outside of your home or business so that any general pests that are trying to get in will be killed as well. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly as they are written to ensure that you maximize your results.
How to Apply
When applying the product, it is important to follow all of the instructions on the label carefully and work with a reputable pest control company if need be so that you can use this product safely near your home or business.
When applying Demon Max Insecticide, the general rule of thumb is 1.3 – 5.1 oz. per gallon of water. When it comes time for reapplication, make sure you do so at least every 14 days depending on how quickly bed bugs have returned after treatment. If there aren’t any signs of them within 30 days, they probably won’t come back so this may not be necessary but it’s good practice nonetheless!
How to Use Indoors
When it comes to using Demon Max Insecticide indoors, you will want to make sure that you do not spray this around your home or business without following all of the instructions carefully on how to use it safely and effectively. The best way is by purchasing a professional grade fogging machine so that precision can be achieved when spraying – especially since there may be more areas where bed bugs are hiding than what meets the eye! There’s no reason for you to break open any walls or try crawling into tight spaces yourself, just let someone else handle it who knows exactly what they’re doing from start to finish!
You should only apply this product in confined spaces after everyone has been removed. Make sure that any children or pets are taken out of the area as well since this is a harmful chemical and can be dangerous to anyone who comes into contact with it!
When you’re ready, follow these steps carefully:
- Close all windows/doors.
- Remove food from cabinets if there’s no power source nearby so they don’t spoil during treatment; cover any exposed food in sealed containers.
- Shut off the HVAC system & cover vents with tape before starting treatment-if possible shut down cooling units also but make sure fans aren’t left on which could spread the pesticide outside your home or business.
- Turn off pilot lights for gas appliances (such as ovens) -make sure everyone has been removed from the home or business and that pets have been removed as well.
- Remove all animals, plants & food from cabinets.
- Apply Demon Max in a fine mist with a machine designed for this purpose (such as an indoor fogger) by following label instructions carefully to not waste any product. Make sure you fill these machines up enough so that it can be applied thoroughly throughout your property but no more than 80% of its capacity to prevent over-saturation which could cause damage! Leave doors/windows closed while applying pesticide if possible because once treatment is finished they should remain shut until everything has dried completely. If there’s still some moisture on surfaces, reentry may need to wait longer than usual before returning inside even after waiting several hours.
- Turn on the HVAC system back on & open windows/doors to ventilate the home or business afterward.
- Wait at least 24 hours before reentering your property after treatment is complete -make sure surfaces are completely dry and that there’s no smell of Demon Max Insecticide left behind which could be harmful if inhaled! If it appears that you have over-saturated a room, wait longer than usual for everything to fully dry out so long as everyone has been removed from this area.
- If required, repeat these steps every 14 days until bed bugs have stopped appearing in high numbers elsewhere around your home or business. This may not be necessary based on how quickly they’ve returned but again better safe than sorry when dealing with pesticides!
- Leave windows/doors closed while everything is drying
- Keep the HVAC system off if possible to prevent pesticide from spreading outdoors during this period in time until it’s dried out fully
How to Store Demon Max
Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from freezing and direct sunlight. Since Demon Max is not an odorless product, it should be stored out of the way where children and pets aren’t likely to come into contact with it or accidentally get sprayed by it when you are treating their nesting areas around your home or business. It’s also important that this product isn’t exposed to extreme heat such as what can happen during the summer months so make sure you keep any excess inside if possible!
Just remember: always follow the instructions on how to apply this pesticide carefully and store it according to its label for best results.
- Fast-drying.
- Even after repeated applications, has low toxicity.
- Low risk of harmful exposure when not following usage instructions.
- Demon Max only targets pests such as bed bugs and roaches that can cause serious health problems or just be an extreme annoyance for anyone who’s been bitten by one!
- Following usage instructions is key to not risking exposure and getting poisoned which could lead to vomiting, headaches, and more serious health concerns.
Harris Bed Bug Kit
The Harris Bed Bug Kit contains powerful chemicals that kill bed bugs, this product is readily available and easy to use. It repels bed bugs by leaving a residue behind that new ones will sense and want to stay away from.
Natural Repellents: How to Banish Bed Bugs Without Using Chemicals
Having bugs in your home can be a serious problem, and if you’re like most homeowners, it’s one that you want to remedy right away. You don’t necessarily have to use poisonous chemicals when you want to banish them from your home either. Without the use of chemicals, there are a variety of natural ways to get rid of these unpleasant bugs.
Natural methods are also out of there for repellents, such as essential oils, and products that can effectively get rid of pesky bugs in your home.
Freezing
Many people have heard that freezing is an effective method for killing these bugs.
While it can work in some cases, the situation has to be right:
- Bugs on items like pillowcases, clothing, or small hand luggage can be killed through freezing.
- The temperature of the freezer used must be at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. A freezer that is warmer than that may not be effective when it comes to killing bugs.
- Items that you put in the freezer must remain there for at least four days. Less time may not be effective in completely killing every bug you’re dealing with.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a household product that almost everybody has in their kitchen or pantry. It’s also commonly used for cleaning and pest control inside and in your backyard.
It can be an effective solution for handling bugs in your home if used properly:
- Start with quality white vinegar. You can buy this in large quantities from most grocery and food stores.
- Put the vinegar in a clean spray bottle. Vinegar works on contact, so you need to be able to spray it directly onto bugs and problem areas within your home.
- Mix in an equal amount of water along with the vinegar. Distilled water is your best choice for treating your home for bugs.
- Shake the spray bottle regularly to combine the mixture. Spray sheets and areas where you may have bed bugs. This works especially well if you’re treating a single set of sheets or a piece of luggage that may have bed bugs from an infested hotel or motel.
Salt
Salt is another item that almost everybody has at home without going to the store to buy something. While it can work to get rid of bugs in your home in theory, there are considerable problems with this treatment method.
Salt can work like diatomaceous earth, which works to cause dehydration and eventual death among bed bugs. However, this does not work in all cases, and bugs often have to be around the solution for a very long time.- Bed bugs must be exposed to salt for a long period. Therefore it can work well when treating areas like cracks in your floor. It is less effective for dealing with commonly infected items like sheets and bedding.
Salt may be touted as a natural remedy for bugs, and while it won’t cause harm, it generally isn’t an effective solution. Skip salt except for in areas like cracks in the flooring where it can trap and kill bugs.
The Magic of Essential Oils: Top 5 Options
Essential oils are made by distilling a large number of a plant’s leaves into a liquid. This liquid will have health properties for skincare, haircare, and more for people, depending on the type of essential oil.
Other essential oils are effective for killing insects. For an infestation of bed bugs in your home, some essential oils are better than others. Bugs hate the properties of certain essential oils. The types they especially don’t want to be around include ones like Neem Oil, Cedar Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil.
Sometimes you don’t want to get rid of bed bugs, you want to trap them. For more information on bed bug traps, go here.
1. Neem Oil
Neem oil is made from a tree native to India but grown all over the world.
This essential oil can help stop bed bugs in their tracks when used correctly:
- Use neem essential oil combined with even parts water in a spray bottle to cover your mattress and sheets before washing.
- Use products that contain neem oil on your skin when you feel you may be dealing with an outbreak in your home. Products that contain neem can repel bed bugs so you don’t show bites or bed bugs’ symptoms.
2. Cedar Oil
Like neem oil, cedar essential oil is commonly found in natural health food stores and online.
It’s also a scent that can repel bed bugs and move them away from your bedding:
- Combine 1 part essential oil of cedar with 10 parts distilled water.
- Spray this mixture on your sheets, mattress, and bedding. It can also be used in your closet if you feel you may have bugs there.
- Cedar oil will kill bugs on contact, but it must be sprayed directly on them. That’s why cedar essential oil is best used for small areas or small infestations.
3. Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon essential oil can repel bed bugs and kill them on contact. It’s also potent to humans, so getting it on your skin may irritate you.
Follow these steps when using cinnamon essential oil for bugs:
- Wear protective gloves when dealing with cinnamon essential oil in pure form. Even a small amount can cause minor skin irritation.
- Combine 1 part cinnamon essential oil with 10 parts distilled water. Shake to combine.
- Test this essential oil on an inconspicuous area before spraying it on sheets, bedding, or carpet. Cinnamon oil can kill bugs on contact, but it does lose its effectiveness just a few minutes after being sprayed.
4. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a common remedy for getting bugs out of your home. It’s also a scent that many people enjoy, making it pleasant to work within your bedroom or other parts of your home.
Combine peppermint essential oil with 5 parts distilled water. Be careful not to get pure peppermint essential oil on your skin.- Spray your mattress, bedding, and carpet with the essential oil mixture. Peppermint oil can be used repeatedly to kill bugs on contact. This treatment works especially well if you’re trying to learn how to get rid of bed bugs in clothes because it’s such a pleasant scent and effective killer on contact.
5. Eucalyptus Oil
Like peppermint oil, eucalyptus essential oil is not a scent that pesky bugs living in your bed will like.
It can also kill them on contact if prepared properly:
- Combine one part eucalyptus essential oil with 5 parts water. Shake vigorously in a spray bottle to combine.
- Spray your sheets, bedding, and other soft surfaces with the mixture. Bugs can be killed on contact before washing and drying soft materials like sheet sets.
- Add a small amount of dish soap to the mixture for treating hard surfaces. The dish soap will help trap bugs in place.
Top 3 Natural Products to Remove Bed Bugs from Your Home
Natural products for getting rid of bugs within your home are available, though most of the products you see on the market do include chemical ingredients.
Look for pre-made natural products like these to avoid them:
1. Safer Diatomaceous Earth
This powder is a good option when it comes to bugs. Not only does it kill them, but it also keeps them from returning at all. DE is actually fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton, and on the microscopic level looks like sharp little shards of crystals. To us, however, it feels soft and powdery.
This natural product kills bugs through dehydration within 48 hours upon contact. When an insect crawls over it, the powder sticks into their exoskeleton and tears up its bottom, causing irreparable damage and eventually death. One of the best things about Diatomaceous Earth is that it’s completely safe for humans and pets.
It should be noted that it can be unsafe for pets and children if ingested, so it should be used sparingly in those situations. Diatomaceous Earth is ideal for treating hard surfaces or products like bags and luggage.
2. EcoVenger (EcoRaider) Bed Bug Killer
This natural spray is designed to kill bugs on contact, but unlike some essential oils, it has a longer half-life. This allows the product to work for hours after it is applied to an area, making it effective if you have a larger infestation.
Using natural ingredients, EcoVenger is safe to use around children and pets, yet will leave repellent behind for up to two weeks straight.
3. Bed Bug Patrol – 100% Natural Spray
This spray kills bugs on contact, but it doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. Best of all, bed bugs die between 30 minutes and 24 hours after coming into contact with this product. Made with Eugenia Carophylia, this product won’t be of much interest to household pets either, which is a bonus for Fido and Fluffy.
I Need the Best Organic Way to Kill Bed Bugs
Getting bugs out of your home quickly is of the utmost importance when you’re dealing with an infestation. If you don’t act quickly, you could allow them to spread and get into every nook and cranny of your home. That means you need an effective organic solution that works.
The best remedy in most cases is a product that contains diatomaceous earth and an organic compound like neem, eucalyptus, or peppermint essential oil. Products that combine these in either spray or powder form will provide you with a long-lasting treatment that will work the first time. You’ll also be able to safely use them for weeks without worrying about your health.
Bugs in your home can be a major nuisance, and if left unchecked, they can put bite you, your guests, and your pets. Utilize these natural remedies to make sure you don’t deal with an infestation for weeks at a time.
There’s no reason you have to result to using chemicals in your home. If natural remedies don’t work, or your problem is too bad to be impacted, reach out to a trusted pest control company in your area. They will help you come up with a solution for getting the bug problem under control once and for all.
More Tips to Deter Bed Bugs
Keeping bed bugs away requires several different techniques. There are sprays, there are lotions, and there’s even powder, but what else can repel them? An atomizer will spray essential oils in a fine mist all around a room, settling the particles into tight spaces where bugs can hide. You can sprinkle DE pretty much anywhere.
Something else that seems simple is clean-up. Although bed bugs can exist in clean environments, they thrive in clutter. Things like piles of clothes on the floor are easy places to hide for them and make the infestation worse. Try and keep things up off the floor and laundry is consistently cleaned, dried in a hot dryer, and put away.
Powders are used in pest control all the time and can be a very efficient way to kill bugs. To learn more about bed bug powder, go here.
Top 2 Bed Bug Laundry Additive Detergents
A laundry detergent can go a long way to help with your problem. You’re going to have to wash every piece of clothes and bedding, so why not use the best soap you can for the job? And out of the products out there, there are definitely ones that are better than others.
1. Stop Bugging Me! – Bed Bug Laundry Additive Concentrate
This liquid soap is used alongside regular detergent to give you the best bed bug protection and repellent it can provide. It has a special formula that bed bugs hate. This laundry additive contains cedar and will leave behind a slight residue to repel bugs from ever coming back. Using an all-natural formula that is DEET-free, this product will leave a repellent on whatever you wash.
Active Ingredients:
- 0.5% Cedar Oil
- 0.5% Lauryl Sulfate
- 0.2% Geraniol
- 0.1% Sodium Chloride
2. Hygea Natural – Extra Strength Bed Bug Laundry Additive Treatment
Using special enzymes, this soap will kill bugs and their eggs, and leave a repellent behind as well. Something especially great is the fact that it’s all-natural.
Active Ingredients:
- 5.0% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- 1.0% Sodium Chloride
- 0.2% Citric Acid
Conclusion
If you want to protect your home from bed bugs and other infestations, the 3 products on this list are a great place to start. They all have unique features that make them stand out in their own way – whether it’s low-impact on humans and pets or extended residual protection. Which of these three best suits your needs? Let us know!
Keep the problem from coming back over and over again by following some simple rules and using the right products for the job. In no time, you’ll be able to sleep with the peace of mind that no bites will be there in the morning.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Bed Bug Repellent Products in 2024 Comparison Table
- 3 Best Bed Bug Repellent Products Reviewed
- What’s the Best Bed Bug Repellent in 2024? – Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide
- Repellents and How They Work
- Chemical Products
- Natural Repellents: How to Banish Bed Bugs Without Using Chemicals
- More Tips to Deter Bed Bugs
- Top 2 Bed Bug Laundry Additive Detergents
- Conclusion
Oil and water don’t mix. Essential oils float on the water. I know it’s not recommended, but I mix essential oils with alcohol. It stays mixed. We have sprayed the mattress and sleeping area with it with no problems. We don’t smoke or have open flames to ignite the fumes. We leave the room while it dissipates.