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

Author: Serena Strosin  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

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.

How to repel bed bugs while sleeping?

Bed bugs are hard to deal with, but you can repel them by using rubbing alcohol. They hate the smell of alcohol and using it is an effective solution to your problem. The rubbing alcohol can dry out bed bugs bodies, which can eventually lead to their death.

What smell keeps bed bugs away?

Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.

What can I put on my body to prevent bed bug bites?

Essential oils. While essential oils like tea tree, lavender, and peppermint are popularly recommended for DIY bed bug treatments due to their strong scents and supposed insect-repellent properties, there is not much scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in eradicating bed bug infestations.

Does Vicks VapoRub keep bed bugs away?

Not really. The scent might confuse a few insects that are attracted mostly by human sweat but the effectiveness is minimal.

How to Make Bed Bugs Come Out of Hiding? : Insider Strategies!

Can you put anything on your 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 can I eat to keep bed bugs from biting me?

5 Foods That Repel Bugs
  • Onions. The sulfur component in onions keeps bugs at a distance by producing an odor that bugs hate. ...
  • Grapefruit. Okay, we know that onions are probably not your first choice to rub all over your body, so you're in luck! ...
  • Cucumbers. ...
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
  • Garlic.

What can I wear at night to prevent bed bug bites?

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. So wear pajamas that are more fitted around your ankles and wrists to give you the best protection.

How to stop being bitten at night?

To help prevent bug bites, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
  1. Use insect repellent. To protect against mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs, use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing. ...
  2. Wear appropriate clothing. ...
  3. Use bed nets. ...
  4. Pay attention to outbreaks.

Where should I sleep if I have bed bugs?

Do not change where you sleep: Some people believe they can avoid bed bugs by sleeping in a different area of their home. Once people identify that their bed is infested, they will often begin to sleep in a different bedroom or on the sofa. Bed bugs have evolved to quickly locate potential hosts to feed on.

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 does bedbug hate?

Petroleum jelly is a thick, sticky substance that bed bugs hate. They will not cross it to get to you and if they do, they will often die from getting stuck. This makes petroleum jelly an incredibly effective bed bug repellent.

What can I spray to keep bed bugs away?

Permethrin is an effective tool for helping control bed bugs. By implementing this approach, permethrin discourages bed bugs from infesting the bed and reducing the likelihood of an infestation. The scent of peppermint and chrysanthemums also repels bed bugs.

How do you prevent bed bugs from bringing you?

Use hard-cased luggage if possible. It is more difficult for bed bugs to attach to rigid materials than to fabric. Pack your clothing in re-sealable plastic bags. Plastic bags are available in up to 22-gallon sizes in hardware and other stores.

Will sleeping with lights on stop bed bugs?

In 2009, EPA and CDC collaborated on a joint statement to highlight the public health impacts of bed bugs . Myth: Bed bugs won't come out if the room is brightly lit. Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won't deter these pests from biting you.

What kills bed bugs automatically?

Heat is non-toxic, and can kill all bed bug life stages including bed bug eggs.

How to keep bugs off you while sleeping?

Here are some effective tips to stop getting bitten at night:
  1. Keep Your Sleeping Area Clean. ...
  2. Invest in Bed Bug Covers. ...
  3. Use Natural Repellents. ...
  4. Install Window Screens. ...
  5. Use Mosquito Nets. ...
  6. Eliminate Standing Water. ...
  7. Wear Protective Clothing. ...
  8. Use Insect Repellent.

What can I take to stop getting bitten?

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent
  • DEET.
  • Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
  • IR3535.
  • Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
  • Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
  • 2-undecanone.

How to prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?

How can I prevent bed bug bites?
  1. Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers.
  2. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep.
  3. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs.

Does Vicks prevent bed bug bites?

No scientific evidence suggests that VapoRub (Vicks VapoRub) can 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. Simple home remedies like VapoRub are unlikely to control an infestation effectively.

How do I save myself from bed bugs?

Steps You Can Take
  1. Reduce clutter. ...
  2. Keep your belongings stowed separately from those of other people. ...
  3. Be vigilant in areas where bed bugs are most likely to be found, which include break rooms, storage areas (coat closets or cubbies), offices or lounges with upholstered furniture, or areas where people may rest.

How to stop bed bugs from climbing your bed?

Wash and dry all sheets, blankets, and pillow cases at least once or twice a week. Place bed legs in ClimbUp® Interceptors to prevent bed bugs from climbing up bed legs. These can be purchased on the internet. Placing bed legs in plastic containers filled with water with a drop of dish detergent or oil may also work.

How do you starve bed bugs?

You can't starve them out, they're resistant to many pesticides, and they're adept at hiding. The DIY methods you can find online won't make a dent in a bed bug infestation. Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is a nightmare for the average homeowner! Fortunately, that's where ScherZinger Pest Control comes in.

Do bed bugs hate anything?

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.

How to get rid of bed bugs overnight?

Paint Thinner. It's a chemical that contains 99 percent ethanol which can instantly kill bed bugs. All you need to do is to spray the paint thinner directly on the bed bugs. It's undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to kill bed bugs.

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