How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that are more problematic when they irritate the skin. The bite of one individual bed bug won’t necessarily lead to an allergic reaction but severe bites might cause severe allergic reactions. Tea tree oil is well known for its pleasant aroma, but many don’t know that it can be used as an effective alternative to topicals and other treatments.

How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Bed Bug Bites

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia or what’s commonly known as a tea tree. It’s a medium-sized tree with tiny leaves and white flowers. And it’s native to Australia.

The oil is yellow or clear, depending on the brand you’re buying. It also has a distinctive camphor smell which makes it a common ingredient for beauty and bath products.

However pleasant it smells, tea tree oil is toxic for consumption. So it’s often used as a pest repellent. It’s been known to be effective against various annoying house invaders like spiders. However, it’s also as a known folk medicine, used for treating skin conditions like insect bites, acne, dandruff, fungal, viral and bacterial infections, lice and even scabies.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

We know that it’s a common home remedy. But does it work? Can you actually use it to treat or prevent bed bugs?

Tea tree oil has insecticidal properties and can work against a lot of pests. Like lavender and lemon oil, it has the basic components that can do wonders against certain types of insects. It has solvent properties that soak into an insect’s protective exoskeleton and suffocate it.

According two studies, a 2010 study on the insecticidal activities of essential oils and a 2008 study from India, tea tree oil and the rest of its counterparts have substances called monoterpenoids that naturally repel and kill pests. They’re so effective that they’re even listed as main ingredients for many commercial insecticides.

USING TEA TREE OIL FOR BED BUGS

There are several ways to use tea tree oil for bed bugs. Below is a list of all the ways you can incorporate this minty oil into your deadly strike against these pesky bloodsuckers.

USING AS A SPRAY

This is probably the most common and the most recommended method. All you have to do is mix 20 drops of tea tree oil into a spray bottle filled with water. Spray an area with the mixture and let it dry. Do this regularly several times a week to get the bed bugs out. They’ll die with direct contact from the spray, and they’ll also be repelled by the smell.

ADDING VINEGAR

To increase the oil’s potency, try adding a few drops of white vinegar into your water-oil mixture. Remember that that vinegar’s odor takes a few hours to dissipate after being sprayed. Leave your windows and doors open to get the smell out.

ADDING IT TO DETERGENT

To get rid of more severe infestations, wash your dog’s beddings. Set the washer to the highest temperature setting. Add a few drops of tea tree oil along with your chosen liquid detergent into the machine. Repeat this at least two times before you let the fabric dry.

PAIR IT WITH VACUUMING

Make sure that all the bed bugs are finished off by using your vacuum cleaner. Vacuum obscure places in the house before applying your spray. Tighten the vacuum bag to make sure that no bed bug escapes.

COMBINING WITH OTHER OILS

To give your tea tree oil a little boost, add more oils into your water mixture. Start by adding a few drops of lemon oil and lavender oil. Then you can witch hazel or peppermint oil. How much you put into the spray depends on your preference, but having 5 to 7 drops will do.

How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Bed Bug Bites

If you’re not dealing with a bed bug infestation, it’s still possible to get bitten by one of these pests. You might have accidentally brought them home from a hotel, or you could have been bitten in public by an unknowing carrier. Whatever the case may be, you need to know how to use tea tree oil for bed bug bites.

Tea tree oil is known as an effective natural insect repellent, and it can also be used as a natural remedy for bites from these tiny creatures. Tea Tree Oil is made from the Australian Melaleuca Alternifolia tree and has antibacterial properties that help prevent infections from occurring at the bite site.

The first thing you need to do is apply some tea tree oil on top of your bed bug bite. This will help kill off any bacteria that may be present on your skin and reduce swelling and itching that may occur as a result of being bitten by one of these bugs. It will also help stop any infection from spreading throughout your body if left untreated which could lead to serious health problems down the road if not taken care of immediately after getting bit by one of these critters!

List Of How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Bed Bug Bites