Bedbugs are among the most frustrating pests to deal with. They hide well, spread quickly, and are notoriously hard to eliminate. While professional treatment is sometimes necessary, many people look for natural methods they can apply immediately while waiting for a long-term solution. One of the most surprisingly helpful household ingredients for this purpose is cloves.
Cloves have been valued for centuries for their strong aroma and natural insect-repelling properties. Their most important compound, eugenol, is known for its ability to repel insects, interfere with their nervous system, and disrupt their survival. While cloves may not eliminate a severe infestation on their own, they are an excellent natural tool to repel, slow down, and reduce the presence of bedbugs, especially when used correctly and consistently.
Below is a thorough guide explaining why cloves work, how to prepare them, how to use whole cloves, clove powder, and clove oil, and how to combine them with simple household strategies for better results.
Why Cloves Work Against Bedbugs
Cloves can be useful because:
- Strong Aroma: Bedbugs hate strong, pungent smells. The scent of cloves overwhelms their senses and forces them to leave hiding areas.
- Eugenol Content: Eugenol is a natural insecticide found in cloves; it can help repel and sometimes kill small insects by interrupting their respiratory system.
- Drying Effect (Clove Powder): When crushed into powder, cloves create a slightly abrasive surface that bedbugs avoid.
- Long-Lasting Scent: Whole cloves release aroma slowly, staying active for days.
Again, cloves are not a standalone extermination method for a large infestation, but they are excellent for preventing spreading, protecting sleeping areas, and giving you immediate relief.
How to Use Cloves Against Bedbugs
Below are the most effective methods, from simplest to strongest.
1. Using Whole Cloves (Most Beginner-Friendly Method)
Whole cloves are easy to use and safe around children and pets.
Where to place them:
- Along the edges of your mattress
- In corners of the bed frame
- Around the headboard
- Inside dresser drawers
- Behind baseboards (if there is a gap)
- In suitcases, especially after travel
- Along the skirting boards near the bed
How to do it:
- Spread whole cloves generously around these areas.
- Make small cloth sachets (even paper napkins tied with string work) and place them inside pillowcases or under the mattress.
- Replace them every 7–10 days, as the smell fades.
What to expect:
Cloves will push bedbugs away from your sleeping area, making it harder for them to come near you at night. This is a repelling method, not a killing method.
2. Making Clove Powder Barriers
When you grind whole cloves into powder, their active oils become more intense.
How to prepare it:
- Put whole cloves into a grinder or crush them manually.
- Make a fine powder.
How to use it:
- Sprinkle the powder in the seams of your mattress.
- Apply a thin line of powder around the bed legs.
- Dust cracks and crevices where bedbugs hide.
Tip: Bedbugs avoid walking through strong-smelling powder lines, slowing their movement and reducing activity around your bed.
3. Clove Oil Spray (Strongest and Most Effective Method)
If you have clove essential oil, you can create a natural spray that bedbugs strongly dislike.
You will need:
- 10–15 drops of clove essential oil
- 1 cup of water
- Optional: 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol (helps disperse the oil)
How to make the spray:
- Mix ingredients in a spray bottle.
- Shake well before every use.
Where to spray:
- Mattress seams
- Bed frame joints
- Headboard (especially if wooden)
- Curtains near the bed
- Cracks, baseboards, drawer edges
- The underside of chairs or sofas
Precaution:
Test the spray on fabric first to ensure it doesn’t stain.
Effect:
Clove oil’s strong aroma can disrupt bedbugs’ ability to locate you, making them less active and reducing bites.
4. Clove Steam Method (For People With a Steamer)
If you don’t have clove oil, you can still create aromatic steam using whole cloves.
How to do it:
- Boil water with a handful of cloves.
- Let the pot simmer for 10–15 minutes.
- Pour the hot clove water into a bowl.
- Place it carefully under the bed or in the infested room.
As the steam rises, it fills cracks and fabric with clove aroma, pushing out hidden insects.
(This method does not kill bedbugs but helps flush them from hiding spots.)
Where to Focus Clove Treatments
Bedbugs hide extremely well. For best results, apply cloves in every place they might crawl through:
- Mattress seams and labels
- Cracks in wooden frames
- Corners of the room
- Behind wall pictures
- Electrical outlets (do not spray directly — only place nearby)
- Carpet edges
- Behind curtains
The more hiding areas you treat, the better the results.
Combining Cloves With Simple Household Actions
Cloves work best when combined with a few easy steps:
1. Vacuum Daily
Vacuum mattress, bed frame, and floor edges to remove eggs and slow the infestation.
2. Wash Bedding on High Heat
Heat is the biggest enemy of bedbugs. Dry sheets, blankets, and clothes on the highest setting.
3. Use Mattress Encasements
If available, encasing your mattress traps any insects inside and prevents new ones from hiding.
4. Keep Your Bed Away From the Wall
This reduces the number of places bedbugs can climb from.
5. Place Clove Powder Around Bed Legs
This creates a strong repelling ring.
How Long Until You See Results?
- Repelling effect: Immediate (same night)
- Noticeable reduction in activity: 3–7 days
- Complete elimination: Not guaranteed — cloves help significantly but can’t replace professional treatment if the infestation is large.
However, many people find that cloves give them instant relief during an active infestation, especially for reducing nightly bites.
Final Thoughts
Cloves are one of the easiest, cheapest, and most accessible natural solutions against bedbugs. Their strong smell and natural insect-repelling oils make them effective for slowing down infestations, protecting sleeping areas, and reducing bites while you work on removing the problem completely.
Using whole cloves, clove powder, or clove oil can make your home much less comfortable for bedbugs — and sometimes, that’s enough to push them out of your living spaces.
If the infestation is severe, cloves are best used as a supporting method along with deeper cleaning and, when necessary, professional help.
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