Currently there are no insect repellents registered for use against bed bugs that can be applied to human skin.
Rubbing Alcohol
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.
Peppermint, rose geranium, nutmeg, rosemary, lavender, citronella, lemongrass, and eucalyptus are all good choices to potentially include in a spray to apply to your clothing. Dilute the oils in Everclear (if you can acquire it) or in witch hazel mixed 50/50 with rubbing alcohol if you cannot get Everclear.
Vicks VapoRub scents can repel bed bugs, and keep them from biting you. You can apply Vicks to your skin or Put a little bit of it on the bottom and inside seams of mattresses and nearby cracks. Also target any areas you found these annoying creatures crawl about at night! Yes, to some extent.
Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs. If you live in an apartment or other shared housing, try to close off your unit.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA's helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions.
Get a mattress and box spring cover
An effective way to keep bedbugs that are hiding inside your bed from biting you is to invest in a good-quality covering for your mattress and box spring. The best option is to use a cover with a good seal that zips around your mattress and box spring.
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.
Clove, cinnamon, geranoil, and peppermint oil are the most effective. If you are planning to mix your own plant-based mosquito repellent this summer, remember that essential oils are complex mixtures of plant-made chemicals that can cause skin irritations at high concentrations.
Most pests cannot stand the smell of peppermint oil, even though a lot of humans love it. It's also toxic to many insects. Leaving traces of it around the house, particularly in 'hot spots' that tend to attract a lot of pests, can kill some pests and cause others to leave.
Wear long-sleeves and gloves to protect the hands and arms from bites. Disposable shoe covers help prevent bugs from getting into your shoes. It's best to wear smooth shoes that do not have a trim. Smooth shoes make it harder for bugs to grip onto them and these bugs can hide underneath shoe trims.
Does peppermint oil repel bed bugs? Peppermint oil can repel and may also kill bed bugs if the oil is sprayed directly on the bugs. In other words, peppermint oil is a natural bed bug contact insecticide, but as time goes by items previously sprayed with peppermint oil do not impact the bed bugs.
A citronella-scented candle is recommended to keep bed bugs at bay, as they hate the smell of it burning, but you can also use citronella essential oil more directly on your bed - plus you shouldn't leave a candle burning while you're asleep.
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.
There's no treatment that will instantly get rid of bedbugs or bedbug bites. Your body will react to the bite with inflammation (redness, swelling, itching), and then this reaction will go away over time.
Wiping down furniture and other infested items with dryer sheets will not eliminate or repel bed bugs. Sure, you can buy ultrasonic bed bug repellers on Amazon and in brick-and-mortar stores but that doesn't mean you should. In fact, don't. There is zero evidence to suggest these devices will eliminate bed bugs.
Repellents containing di-ethyltoluamide (DEET) are proven to be the best for preventing mosquito bites, so use these in areas where the risk of malaria or dengue is high. If you're allergic to DEET you can buy other ones that use Dimethyl Pthalate or Eucalyptus oil.
Use insect repellent.
DEET is designed to be applied directly to your skin while permethrin is applied to your clothing. Products containing other active ingredients such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin or IR 3535 are also effective against mosquitoes and ticks.
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.
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.