When your home is infested with bedbugs, the most logical step for you to take is to ensure that they are exterminated. However, getting rid of these pesky pests is not easy and may take some time to accomplish.
So, what can you do before your home is declared bedbug-free? Well, you obviously don’t want to be their all-you-can-eat buffet. So, in the meantime, you have to look for ways to protect yourself and family from their bites.
One of the best ways to do this is by applying bedbug repellants on your skin before going to bed. The repellants should be applied to probable areas that the insects are likely to attack. Think neck, arms, legs, and shoulders. Don’t forget to cover not-probable areas as well(like the back of your knee), just to be safe.
What Can You Put On Your Skin As A Repellant?
There are several choices that you can try. You might even find a few that you consider “miracle solutions”.
The bottom line is, you might have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince. Without further ado, here are a few repellants you can try:
Essential Oils
Essential oils are the best natural repellents that you can use. While it is not known whether essential oils will kill bedbugs or give you 100% protection from their bites, they will go a long way in repelling these insects. Some of the most effective essential oils that you can try include cinnamon oil, clove oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and thyme oil among others.
Petroleum Jelly
People have been applying petroleum jelly on the legs of their beds and other surfaces to catch these critters.
Some people believe that it is the smell of petroleum jelly that repels bedbugs. Others think that they get caught once they come into contact with the jelly and can’t keep traveling to bite you.
Whatever the case, applying petroleum jelly on your skin can help you leave your sleeping space in better bug-and bite-free shape.
Diatomaceous Earth
This is another substance that can help you kill and repel these pesky pests in a natural way. The non-toxic powder is made from diatomite rock, found in ancient lake deposits. Considering that the substance is a mineral, it won’t evaporate or break down fast, giving you longer protection (throughout the night).
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is also known to kill and repel these creepy crawlers on contact. However, it is not considered to be an effective repellant. It dries fast and carries no residual effect when dry.
So, if you don’t have an opportunity to try the above-highlighted methods, but still want to stay safe from these insects’ bites, you can opt for rubbing alcohol.
Over-The-Counter Repellants
If you cannot get the natural repellants, you can also opt for over-the-counter repellants. However, when choosing these repellants, consider those that contain ingredients like Picardin, DEET-DEET (N-N-diethyl, 3-mehyl benzamide) or paramenthane 3,8 dioxyl (2-2 hydroxyethyl-1piperidinecarboxylic acid 1 methylpropyl ester).
The sale and use of these ingredients have been approved by the United States Environmental Protection.
Although all the above-highlighted repellants are not scientifically proven to kill or repel bed bugs, using one or all of them can make your night bug-and bite-free.
Additionally, you need to remember that hungry bedbugs will try to bite you. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve applied the most effective bug repellant.
So, if bug bites are not letting you sleep after applying the above repellants, consider trying other methods such as using mattress encasements or putting straps on your bed’s legs. These are also effective ways of repelling these insects from your skin.