As someone who has helped with plenty of exterminations, I’ve seen plenty of homeowners looking for unique and safe ways to get rid of bed bugs and other pests. Tea tree oil is one of those items that keeps coming up.
It made me wonder — does tea tree oil kill bed bugs effectively? I decided to do some research to find out. Continue reading below to learn if this simple product has the insecticide properties you need to rid yourself of bed bugs for good.
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How Does Tea Tree Oil Affect Bed Bugs?
Tea tree oil has been long used as a powerful insecticide and repellent. As a contact insecticide, the oil penetrates the exoskeleton of the bed bug and suffocates it.
Essential oils, particularly tea tree, are a popular alternative to chemical-based insecticides in the fight against bed bugs. Apart from a variety of health benefits, these natural oils are more than potent enough to deliver a death blow on bed bugs.
Other than bed bugs, tea tree oil has been long used as an effective insecticide against a wide spectrum of household pests such as lice, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and ants.
Did You Know
Bed bugs can drink a lot of blood in one go. After feeding, a bed bug can increase its length by 50% and weight by up to 200%.
Does Tea Tree Oil Repel Bed Bugs?
The following video will tell you more about tea tree oil and its effects on bed bug control.
Tea tree is part of a group of essential oils equipped with a potent scent that can drive bed bugs away. Other oils on this list include lavender, clove, peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, and thyme.
Apart from being a reliable bed bug repellent and insecticide, tea tree oil also has both antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. However, this essential oil doesn’t smell nice at all.
As much as bed bugs hate its scent, tea tree oil is not that appealing to the human nose as well. But this setback can be taken care of by mixing tea tree with lavender, which is a different type of essential oil, only it smells a whole lot nicer.
Dilute tea tree oil to no more than 50% concentration and apply it on your mattress or along your bed frame to prevent bed bugs from disturbing your bedtime with those itchy, annoying welts.
It is very important to bear in mind that a concentration of more than 50% is considered a lethal dose and can pose a serious threat to human health.
Read More: Click here to learn more about other types of essential oil.
Does Tea Tree Oil Actually Kill Bed Bugs?
As mentioned earlier, tea tree oil is indeed effective in killing bed bugs but as a contact-type chemical-free insecticide. This simply means that the oil must be applied or sprayed directly onto the targeted insect.
Starting bed bug control only with a diluted tea tree spray is quite challenging and in a way, quite ineffective towards achieving a goal of a bug-free home.
Bed bugs tend to hide inside cracks and crevices in your bed frame and along your walls as well as any furniture located nearby. Locating and finding all of the bed bugs one by one to be sprayed upon can be quite tedious and frustrating.
So, unless you can physically spray every single bed bug you have, you run the risk of having the infestation get worse.
Although tea tree oil is also effective as a repellent, it is no guarantee that using it can totally liberate your home from these stubborn and annoying blood suckers.
What is Tea Tree Oil?
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil derived from the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), a plant native to Australia. The tea tree is known for its distinctive, camphor-like aroma and has been used for centuries by indigenous Australians for its medicinal properties.
The oil is extracted from the tea tree leaves through a process of steam distillation. This process involves passing steam through the leaves, which causes the oil glands to release the essential oil. The oil is then separated from the water and collected, resulting in a pure, concentrated form of tea tree oil.
While it’s known for being antibacterial, it contains something called terpinen-4ol. When this comes in contact with bugs and insects, it can dry them out and disrupt their nervous system, so that’s why it works on bed bugs.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil to Kill Bed Bugs
If you’ve decided to give tea tree oil a shot at combating your bed bug problem, it’s crucial to approach the process methodically. Haphazardly spraying the oil around your bedroom won’t do the trick. Instead, follow these steps to maximize the effectiveness of this natural remedy.
Buy High-Quality Tea Tree Oil
Invest in a high-quality, 100% pure tea tree oil. The potency and purity of the oil directly impact its ability to repel and kill bed bugs. Don’t settle for cheap, diluted varieties, as they may prove ineffective and even harmful.
Dillute Properly
Before you start dousing your bedroom in tea tree oil, remember that it can be quite strong and irritating to the skin. Always dilute the oil properly before use. A good rule of thumb is to mix about 20 drops of tea tree oil with 200 ml of water in a spray bottle. Give it a good shake to make sure the solution is well-combined.
Test It Somewhere Inconspicuous
Now, it’s tempting to go all out and start spraying every nook and cranny, but hold off for a moment. It’s wise to test the diluted tea tree oil solution on a small, inconspicuous area first. I use the patch test to observe any potential discoloration or adverse effects on the surface material. If everything looks good after the test, you can proceed with confidence.
Targeted Application and Re-application
When you’re ready to apply the tea tree oil solution, be strategic and thorough. Target areas where bed bugs are likely to hide, such as the mattress seams, bed frame crevices, and the edges of your bedroom furniture. Spray the solution liberally, making sure that it penetrates deep into the cracks and crevices where bed bugs may be lurking.
Keep in mind that a one-time application isn’t going to rid you of bed bugs permanently. Consistency is key when using tea tree oil. Plan to reapply the solution daily for at least a week to guarantee that no remaining bed bugs come into contact with the oil.
What Else Should You Consider Besides Tea Tree Oil For Bed Bugs?
Tea tree oil is an effective direct contact bed bug treatment. However, it is only good as part of a comprehensive solution for bed bug control.
Here are some other solutions you might want to consider effectively eliminate bed bugs and keep them away from your property:
The vacuum cleaner is your frontline weapon on your fight against bed bugs. This solution doesn’t necessarily kill bed bugs but it is 100% effective in capturing these nasty critters as well as their eggs.
But first, you need to make sure that you’ll be using a vacuum cleaner with significant suction power. Attach a crevice tool to help you reach cluters of bed bugs hiding inside cracks and holes.
While vacuuming, be careful as to avid pressing the tool too hard against any surface. You might end up accidentally flipping the eggs or nymphs away from the equipment’s nozzle.
For carpets and curtains, a reliable steam cleaner is strongly recommended. The steam cleaner is an effective bed bug killer by delivering a lethal temperature of up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit on the targeted surfaces. Bed bugs are killed almost instantly when exposed to such heat intensity.
If you happen to have a modern washing machine that can wash clothes in various temperature settings, you’re in luck because heat treatment can help better than some pesticides. Most of these modern washing machines can boil your laundry by up to 90 degrees Celcius which is effective in killing both bed bugs and bacteria.
Hot wash all your clothes and bedding to make sure that not a single bed bug is spared. However, you must first make sure that all your laundry can tolerate such temperature.
Hilarious, yes but still effective. This however, is only recommended for those who are too tired to do the techniques mentioned above to get a nice, long, and relaxing sleep.
This solution helps you prevent more bed bugs from invading your bed. Simply wrap the bedposts with double-sided tape and have fun torturing these annoying critters that got stuck on the tape one by one the following morning.
Like tea tree, lavender oil and peppermint essential oils are effective bed bug repellents. The main difference however, is that these oils give off scent that is quite pleasant for most of us. Dilute these oils and spray away on affected areas. Diatomaceous earth is another popular home remedy.
Final Thoughts
While we’ve figured out that tea tree oil has some insecticide properties and may even kill some bed bugs, it’s not the best solution. Cutting a full-blown bed bug infestation will require a bit more effort and you may need to call in the professionals.
I know it’s tempting to try a DIY remedy like tea tree oil, but when it comes down to it, consulting with a professional pest control exterminator is often the most surefire way to bid those bed bugs farewell for good. Better to be safe than sorry when dealing with these stubborn pests.
Tea tree oil is an effective contact type insecticide and repellent. However, it is only good as part of a comprehensive solution for bed bug control.
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