While some pests may be picky about the homes they infest, bed bugs aren’t one of them. As parasitical hitchhikers, these critters get around by traveling, and they’re almost impossible to control and prevent.
As a result, many homeowners turn to more natural options and remedies, but how effective are DIY techniques for deterring bed bugs? Here’s what Mississippi homeowners should know about the effectiveness of certain essential oils, other home remedies for controlling bed bugs, and what to do if you’re currently dealing with an infestation.
How Effective Are Essential Oils For Deterring Bed Bugs In Mississippi?
While there are a couple of different home remedies that people use to combat bed bugs, essential oils are a popular one – but are they effective? According to research from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), not a lot of essential oils have proven effective against bed bugs. But, there are four exceptions to this:
- Blood orange oil: Whether you apply the oil directly to a bed frame or use it in a diffuser, blood orange oil has proven to be an effective bed bug repellant. However, you’ll want to use it in areas of high bed bug traffic and be careful about letting pets and children near areas where you’ve sprayed.
- Paraffin oil: Because it’s tasteless, odorless, and colorless, paraffin oil is a popular option since it won’t stain your sheets or mattress.
- Silicon oil: Similar to paraffin oil, silicon oil is also odorless but usually needs to be diluted with water.
Spearmint oil: The strong menthol scent of spearmint has proven to repel bed bugs.
Regardless of what method you choose to control bed bugs, time is of the essence. The quicker the response the greater the likelihood of success.
Are Home Remedies Effective For Controlling Bed Bugs?
While many DIY options aren’t all that effective against bed bugs, there are a couple of tried and true home remedies for repelling them, such as:
- Using extreme temperatures: If you’re worried that bed bugs may have latched onto your clothes, throwing these items into the dryer and adjusting the settings to the highest heat can kill bed bugs.
- Freezing contaminated items: Besides high heat, extremely low temperatures, like your freezer, can also be effective for killing bed bugs. You can put contaminated items in the freezer, but you’ll want to leave them in there for at least four days.
- Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkling diatomaceous earth around your baseboards or mattress can dehydrate and kill bed bugs, although inhaling too much may be harmful to you or your family.
These techniques are proven to be effective, but will only work against the bed bugs that are directly targeted.
The Best Way To Deal With Bed Bugs In Mississippi
While home remedies may eliminate some of the infestations, they’re not effective enough to completely control bed bugs – but using professional help can. At Havard Pest Control, we’ve got a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and that means our job isn’t done until your Mississippi home is completely free of bed bugs. And, with seventy years of service for the Mississippi area, our trustworthy reputation speaks for itself.
If you’re noticing the tell-tale signs of a bed bug infestation, don’t wait for it to get any worse. at Havard Pest Control today to learn more about our bed bug control services and how we can help.