Bed bugs won't go near your mattress if you spritz it with this $7 natural product (it will help you fall asleep faster too)

Planning your warm weather travels? Unfortunately, so are bed bugs, and as pest season heats up they have their sights firmly set on your mattress for a summer vacation.

Bed bugs often hitch a ride into your house from outside spaces, with hotels being among the main culprits (public transport is another biggie.) But a simple spray of a popular essential oil might stop them from setting up a suite in your bed.

Yes, it turns out that lavender oil — a scent most of us associate with a calm night's sleep — is a nightmare for bed bugs. Here's everything you need to know...

Key takeaways: At a glance

• Bed bug season is coming as the weather warms up and we travel more.
• Lavender oil acts as a natural bed bug repellent and masks the smell of their food source. Spritz a lavender oil solution on your mattress and pillows.
• However lavender is a natural repellent, not a pesticide, so it won't kill bed bugs. Consider diatomaceous earth for a non-toxic bed bug killer.
• Regular cleaning, including vacuuming and washing your bedding, might also stop an infestation from happening.
• For a full-blow infestation, contact your local pest control expert.

How does lavender oil repel bed bugs?

Lavender is well-known as a pest deterrent, with lavender plants keeping mosquitos and wasps away from your garden.

In the bedroom, we tend to use lavender at night to induce a sense of calm that hlps us fall asleep faster and easier.

But some experts suggest that the strong smell of this summer plant might also act as a bed bug repellent (although you'll need to switch your fresh sprigs for lavender oil.)

Bed bugs, who enjoy the enticing aromas of human blood, might turn their antenna up at pungent, floral lavender.

Lavender oil also potentially masks the scents that make your mattress so tempting to these pests: you.

However, there are limitations to lavender oil. It's a repellent, rather than a pesticide, so it won't kill bed bugs. Consider diatomaceous earth for a non-toxic bed bug killer.

Further research is also needed into the effectiveness of lavender oil (and other essential oils) in the treatment of bed bugs.

But on the flip side, while lavender is gross to bed bugs it's literally dreamy to humans. So even if it doesn't keep the creepy crawlies away, the aromatherapy might usher along a good night's rest.

How to use lavender oil to repel bed bugs

Before you spritz lavender oil on your mattress, it's important to carry out a patch test. Lavender oil, particularly undiluted, can damage mattress foams, causing them to become discolored, dry out, and even crack open.

If it passes the patch test, follow these simple steps:

1. Add seven drops of lavender essential oil to one cup of water and shake to mix
2. Fill a spray bottle with the lavender solution
3. Lightly mist the surface of your mattress, sheets and pillows, taking care not to soak the bed
4. Mist the areas around the mattress, including the bed frame
5. Leave to dry before sleeping
6. Repeat whenever you notice the scent fading

Regular reapplication is important if you want bed bugs to keep their distance.

However, spritzing with lavender alone isn't enough to keep bed bugs from making a home in your mattress.

How to prevent bed bugs from infesting your mattress

When it comes to bed bugs, prevention is the best form of treatment. Once these pests have made a home in your mattress, they're incredibly tricky to get out again — something our sleep team is more than familiar with.

So alongside a sprinkle of lavender oil, cleaning is your watchword.

1. Wash your bedding weekly

Bed bugs are terrified of water and hate extreme temperatures, so a spin in the washing machine should finish them off.

A weekly sheet washing cycle will help nip any infestations in the bud, killing both bed bugs and their eggs. Regular washing also eliminates the 'human' smell that draws bed bugs to your sheets.

Always check the care instructions first, but a wash for 90 minutes at a temperature of 140°F should be enough to smother any burdening breakouts.

2. Vacuum frequently

It's one spot you might miss when cleaning your room but in the fight against bed bugs (and dust mites), it's important to vacuum your mattress.

A dedicated mattress vacuum can help you get into the cracks and crevices bed bugs love, thanks to the held hand design. Other areas of special cleaning consideration include the underside of the mattress, the seams and any tufting.

If you're worried bed bugs are actively in your bedding, be sure to empty the vacuum away from the house.

3. Keep clutter away

Bed bugs absolutely adore the clutter you keep under the bed, as it provides the loveliest hiding space — dark, quiet, and close to food.

So follow a few simple rules: don't drop your clothes on the floor, clear the spaces surrounding the mattress, and if you do store things beneath the bed frame, keep them in sealed plastic boxes.

4. Deep clean your mattress twice a year

Roughly every six months we recommend rolling up your sleeves and deep cleaning your mattress. That encompasses vacuuming, stain removal, deodorizing, and steam cleaning (when possible.)

This is also a good chance for a thorough mattress investigation, so use the bed bug credit card hack to comb the seams for pests.

5. Call the professionals

Even the cleanliest home can be afflicted by bed bugs, particularly as they're often brought into the house from outside sources (in other words, hotels are ground zero for bed bugs.)

DIY solutions can't eliminate a bed bug infestation, so when this happens, contact the professionals.

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