The 10 Best Bed Bug Sprays
Special Honors
Buggy Beds Bed Bug Glue Traps Prevention is always better than cure, and these non-toxic pesticide-free traps are a great way to safeguard against a full-blown infestation in your home. They can be positioned under mattresses, couch cushions, or even in your luggage to lure unsuspecting critters to a sticky end, and therefore give you a headstart in the race to eliminate them before they multiply. buggybeds.com
Editor's Notes
December 04, 2020:
Bedbugs are extremely easy to pick up and notoriously difficult to get rid of, so if you have stayed in a place where you suspect there may have been an infestation it may be prudent to use a bedbug heater to prevent yourself from bringing them into your home to begin with.
During this round of updates, we ensured we maintained a balance of natural and chemical options to guarantee that everyone can find a formula that suits them. In the category of the former, Eco Raider, Eco Defense, and Hygea Exterminator have been retained as top picks for those who are wary about introducing toxic substances to their environment. We removed Bed Bug Patrol as it provided minimal residual protection, meaning that it will need to be applied directly and often to be effective. Of the ones we kept, Eco Raider gives the best long-lasting protection against bedbugs as it keeps working for up to two weeks after application.
If you're looking to spray large areas, Harris Egg Kill and Resistant and Ortho Comfort Wand are the best chemical choices. They both come in one-gallon bottles with integrated guns to make distribution quick and precise. The former continues to kill for up to 16 weeks, providing excellent residual protection, however the latter is a fair bit cheaper.
For those hard-to-reach places we introduced Raid Foaming, which expands when it's released from the canister. This makes it ideal for getting behind baseboards and into crevices, or any other little nooks and crannies where these pests love to hide. MKG Crossfire 1852 is another newcomer to our list and this one caught our eye due to the respect it's earned in the professional community. The large containers it's usually sold in are rather pricey for tackling a home infestation, however, this 13-ounce option could be just what your residence needs.
May 29, 2019:
Bed bugs are one of the hardest infestations to get rid, mainly because they have a strong resistance to traditional pyrethroid-based pesticides. This has led many companies to develop formulas designed specifically to target bed bugs. Unfortunately, it has also led to many companies utilizing very harsh chemicals. We realize though, that many people don't want to use toxic chemicals in their home, which is why we included a variety of natural and/or organic options, such as Eco Raider, Eco Defense, Premo Guard, Bed Bug Patrol, and Hygea Exterminator. That being said, we also understand that many people feel nothing can truly rid a home of a bed bug infestation as well as strong chemicals, which is probably why many professionals still use them. If you fall into this group of people, then you'll want to take a look at Harris Egg Kill and Resistant, Ortho Home Defense, Bedlam Plus, Harris Diatomaceous Earth Powder, and Hot Shot Ready-to-Use.
The Overlooked Dangers Of Bed Bugs
Medical professionals are still debating as to whether or not bed bugs carry blood transmitted pathogens.
Chances are that you or someone you know has had bed bugs in the last year. In fact, just shy of 100 percent of pest control professionals treat bed bugs every year. Many people just think about the inconvenience bed bugs bring, from the itching and scratching to the need to clean all their linens and invest in a mattress protector. But bed bugs bring bigger issues than these. One of the top problems they bring is insomnia. Once you know or suspect you have bed bugs, just picturing them crawling all over your body can keep you up at night, even when they aren't attacking. They can cause anxious thoughts like, "What else is unclean in my home? Did my own habits cause this? Will friends ever come over again after they know I've had bed bugs?"
Another major health concern with bed bugs doesn't have to do with these critters' actions at all, but rather how the public responds to them. If people aren't prepared with effective bed bug spray, they can take drastic and dangerous measures to tackle the problem. There have been cases of individuals reaching for other powerful chemicals in their home to try to kill their bed bugs, but if an insecticide isn't specifically designed for this purpose, spraying it around your home can have devastating results for your children, pets, and you. There have also been instances of individuals burning their mattresses when they felt they'd lost a handle on the problem. But burning large objects in public spaces is unsafe. Furthermore, this doesn't necessarily kill the bed bugs; it just moves them outside, where they can crawl onto an unsuspecting passerby.
Medical professionals are still debating as to whether or not bed bugs carry blood transmitted pathogens. Many believe they do not, but they do agree on this: itching your bites is dangerous. This opens up your skin and makes you vulnerable to bacteria and infections from other sources. One must also consider that bed bugs carry the blood of their past victims in their bodies. If you accidentally smash one in its sleep, you could get that blood on your body, and there is no knowing what bacteria it carries.
What To Look For In A Bed Bug Spray
If you have small children or pets in your home, then you likely already use all-natural bug spray for when they play outside. Fortunately, there are also chemical-free and kid-safe bed bug sprays. While you know you shouldn't put a recently-sprayed piece of linen in your mouth or on your eyes, your dog and your toddler may not. If you're an environmentally conscious consumer, look for formulas made with biodegradable salts and enzymes. If you're unfortunate enough to live in one of the top bed bug infested cities in America, consider a spray that keeps working for weeks after you've applied it to your home. Just because you've killed one batch of bed bugs doesn't mean another isn't on its way. On that note, make sure your spray contains egg-killing ingredients, so new bugs don't hatch.
Since bed bugs carry bacteria into your home, look for a bed bug spray that doubles as a disinfectant. In addition to killing the nasty critters, you want to kill any germs they may have dragged along with them. Don't let their name fool you: bed bugs attack far more than your sleeping quarters. They get into furniture, luggage, and even baseboards. So make sure you get a formula that you can safely apply to all of these things. You don't want to destroy your antique night table in the process of eliminating your pest problem. City dwellers and pet owners usually find their homes under attack from different insects all year long. Fortunately, some bed bug sprays also kill cockroaches and fleas.
Keep in mind that bed bug sprays are notorious for their strong smells. If you're sensitive to odors, look for a variety with a neutral or pleasant aroma. Some smell like pine, others smell like cinnamon, and some smell like nothing at all. If you're dealing with a major infestation, look for an aerosol spray can that can cover a large area at once.
How To Spot Bed Bugs And What To Do
It's smart to have bed bug spray on hand, but you shouldn't use it unless you have to. That's why it's important you can properly identify these insects. There are several ways you can spot them. If you crush bed bugs during the night, you may see little red stains in your bed sheets from the blood. You may also see tiny black spots, which could be bed bug feces. Since you could have smashed these in your sleep, too, they could resemble black marker spots.
Just one of these signs is not proof of bed bugs, but several in conjunction can be.
Bed bugs love to hide when you're awake. So if you're looking for them, they've probably retreated. You can find them in the tags of your mattress or linens, the piping of your bed, the joints of furniture, at the corners of your ceiling where the wall and ceiling meet, and even in the screws and nuts of some furniture. Look for tiny clusters of black bugs in these places. Just one of these signs is not proof of bed bugs, but several in conjunction can be. At that point, it's time to call pest control or use one of these sprays. In the meantime, take any linens or textiles that may have been affected and heat-treat them in the dryer. Bed bugs die at 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Once those items are clean, put them in vacuum storage bags for safe keeping until your home has been treated.
If you are traveling, look up reviews of a hotel before booking a room. If one guest has found bed bugs there, then that likely means that others have, too. If you are searching for a new place to live, ask the tenants of the building you're interested in if they've had bed bug issues, and if these have been addressed. Keep in mind that every state has its own laws regarding bed bugs and a landlord's or hotel's obligation regarding them.