The Best Bed Bug Sprays for DIY Pest Control

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Don’t let your carpets, curtains, furniture, and bedding become the permanent home of a bed bug infestation. Grab the best bed bug spray and eradicate these parasites.

Bed bugs (cimex lectularius) are tiny insects that feed on human blood, often hiding in blankets, sheets, and mattresses. But bed bugs can also migrate to infest all areas of the house where family members gather, leaving itchy, swollen bumps at the site of a bite.

To eradicate these pernicious pests, folks often reach for the best bed bug spray. But that may mean different things to different people, since some bed bug sprays use powerful insecticides with such active ingredients as pyrethrin, pyrethroid, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid, while other products employ pet- and child-friendly geranium oil and clove oil. Plus, consumers will first want to understand how widespread a bed bug problem is before attempting to treat it themselves. “If you believe you may be infested, contact a pest professional for an immediate diagnosis,” cautions entomologist Jim McHale, president of JP McHale Pest Management in Buchanan, New York. Those ready to rid their home of bed bugs of all life stages can use this guide for shopping tips and recommendations for the most effective bed bug sprays available in their respective categories.

1. BEST OVERALL: Harris Egg Kill & Resistant Bed Bug Killer
2. RUNNER UP: MGK Bedlam Plus Bed Bug Aerosol
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Hot Shot Ready-to-Use Bed Bug Killer With Egg Kill
4. NATURAL PICK: MDXconcepts Gypsum Bedbug Spray
5. BROAD-SPECTRUM PICK: JT Eaton Non-Staining Oil-Based Bed Bug Spray
6. BEST FOR MATTRESSES: PT Alpine Flea & Bed Bug Pressurized Insecticide
7. BEST FOR UPHOLSTERY: Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug Killer
8. BEST FOR BASEBOARDS: EcoVenger Bed Bug and Egg Killer Spray

Before You Buy Bed Bug Spray

Bed bug sprays can control and even eradicate infestations, but they can come with harmful levels of toxicity—not to mention strong chemical odors—that require vacating the area until the spray clears. 

Sprays are generally water- or oil-based formulas, the former of which could possibly damage electronics, documents, and wooden surfaces if used in excess. Oil-based sprays can stain whatever they’re applied to and often leave a sticky residue, though that’s typically removable with soap and water. 

To avoid these issues with sprays, some folks plagued by bed bugs try alternative measures. These include steam-cleaning and washing items in hot water, as exposure to temperatures of 185 degrees Fahrenheit kills bed bugs.  

Diatomaceous earth—a silica-rich powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae—can be employed to banish bed bugs by destroying their exoskeleton. There are also traps designed to lure and eliminate bed bugs. Before reaching for any bed bug spray, consider the following preventive measures and treatments:

• Prevent: The scent of lavender repels and can even kill bed bugs; use as an essential oil sprayed in areas where bed bugs nest, like baseboards and beds. Peppermint leaves, another natural bed bug repellent, can be ground and scattered at the base of the bed and in the corners of a room. Using scented dryer sheets on clothing and bed linens may also discourage the parasites. For physical barrier defense, put double-sided tape on the bedposts and bed frames to hamper the insects’ ability to crawl into the bed itself.
• Clean: Consistent house cleaning can help keep bed bugs at bay. Vacuum bed bugs into the machine’s isolated chamber, then remove the chamber, treat it with rubbing alcohol to kill the insects inside, and rinse before returning to the vacuum. Use a stiff brush when vacuuming curtains, upholstery fabrics, and mattresses to ensure that bed bugs and their eggs cannot remain hidden in the folds of material. 
• Isolate: Confine the infestation to kill the insects without unintentionally triggering a migration. Move the bed away from the wall and surround the feet of the bed frame with baking soda to prevent bugs from climbing down. Any items (like mattress covers) that could have been exposed should be removed from the area and immediately washed in hot water or treated with effective bed bug killers. Any items that cannot be washed or treated should be thrown away in a sealed bag for garbage collection. 
• Treat: Mild bed bug infestation may be treated with common household products. Sprinkle baking soda around bed posts or spread crushed silica gel—commonly found in new shoe boxes and product shipments—on the ground to create a barrier around bed posts that is safe for kids and pets. For a contact killer, dilute rubbing alcohol or tea tree oil (20 drops, or 0.03 fluid ounces) into 32 fluid ounces of water and spray directly on bed bugs. Or simply blast them with a hairdryer on its hottest setting. 

If the DIY bed bug treatments and the sprays described in this guide fail to eliminate bed bugs, it may be necessary to hire a professional exterminator to deal with the infestation. 

How We Chose the Best Bed Bug Sprays

One problem currently affecting the bed bug extermination industry is that many populations of bed bugs have become resistant to pyrethrins and pyrethroids, explains McHale. During our selection of products, it was necessary to keep this in mind and look for top-quality options that could deal with pyrethroid-resistant infestations. 

Extensive research into the ingredients, longevity, application, and effect of each bed bug spray was necessary to determine the top options for this list. The best bed bug sprays treat infestations while causing minimal disruption to the daily life of household members. McHale details the difference between natural and chemical products, saying, “Natural products, where active ingredients include essential oils or silica gel, affect the insects physically. Chemical treatments typically affect the nervous system of the insect.” Both natural and chemical bed bug sprays were selected to provide a range of treatment options. 

Our Top Picks

We selected some of the best bed bug sprays in their respective categories based on high customer approval, overall efficacy, availability, and popularity.

Best Overall

Harris Egg Kill & Resistant Bed Bug Killer

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 1 gallon
• Active ingredients: Imidacloprid, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, phenothrin
• Longevity: 16 weeks

Pros

• Effective for up to 4 months, providing long-term protection against infestations
• Effectively kills pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs and their eggs, ensuring thorough eradication
• Odorless and nonstaining formula, making it ideal for use in various home areas

Cons

• Not suitable for application on clothing, pillows, or bedding due to safety concerns
• Unsafe for use in areas where food is prepared; careful application required for all usage 

The Harris bed bug spray is a powerful product designed to be used on cracks, crevices, furniture, closets, wall moldings, mattress seams, bed frames, and almost anywhere else a bed bug could hide, without leaving behind stains and odors or damaging fabrics.

The chemical spray kills bed bugs on contact with imidacloprid, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, and phenothrin. It continues to treat the infestation for up to 16 weeks, even eliminating bugs and eggs that are resistant to traditional pyrethroid insecticides. While this product is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved for use in the home and around pets, it should not be used on clothing, pillows, or bedding. It’s also important to note that imidacloprid is considered toxic to some wildlife. Always follow label directions to ensure safe use.

Get the Harris bed bug spray at Amazon, The Home Depot or Walmart.

Runner Up

MGK Bedlam Plus Bed Bug Aerosol

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 17 ounces
• Active ingredients: Imidacloprid, N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, 3‑phenoxybenzyl‑(1RS, 3RS, 1RS, 3SR)‑2, 2‑dimethyl‑ 3‑(2‑methylprop‑1‑enyl) cyclopropanecarboxylate
• Longevity: 2 weeks

Pros

• Safe for direct application on beds, ensuring effective bug elimination in sleeping areas
• Efficiently eradicates pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs and eggs for thorough infestation control
• Features a nonstaining formula that’s suitable for use on fabrics and furniture

Cons

• Only effective for 2 weeks, necessitating more frequent applications for ongoing protection
• Inadvisable for use in areas of food preparation due to safety concerns

While other sprays can damage mattress bedding and other fabrics, MGK Bedlam Plus spray, with its water-based formula, can be used on all fabrics, wood furniture, and carpets to kill bed bugs and their eggs. This dual-action chemical treatment that includes imidacloprid can kill pyrethroid-resistant infestations, destroying bugs on initial contact and remaining active for up to 2 weeks.

It’s safe to spray on every part of the bed, behind wall fixtures, and on carpet as well as hardwood flooring without concern. The spray is nonirritating to humans and common pets but should never be used in a food-preparation area or around consumable food and beverages, as it’s unsafe to ingest the spray.

Get the MGK bed bug spray at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Bang For The Buck

Hot Shot Ready-to-Use Bed Bug Home Insect Killer

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 32 ounces
• Active ingredients: Cypermethrin
• Longevity: 2 weeks

Pros

• Can be safely sprayed directly on beds for effective bed bug elimination
• Odorless and nonstaining formula, making it suitable for use on various surfaces
• Also effective against fleas and ticks, offering additional pest control in 1 product

Cons

• ​​Not suitable for use on pets as a treatment for ticks
• Only lasts 2 weeks before reapplication is necessary

Hot Shot Bed Bug Killer is an affordable bed bug spray that treats infestations in every part of the bed, upholstered furniture, luggage, baseboards, and carpets. The water-based cypermethrin formula kills bed bugs, bed bug eggs, and fleas on contact, but it needs to be reapplied every 2 weeks if infestations persist in problem areas.The spray leaves no oily residue or stains behind, and there’s no noxious chemical odor. However, because the spray also kills fleas, the manufacturer specifically states that the spray must not be used directly on pets due to its harmful toxins. If a dog or cat comes down with fleas, see the veterinarian for an approved product to treat them.

Get the Hot Shot bed bug spray at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

Natural Pick

MDXconcepts Gypsum Bedbug Spray

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 16 ounces
• Active ingredients: Peppermint oil and spearmint oil
• Longevity: Not provided by manufacturer

Pros

• All-natural, eco-friendly, child- and pet-safe formula, ensuring safety for the whole family
• Pleasant mint essential oil scent after application acts as a room freshener
• Safe for use on mattresses, carpets, and linens without causing damage

Cons

• May stain wooden surfaces, like dressers, baseboards, or footboards
• Lacks specific longevity information, making duration of effectiveness unclear

MDXconcepts bed bug spray is safe for the environment and all members of the household. It has a natural 100 percent plant-derived formula that instantly kills bed bugs on contact. The active ingredients, peppermint oil and spearmint oil, treat bed bug infestations while imparting a fresh, pleasant scent. 

This bed bug spray can be used on all moisture-safe surfaces and items, including mattresses, baseboards, and carpets, without staining or leaving an oily residue. Repeat treatment per the manufacturer’s directions until the infestation is eliminated.

Get the MDXconcepts bed bug spray at Walmart.

Broad-Spectrum Pick

JT Eaton Non-Staining Oil-Based Bed Bug Spray

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 1 quart
• Active ingredients: Pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide
• Longevity: Not provided by manufacturer

Pros

• Treats a wide variety of other pests in addition to bed bugs
• Safe for use on all parts of the bed if package instructions are followed correctly  
• Powerful, fast-acting, oil-based product that kills bed bugs on contact

Cons

• Piperonyl butoxide is considered moderately toxic to aquatic wildlife
• Many bed bug populations are resistant to pyrethrins, so an alternative product might be necessary
• This chemical insecticide cannot be used around pets or children 

If more than one insect species has invaded a space, the JT Eaton oil-based bed bug spray is a broad-spectrum solution that targets multiple pests, including bed bugs and their eggs, fleas, brown dog ticks, silverfish, spiders, carpet beetles, and some roaches. 

It relies on a pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide formula and can be sprayed on all bed parts, baseboards, and flooring to kill on contact. It may leave an oily residue if too much is used, and it’s harmful to both humans and pets, so be sure to follow manufacturer directions exactly to ensure safety.

Get the JT Eaton bed bug spray at Amazon.

Best for Mattresses

PT Alpine Flea & Bed Bug Pressurized Insecticide

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Product Specs 

• Quantity: 20 ounces
• Active ingredients: Dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen, and prallethrin
• Longevity: Up to 7 months for flea eggs; longevity not provided for bed bugs

Pros

• Safe for use on all parts of the bed and will not cause damage
• Versatile product kills both bed bugs and fleas and comes in easy-to-apply pressurized spray can
• Effective on flea eggs for up to 7 months and fleas for 30 days

Cons

• Chemical odor requires respirator during application

This efficient bed bug spray uses three different active ingredients—dinotefuran, pyriproxyfen, and pralethrin—to quickly and effectively treat all stages of bed bug infestations and can be effective on pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs. Despite its impressive results, PT Alpine flea and bed bug killer is rated for use on all areas of the bed, including the mattress, pillows, and other bed coverings. 

It’s specially formulated to avoid drenching fabrics, and it dries quickly so that it won’t take long for the chemical odor to dissipate. That said, users will want to wear a respirator mask during application and follow manufacturer recommendations for reentry. Also note that one of the active ingredients, prallethrin, is considered highly toxic to some wildlife, including fish.

Get the PT Alpine bed bug spray on Amazon or Walmart.