Does the smell of cedar repel bed bugs?

Author: Sasha Donnelly DVM  |  Last update: Saturday, October 25, 2025

Item Five: Cedar Chips Cedar chips are another great natural way to repel bed bugs. Similar to citronella, the strong scent of cedar is unpleasant to bed bugs and will keep them away from areas where the chips are present.

Will cedar keep bed bugs away?

Cedar oil can be used as a natural insect repellent and has some insecticidal properties, including against bed bugs. It contains compounds like cedrol and thujaplicin that may disrupt bed bugs' nervous systems and deter them.

What smell do bed bugs hate the most?

  1. Peppermint Oil. The strong smell of peppermint is a powerful deterrent for bugs like bed bugs. ...
  2. Powdered Pepper. The smell of powered pepper is something intolerable for human beings so just imagine tiny bed bugs! ...
  3. Tea Tree Oil. ...
  4. Lavender Oil. ...
  5. Neem Oil. ...
  6. Clove Oil. ...
  7. Lemon. ...
  8. Rubbing Alcohol.

What bugs hate the smell of cedar?

Natural deterrent: Due to the cedar's significant repelling properties, it naturally deters a number of insects. This includes adult clothing moths, clothing moth larvae, silverfish, termites, carpet beetles and cockroaches.

What should I sleep in to avoid bed bugs?

Besides a mattress cover, you also should have pillow covers. Wall-mounted headboards are also a favorite hiding place for bed bugs. You should also be prepared for guests who, watching the same news as you, start itching and falsely assume you have bed bugs.

Does Cedar Oil Work To Kill Bed Bugs?

What is bed bug weakness?

If bed bugs have one weakness, it's that they're intolerant of extremely high or low temperatures. Washing clothes and bedding at the highest possible setting followed by drying for at least 30 minutes at high heat should do the trick. You can also freeze clothing or other objects you suspect of being infested.

What repels bed bugs from biting you?

DEET treated fabric is repellent to bed bugs (Wang et al. 2013). Commercial insect repellents containing DEET for repelling ticks and biting insects are also helpful for preventing bed bugs when applied to outer surface of clothing (Figure 8).

What does cedar attract?

Cedar wood does not attract insects and bugs. In fact, the wood contains a natural oil that automatically repels insects and bugs including moths, woodworms, mosquitoes and other insects. The natural oil also repels rodents including rats and mice.

How long does cedar repel bugs?

Initially, when cedar blocks are fresh, their moth-repelling properties are at their peak. Over time, however, the intensity of the scent diminishes, which can reduce their effectiveness against moths. Typical Effective Lifespan: Generally, cedar blocks remain effective for about one to three years.

What scent kills bed bugs instantly homemade?

Tea Tree Oil

Once they smell it, they will instantly run away. The essential oil not only makes an annoying odor for them, but it can also affect their exoskeleton. If you have tea tree oil at home, you can spray it liberally where bed bugs are actively infesting.

Does Vicks VapoRub keep bed bugs away?

While some people believe that the strong smell of VapoRub might repel bed bugs, there is no reliable data to support this claim.

Do bed bugs have a smell when you smash them?

Bed bugs give off a sweet, musty odor similar to berries. An advanced infestation may give off an intense “rusty” smell, and a disturbed colony of bed bugs will release a scent similar to that of a crushed stink bug.

What does a bed bug hate?

Tea tree oil, renowned for its antibacterial properties, is like a natural bug repellent that bed bugs can't stand. Peppermint oil, with its invigorating minty freshness, overwhelms their acute senses. And eucalyptus oil, known for its refreshing aroma, is a formidable deterrent against these tiny intruders.

Does cedarcide work on bedbugs?

The efficacy of this product cannot be disputed. Seeing is believing. Cedarcide Industries product, Best Yet has assisted tremendously. It solved the bedbug problem and saved us time, money and man hours.

What smells do bed bugs stay away from?

Tea Tree Oil

Bed bugs can't stand the smell of tea tree oil, and once they catch a whiff of it, they will try to leave immediately. Tea tree oil can also affect the condition of their exoskeleton, so it's best to liberally spray this oil on large items in your home if you want your bed bugs to be gone.

Do bed bugs hate the smell of cedar?

While that scent may be pleasing to us upon opening a cedar chest or sitting back in a cedar chair, bugs don't like it and it will make them avoid such a dwelling.

How long does cedar scent last?

Over time, aromatic cedar loses its aroma, but it can be restored by sanding away the top layer of the wood. Depending on the original strength of the scent in the wood (which varies), this may have to be done every three to seven years to refresh the wood's insect-repelling aroma.

Is cedar toxic to dogs?

The level of toxicity would depend on the type of Cedar and also how much was ingested at the time. Eastern red cedar trees are highly toxic in both their berries and leaves and also their bark. Western red cedar trees are only mildly toxic.

Do bugs like the smell of cedar?

Cedar has been used as an insect repellent for many years. People have built cedar closets in their homes. They have also used cedar hangers and put cedar blocks in dresser drawers to keep moths away from their clothes. Some studies suggest that the cedar repels insects because of the smell of the cedar oil.

What are the disadvantages of cedar?

Disadvantages Of Cedar Wood
  • Hardwood cedars may not last as long as some other hardwood species.
  • Some types of softwood cedar can become dented easily.
  • It is expensive compared to wood like pine.
  • It requires regular maintenance as the color may fade away due to chemical reaction.

Does cedar attract snakes?

Cedarwood has a strong smell that snakes don't like. By sprinkling cedar chips or sawdust around the perimeter of your home, you can help repel snakes.

How do you keep bed bugs off me while I sleep?

Sleep in long-sleeved clothing

These sneaky creatures will feast on exposed areas of your skin, but they can't bite through fabric. Lower your risk of getting bedbug bites by wearing long-sleeved pajamas with pants while sleeping. But be mindful that bedbugs can find their way to your skin under loose clothing.

Is there anything I can put on my skin to repel bed bugs?

Currently there are no insect repellents registered for use against bed bugs that can be applied to human skin. The Pesticide Specialist also explained that using outdoor products indoors is not only against the law, it may cause the bed bugs to spread out from one or two hiding places to several.

What brings bed bugs out of hiding?

To lure bed bugs out of their hiding spots, you can use a steamer or a hairdryer to heat areas such as mattresses. Neither of these is hot enough to kill the bed bugs, but it can trick them into thinking a human host is near. You can also keep an eye out at night to locate their nests when they are most active.

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