As a sleep writer who spends their nine to five in the land of mattresses, mattress care and sleep health, I’m aware of how common bed bugs are. They’re more common than you may think, actually.
One in five Americans have either had bed bug infestation in their home or they know someone who encountered bed bugs — a stat that always makes me squirm. So, whether you’re welcoming guests or just wanting to make sure you get the rest you need over the holidays, cleaning your mattress so it’s as bed-bug-resistant as possible is a great shout.
Using essential oils to repel bed bugs
Usually sat in your plug-in room diffuser or dispensed around wellness spas, mattress cleaning and bed bugs probably isn’t where your mind goes when you think of essential oils.
But these oils can in fact be used to refresh and deodorize your bed, while repelling any creepy crawlies. Their pleasant aroma gives your bed a fresh feel while their antimicrobial properties can kill germs and mites.
As bed bugs are becoming more resistant to traditional chemicals, people are turning to home remedies for removing bed bugs, one of which is using essential oils.
A study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology tested how efficient non-synthetic products including solutions with essential oils (namely clove oil and peppermint oil) are at controlling bed bugs.
The findings revealed a solution including clove oil and peppermint oil — named ‘Bed Bug Patrol’ for the purpose of the study — killed over 90% of young bed bugs when sprayed directly on them. However, eggs were harder to kill.
What this means is that while essential oils are useful pesticides for controlling bed bug infestations, further testing in naturally infested environments is needed to determine whether they can eliminate infestation.
They work best as a deterrent rather than a magic bullet cure. Still, they can certainly be used to ward off bugs and give your mattress a good clean (as well as that Christmas scent.)
4 Christmas essential oils to use on your mattress
1. Clove
Part of the studied ‘Bed Bug Patrol’ concoction, clove is proven to kill bed bugs. Clove oil’s main active ingredient, eugenol, effectively wipes out bed bugs on contact.
Plus, its pungent smell and acidic nature can repel bed bugs, driving them away from your mattress when treated.
Clove oil is also effective at killing mould spores and it can help neutralize odors thanks to its strong scent, leaving the mattress smelling fresh when used in combination with baking soda.
2. Lavender
Bed bugs are surprisingly fussy creatures who hate the smell of lavender (yes, they feed off blood but turn their noses up at this fresh plant). Therefore, it can be used as a natural repellent.
One of the key components of lavender is linalool, which damages the bed bugs’ nervous systems. This means that it won’t kill them straight away, but it will impair their movement, making it harder for them to mate or feed.
The strong lavender scent also impedes the bed bugs’ ability to detect their hosts (your sleeping body). With these obstacles in the way of their feeding patterns, bed bugs will eventually die off.
3. Peppermint
Another component of ‘Bed Bug Patrol’, peppermint oil is one of the best natural products for getting rid of bed bugs and leaving a fresh scent on your mattress.
Similar to lavender, its strong aroma cuts off the bed bugs’ ability to sniff out their food source. Meanwhile menthol, found in peppermint, is a natural insecticide that attacks the bugs nervous systems and stops them breathing.
Alongside killing off bed bugs, peppermint is offers antimicrobial properties, meaning it can repel other germs, viruses and mites, too.
4. Rosemary
Last but not least, rosemary oil can do far more than grow your hair overnight. It may be having a moment across TikTok as the go-to hair oil, but it’s also a powerhouse for killing bugs, according to research.
One study in the Journal of Entomological Science found it has the greatest effect out of seven essential oils tested, killing over 99% of bed bugs in the trial.
It contains compounds like eucalyptol and camphor that are toxic to bed bugs. Again, these compounds attack bed bugs’ nervous system and disrupt their ability to breathe and function, leading to their death.
How to use essential oils to clean your mattress
You can mix essential oils with baking soda for a sprinkle-and-vacuum treatment or with water in a spray bottle for spot-cleaning and general freshening.
Find our step-by-step guides to cleaning your mattress with essential oils below.
Spritz your bed method
- Dilute: Mix 20 to 30 drops of essential oil with about 500ml of warm water in a spray bottle.
- Spray: Apply liberally to mattress seams, base, furniture and floors where bugs hide or travel. (Less liberally to memory foam mattresses).
- Reapply: Spray every two to three days for continuous protection.
- Diffuser: Use peppermint or lavender in a diffuser for a pleasant, pest-repelling aroma in your bedroom.
Shake and vac method
- Mix the ingredients: Pour one cup of baking soda into a mixing bowl and add 20 to 30 drops of your essential oil of choice. Stir thoroughly with a spoon or whisk until the oil is evenly distributed and there are no clumps.
- Sprinkle on the mattress: Lightly and evenly dust the mixture across your mattress (preferably using a shaker container).
- Let it sit: Allow the mixture to sit on your bed for 15 to 30 minutes so the baking soda can absorb odors.
- Vacuum thoroughly: Vacuum the mattress thoroughly to remove all the baking soda mixture. Then enjoy your fresh, festive-smelling bed.
