Best Bed Bug Killer of 2024
If you’re sure that you have bed bugs, you should act immediately. There are lots of effective bed bug killers on the market, so don’t waste any time. Severe, long-lasting infestations usually need professional exterminators, but a bed bug spray can probably take care of your problem before it gets that bad.
Here are five of the best bed bug killers:
| Product | With a pulsator | Protection up to (weeks) | Non-toxic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoRider Bed Bug Killer Spray (Editor’s Choice) | No | 2 | Yes | |
| Harris Toughest Bed Bug Killer | Yes | 16 | Yes | |
| Premo Bed Bug, Lice, and Mite Spray | Yes | 2 | Yes | |
| Ortho Home Defense Max | Yes | 3 | No | |
| Exterminators Choice Bed Bug Defense | Yes | 2 | Yes |
1. EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer Spray – Editor’s Choice: Best Overall Bed Bug Killer
EcoRaider is an all-natural bed bug spray that targets adult bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs. It’s available as a gallon-sized container, or you can buy it in smaller quantities. The product will come in an unmarked cardboard box, so no one who sees the box will know about your bed bug problem.
Kills Adult Bed Bugs
The spray is fast-acting and should kill adult bed bugs immediately on contact. It also leaves a dry residual that should last for two weeks, so any bed bugs who come into contact with the sprayed areas will also be killed. However, bed bugs can go a long time without feeding, so some may stay in hiding for over two weeks. You should keep spraying every two weeks to make sure your bed bug problem is completely gone.
Particular Smell
The gallon-sized container doesn’t come with a sprayer, so you’ll have to buy a spray bottle and fill it up. Some reviewers complain about the strong odor after spraying EcoRaider. If you’re sensitive to strong smells, you should plan to leave your home for a few hours while the spray dries. Other reviewers say the spray smells great, though, like cedar trees and eucalyptus .
For the EcoRaider spray to work well, you have to use it carefully and thoroughly. Half-heartedly spraying the top of your mattress and your baseboards won’t be enough to kill the bed bugs. According to the manufacturer, you should start by turning over or disassembling your furniture to find the bugs’ hiding spots. Then, soak a hand towel in the spray and put it in a plastic bag along with any items that might be infested. You should leave the items and the towel in the sealed bag for at least two weeks. To kill all the bed bugs, spray any areas where the bugs may be hiding. This includes behind your baseboards, along ceiling-wall and floor-wall junctions, the seams of furniture, and any other cracks or crevices.
How to get rid of bed bugs by using EcoRaider
- All-natural ingredients; non-toxic
- Fast-acting on adults, nymphs, and eggs
- Strong odor
- More expensive than most bed bug killers
2. Harris Toughest Bed Bug Killer – Best Spray for Tough Infestations
Harris Toughest Bed Bug Killer comes in a one-gallon container with a spray nozzle. It kills adult bed bugs as well as nymphs and eggs. It should even get rid of pyrethroid resistant bed bugs, which have built up a tolerance to traditional pesticides and are very difficult to kill.
Harris is Ordorless
The spray is water-based and EPA-registered, so it’s safe to use around children and pets. It won’t stain furniture or leave an odor, so you can spray your mattress, couches, and other furniture directly. The fast-acting formula kills bed bugs as soon as they make contact, and a dry residual will last for almost four months. Any bed bugs who make contact with the residual will also be killed.
Before using the spray, you should vacuum your entire home, including your mattress, box spring, and other furniture. Wash your bedding and send it through the dryer on a high heat setting. The Harris spray will only work if the bugs come into direct contact with it , so you’ll have to be thorough. Spray all around your mattress, couches, baseboards, door frames, and windows. Even though the residual should last for a few months, you may want to use the spray weekly for the first month of the infestation. You’ll get an entire gallon of spray that’s completely safe to use, so it doesn’t hurt to do more than one treatment.
About the Nozzle
The bottle comes with a nozzle, but several reviewers say that it works poorly or doesn’t work at all. Because you have to spray your home very thoroughly, you won’t want to use a nozzle that barely works and makes you frustrated . If you choose this product, you should probably buy a spray bottle and pour in the bed bug killer for easier use.
Overall, Harris Toughest Bed Bug Killer has great reviews. It should be highly effective if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, vacuum your home, and wash all of your bedding. It’s a good option for people who want a large quantity of a non-toxic, eco-friendly spray.
- Non-toxic and environmentally friendly
- Odorless and non-staining
- Spray nozzle may not work well
3. Premo Bed Bug, Lice, and Mite Killer – Best Bed Bug Spray for Small Areas
Premo Bed Bug, Lice, and Mite Killer comes in a 24-ounce spray bottle. It contains only natural, plant-extracted ingredients that come from the Certified Natural Products Association and Good Manufacturing Practice facilities. Because the ingredients in the spray are natural and non-toxic, you can use it around children, pets, and plants. It leaves a dry residual for about two weeks, so it should kill any adult bed bugs, nymphs, or eggs that make contact within this time. After two weeks, you should use the spray again to kill any bugs that are still hiding.
Use For Small Infestations
Although this spray is very effective, it’s only meant to handle small and medium infestations. If you have a major infestation, you’ll either have to buy several bottles of Premo and apply it regularly or find a heavier-duty product. It’s probably more cost-effective to buy a stronger spray or pay for professional pest control if the infestation is really out of control.
When a bed bug comes into contact with the Premo spray, the active ingredients will burn its outer shell and kill it immediately. It doesn’t leave an odor or any harmful fumes, so you don’t have to leave your home after using the spray. This bed bug killer is also designed to target other bugs, including lice, mites, cockroaches, spiders, and ants. Studies found that it has a 100 percent kill rate for bugs who make direct contact.
Best Non-toxic Ingredients
Premo is one of the best brands for natural, plant-extracted ingredients. If you want a safe, non-toxic spray for a small home, a bottle of Premo might be your best option. It’s also a great choice for larger homes, but you may need more than one bottle for total coverage. Several reviewers mention the company’s great customer service , too. If you have any questions about the product’s ingredients or instructions, the seller will get right back to you. The company wants to make sure you’re satisfied with the product and successfully get rid of the bed bugs or other pests. They also offer a money back guarantee if the spray doesn’t work.
- Plant-based, non-toxic ingredients
- Good budget option for smaller spaces
- Money back guarantee
- Not suitable for severe infestations
- May need to buy multiple bottles for larger homes
4. Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug Killer – Best Budget Bed Bug Spray
Ortho Home Defense comes in a half-gallon container with a battery-powered continuous spray wand. It kills eggs, nymphs, and adult bed bugs, including ones that are pyrethroid-resistant. On fabric and carpet, it leaves a dry residue for two weeks, so any bed bugs that come out of hiding and make contact with the chemicals should be killed. To use this product, hold the spray wand 8 to 10 inches from the surface and spray until the surface is slightly damp. You should leave the room after using the spray, but it’s safe to be around once it dries. The spray isn’t safe to use on bedding or clothing, but you can get rid of bed bugs in these items by putting them in the dryer on high heat.
Apply For Carpetted Areas
This bed bug killer leaves a two-week residue on a carpet and similar textures, but it might not last as long on hard flooring or other surfaces. If you’ve noticed bed bugs around your wood floors, you might want to spray this product a couple times a week.
Battery Powered Wand
With the battery-powered spray wand, the product can get inside the cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide. The spray wand also makes it faster and easier to spray your whole home thoroughly. The easier the task is, the more likely you are to commit to doing a careful, thorough job. Ortho Home Defense also doesn’t stain water-safe fabrics, and it doesn’t leave a harsh odor.
About Safety
Ortho Home Defense is a great budget option. The half gallon container should cover your entire home, and the product should eliminate bed bugs and eggs as long as you spray it carefully. This might not be the best option for people with kids , but as long as you follow the instructions, it should work effectively . Ortho Home Defense also may not be pet safe . Many reviewers say that they have pets, but they don’t use the spray around the areas where their pets eat or sleep.
- Very inexpensive
- Battery-powered wand for easy use
- Great for carpeted areas
- Dry residue may not be as effective as other products
- Might not be safe around pets
5. Exterminators Choice Bed Bug Defense – Best Essential Oil Bed Bug Spray
Exterminators Choice Bed Bug Defense comes in a one-gallon container with a remote spray nozzle. The nozzle has a mist setting for large areas and a spray setting for cracks and crevices. It uses only natural ingredients, so it’s non-toxic. The four active ingredients are clove oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, and rosemary oil. These essential oils have pest-killing properties, but they’re completely safe for humans. The essential oils also give the spray a mild, pleasant scent. You can spray your mattress and floors without worrying about smelling harsh chemicals all the time.
Natural & Safe but no EPA Approval yet
The only ingredients in Exterminators Choice are essential oils and water, so it should be safe. However, it isn’t yet registered by the EPA. Without the EPA approval of the product, users can’t be 100 percent sure of how environmentally-friendly or safe it is. Also, some essential oils can be harmful to pets in large quantities. You’ll have to keep your pets away from the product until it dries, especially if you’ve sprayed all your furniture and your entire floor. Store the container in a cool, dry place where your pet won’t be able to reach it.
How to Use
- To use this product, take all the bedding off of your mattress and spray it thoroughly, especially the cracks and crevices in the bed frame or box spring.
- Use a flashlight to look for evidence of infestation, and be especially careful to coat those areas with the spray.
- Allow it to dry completely before putting the bedding back on, and repeat this process every two weeks.
- You should also spray your entire floor, regardless of whether it’s hardwood or carpet.
- Focus especially on cracks in the floor, and don’t walk on the treated area until it’s dry.
- To kill bed bugs in their hiding places, spray the Exterminators Choice product on your door frames, window frames, and in the cracks and crevices in your furniture.
Exterminators Choice is a good option for people who prefer natural ingredients. It has great reviews from people who have used the product to completely get rid of their bed bug infestations. As long as you’re careful using the spray around your young children and pets, you should have a good experience with this product.
- All-natural ingredients
- Includes spray nozzle for easy use
- Not registered by the EPA
- Large quantities may be harmful to pets
Best Bug Killer – Buyer’s Guide
Bed bugs are often confused with fleas, lice, and other bugs. Before you spend money on a bed bug killer, make sure that you’re actually dealing with bed bugs. They’re tiny, tan or brown bugs about 5 millimeters in length. It’s not common to see the actual bugs crawling around, but you may see bloodstains or shed bed bug shells on your sheets. Bites become red, itchy welts and sometimes will appear in a straight line on your skin.
Bug Killer Types
Bed bugs can be a serious problem, so it’s important to buy the best possible product. To figure out which bed bug killer will work best for you, you should know about the different types of sprays, ingredients, and other features.
There are two categories of bed bug killers: contacts and residuals. Contact products kill bed bugs immediately on contact, and residuals have longer-lasting effects. Residuals can stay active for weeks or months, so any bed bug who makes contact in that time period will be killed. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding, so you need to use a product that will work for a long period of time. However, contact killers provide great immediate results. It’s best to use a product that combines these two features.
About the Pyrethroid
Many bed bug killers contain pyrethroid, which is not harmful to humans but is toxic to pests. However, pyrethroid is no longer very effective at killing bed bugs. Lots of bed bugs are resistant to the chemical, so you need to use either a newer, synthetic pyrethroid solution or a completely different product. Some effective bed bug killers use pyrethrin, which is a natural compound from the pyrethrum plant. Some use essential oils, sodium lauryl sulfate, or other natural ingredients. You should be able to find a successful bed bug killer that doesn’t include any dangerous, unnatural chemicals.
Safety Precautions
Ingredient safety is an important concern for most people. Some pesticides contain harsh chemicals that can be dangerous, especially for children and pets. Since bed bug killer is used indoors, you should look for a product that’s natural and non-toxic. You should be able to spray down your entire mattress and your other furniture without worrying that the product will hurt you if you make skin contact or accidentally inhale some. The seller or manufacturer should provide an ingredient list, so you can easily Google whether or not the chemicals are safe.
How to Spray
You should also consider the spray method. Most products either come in a spray bottle or include a spray nozzle. Some come in an aerosol can, which makes it easy to apply the product over a large area. Spray nozzles are much better for getting in and around cracks and crevices, and they let you apply a thicker layer of the product more easily. A spray bottle will take more time and effort to use, but it will provide much more thorough coverage than an aerosol can.
Materials to Apply On
Before buying a bed bug killer, you’ll have to find out what materials it can be used on. The best bed bug killers are safe to use on wood, carpeting, mattresses, and other furniture without staining. If you can’t spray your bed with a bed bug killer, how effective will it really be? Make sure you can use the product on any surface in your home that may have bed bugs.
Once you choose a bed bug spray, it’s important to follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions. Your product should come with a user manual, or the instructions should be printed on the bottle. If you ignore the directions, the spray won’t work properly, and you’ll have wasted time and money. If the product contains harmful chemicals, it also could be dangerous not to pay close attention to the instructions. Wear gloves and eye protection whenever you use the product, and never spray a bed bug killer directly on your skin.
Best Bed Bug Killer
If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed about bed bugs, you may be tempted to buy the first product you see. While you should act quickly to stop the infestation from spreading, you still have time to take a few minutes to do some research and make an informed choice. Review the products on this list and think about which would be the most helpful for your home.