Cinnamon For Bed Bugs: Does Cinnamon Oil Kills Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are a pain. They can damage furniture and other household items, they are itchy and irritating, and worst of all, they will not go away. It is very frustrating when you think you have done everything right to get rid of them, but the infection gets back. Research showed that using cinnamon for bed bugs infection proved more effective as many artificial bed bug repellents use cinnamon as their main ingredient. 

Cinnamon kills bed bugs by dehydration because it contains cinnamaldehyde, a toxic substance for insects like bed bugs. This article will explore cinnamon for bed bugs as an alternative way to keep your home free from these annoying pests!

1. Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

People often think about the source of their infection. It is almost impossible to give a definitive reference in many cases because these insects are notorious predators.

Bedbugs can be found anywhere globally and can get stored in luggage, handbags, clothes and backpacks. If a child goes to school with bed bugs in their bag or their clothes, it can spread rapidly to other homes in a few days. Similarly, as a result of going to the movie theatre, some bed bugs crawl on your clothes and hide until you reach your home. Bedbugs’ ability to pass through taxis, buses, retail outlets and restaurants allows them to spread and get introduced in various environments.

Don’t let the name “BED BUGS” deceive you. Bed bugs won’t just stay on mattresses or box springs. Like most animals, they want to be close to food (humans) and shelter. Because of this, bed bugs can hide in all sorts of places. In addition to the beds, you can also find bugs in them:

• COUCHES
• CURTAINS
• WALLPAPER SEAMS
• DOOR HINGES
• TOY BOXES
• BEDSHEETS
• UNDER THE CARPETS
• CLOSETS
• BOOKS
• PET BEDDING
• WINDOW MOULDINGS
• ELECTRONICS
• BEHIND THE POSTERS AND PICTURE FRAMES

And many other places.

2. Effect Of Bed Bugs On Human Health:

Bed bugs can cause the following health risks to a human on direct or indirect contact:

• Too many bites over time can lead to anemia and potential anemia.
• Allergies from their bites and residue can cause asthma attacks in sensitive people.
• Bite allergies, caused by bed bug saliva, can cause hives, itching, and irritation.
• Biting can cause infection, causing additional problems.
• Blemishes can form and persist for months or more.

Symptoms

• Bed bug bites are most common on the face, neck, arms and hands.
• The bite-bite symptoms of bed bugs are similar to those of other insect bites and rashes. Bed bug bites are usually:
• Swollen spots, often with deep spots in the middle.
• Arranged in a rough line or cluster.
• Located on the face, neck, arms and hands.

What Smell Keeps Bed Bugs Away?

Many insects and pests get repelled with smells like peppermint, tea tree oil, and cinnamon. Although bed bugs try to avoid certain smells, there is a lot of misinformation about those scents. So, what is the reality?

One well-known smell that removes bed bugs is pheromones that get secreted by baby bed bugs or nymphs. Their goal is to keep male bed bugs away from larvae so they don’t try to have sex with them. These pheromones, however, only work on male bed bugs and will do nothing to prevent females from invading your space. However, it is still sold in many products in the market today. While these products may not be as effective as anything else, they will probably not eliminate the problem.

Many people also use essential oils to get rid of bed bugs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture even conducted a study to determine if essential oils were effective in repelling bed bugs? The results of the research were interesting. Although bed bugs do not appear to be getting away from the smell of essential oil, they do seem to affect the body of bed bugs.

What Spices Kill Bed Bugs?

1. Cinnamon:

Whenever people talk about cinnamon and bed bugs, the first question that comes to mind is, “does cinnamon kill bed bugs?” Well, cinnamon gets considered a natural insect repellent because insects and other pests do not like the smell of cinnamon, nor do they like the texture of its powder. However, Cinnamon-based pesticides are not as effective as the different options you can find on the market. Although applying cinnamon directly to bed bugs can kill them, it is another problem that bed bugs are also challenging to see.

In addition, some products contain cinnamon powder to treat bed bugs. The smell keeps the bed bugs away from your mattress. You can spread the powder on your bed so that the bugs do not come back. Cinnamon scares bed bugs and repels cockroaches, spiders, fruit flies, rats, caterpillars, air wigs, silverfish, mosquitoes, and ants.

Therefore, cinnamon oil for bed bugs or cinnamon spray for bed bugs is an ideal alternative if you can’t find other ways to deal with bed bugs. It does not endanger your health, and also it does not stink.

2. Tea Tree:

Tea tree oil is a freshly scented essential oil that has antiseptic properties. It performs a dual function as a cleaning agent in your home as it kills bacteria & fungi and neutralizes viruses upon contact. It works by suffocating these insects as the oil enters their system and kills them.

However, it is most effective when used undiluted. Unfortunately, a refined version is not safe for humans. Still, you can see some benefits, or at least a nice scented house, by sprinkling dilute tea tree oil around the house. 

To make a diluted formula, put about 20 drops of oil in a spray bottle filled with water.

3. Lavender:

The smell of lavender makes the bed bugs feel nauseous and can even kill them. However, most people find the scent quite pleasant. You can triple the effectiveness of lavender by the following method:

• Washing the items with lavender soap
• Sprinkling diluted lavender essential oil over corners and mattresses.
• Spreading the lavender leaves on the affected areas.

4. Peppermint Leaves:

The effect of peppermint leaves is similar to that of lavender oil and leaves. The smell of peppermint makes the bed bugs feel nauseous and can even kill them.

Use the same strategies, and don’t forget to vacuum old leaves regularly and replace them with fresher ones until the infection is gone.

5. Black Walnut Tea:

Black walnut tea kills natural pests. Pick up your used tea bags and place them where the bugs are to use this strategy. Place them around the house, in every cranny, corner, and nook.

6. Bean’s Leaves:

Bean leaves act like natural fly paper to trap insects, including bed bugs. In 1943, researchers discovered that the microscopic hairs on the leaves confuse and entangle the organs of these pests.

Ultimately, the bedbug dies. Place these leaves on the floor of any room with unwanted pests and see the results.

7. Indian Lilac:

The effect of Indian lilac leaves is similar to that of other plant-based spices. You can crush the leaves and spread them. Alternatively, boil the leaves, strain the solution and add it to your bath water. As a result, bed bugs will no longer have breakfast on you!

This technique can get used for wardrobe and clothing infections. Spray the solution on cupboards, sofas and around the house to remove these bed bug

8. Beauveria Bassiana:

Don’t worry about the complex name and its details because BEAUVERIA BASSIANA is a parasitic fungus that eats insects. It attacks bed bugs mercilessly, making them infertile, inactive and unable to feed.

9. Lemongrass:

Lemongrass kills insects, unlike some other natural remedies that only repel insects. Acid levels kill insects and their eggs. In addition, bed bugs hate its odours, so it also acts as a repellent.

10. Cayenne Pepper:

When combined with other natural ingredients such as ginger and oregano, cayenne pepper works to eliminate bed bugs on contact. Here’s how to make this natural solution:

Mix one teaspoon of cayenne pepper, crushed ginger and oregano oil. Stir the ingredients and add to a spray bottle filled with water.

Does Cinnamon Repel Bed Bugs?

Without a doubt, cinnamon is very popular among spices as a potential repellent for bed bug infections. It gets considered a natural insect repellent because insects and other pests do not like the smell of cinnamon or the texture of its powder. It does not endanger your health, and also it does not stink. Therefore, cinnamon oil for bed bugs or cinnamon spray for bed bugs is an ideal alternative if you can’t find other ways to deal with bed bugs. 

While research has shown that bed bugs cinnamon sprays, when applied around the affected areas, have some lethal effects, but such effects are only temporary. 

What Does Cinnamon Do To Bed Bugs?

Research shows that bed bugs tend to avoid the treated area after spraying cinnamon-based products. It works disgustingly against insects because they cannot tolerate the pungent aroma of cinnamon spice. That’s why it’s considered one of the first effective ways to get rid of bed bugs. The bad news is that the same research has found that they ignore the treated area if bed bugs detect their hosts.

Even if cinnamon helps keep bed bugs out of the area. It does not mean that nasty bugs are staying away for good. Bed bugs can only escape from the place where cinnamon is kept, and they move around the house to find another suitable place for mating and breeding.

How Do You Make Cinnamon Spray?

1. Formula Number 01:

The mixture of heavy essential oil and cinnamon for bed bugs spray is considered the best way to get rid of bed bugs instead of spending money on costly pesticides.

CINNAMON LEAF OIL	NUTMEG OIL	GINGER OIL	CLOVE OIL	MIXTURE
20 DROPS	20 DROPS	10 DROPS	10 DROPS	Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and gently shake the bottle to blend the mixture, and cinnamon bed bugs spray is ready

NOTE: It not only has cinnamon oil in it, but it also has a potent nutmeg, ginger and clove bud oil! Bed bugs will struggle against this mixture

2. Formula Number 02:

Cinnamon with water is a natural repellent against bed bugs, and its fragrance is delicious too! That is why it is considered one of the most effective ways to get rid of bed bugs using this essential oil.

TAP WATER	DISTILLED WATER	CINNAMON OIL	MIXTURE
½ CUP	½ CUP	15-20 DROPS	Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and gently shake the bottle to blend the mixture, and cinnamon bed bugs spray is ready

Is Cinnamon Good For Getting Rid Of Bugs? 

If a person genuinely wants to get rid of bed bugs under a cheap budget, then cinnamon oil for bed bugs seems to be the best option. It works disgustingly against insects because they cannot tolerate the pungent aroma of cinnamon spice. That’s why it’s considered one of the first effective ways to get rid of bed bugs. However, cinnamon-based pesticides are not as effective as the other options you can find on the market. Although applying cinnamon directly to bed bugs can kill them. 

Following are the several alternative benefits of cinnamon to understand why people choose to use it:

1- Cinnamon is not dangerous. It is safe for the whole family. The general public is reluctant to use pesticides because of the number of chemicals in the ingredients to get rid of bed bugs. Cinnamon is a naturally occurring spice used in almost daily cooking and is thus safe to use at home. It has no side effects, especially if you are afraid that your children may use it accidentally, so basically, you are not leaving any chance of poisoning after using it.

2- If you are using cinnamon for bed bugs, it is a cheap way. It is a spice used in your daily cooking. Store-bought pesticides can be expensive and time-consuming and must be in large quantities to work well. It can be not very pleasant if you have to work within a budget. 

3- Another advantage of using cinnamon oil for bed bugs is that it is very readily available. You will find cinnamon in any grocery store. Alternative pesticides may need to get found in different locations. 

4- Unlike pesticides that have many different ways to use, you need to take some cinnamon out of one packet and spread it all over the place, especially where you have more doubts. You don’t have to evacuate your family member to sprinkle cinnamon all over the place. It is not a harmful substance to quickly spread it anywhere you want.

5- Using cinnamon for bed bugs seems the best idea, as it works faster and has good long-term results. In the case of pesticide use, you may need to spray frequently at short intervals to kill bed bugs. But if you use cinnamon for bed bugs, you can spread it once, and its effect will last for a long time. The scent of cinnamon lasts longer, and when the bed bugs smell of cinnamon, they are gone forever. You have to spray a lot of cinnamon first, but then you have to sit back and let the cinnamon do its work.

6- The last and most important benefit of using cinnamon for bed bugs is that it is edible. The good thing about cinnamon is that it can get eaten. Bed bugs infect your body after biting and sucking blood. You may have an allergic reaction to bed bugs. To reduce the allergic reaction, you can eat cinnamon. If you cannot use cinnamon directly, you can mix cinnamon with water, soup, pastry or any other product. It will make cinnamon easier to use. Remember that you can find cinnamon in the form of fine powder in the store.

Conclusion:

Cinnamon is a powerful ingredient for preventing bed bugs infection. Not only is it cheap and easy to get, but it is also safe to use. Children, pets, and even people with allergies are less afraid of this everyday spice. On the other hand, bed bugs, ants and mosquitoes do not look so good around cinnamon.

From killing mosquito eggs to repelling insects, you need more cinnamon in your life. When disbursing oil, sticks or powdered spices in your home and garden, do not be afraid to go with a heavy hand.  If you are not already using cinnamon in your garden and home, We recommend adding it to your arsenal. Not only will everything smell delicious, but you will have very few bugs to compete with.