Bed bugs are not a pest anyone wants to share space with.
Bed bug bites are itchy and annoying, and because the pests reproduce rapidly and hide in hard-to-reach areas, bed bug infestations can quickly spread and become out of control.
Fortunately, you don’t have to live with bedbugs forever.
In this blog, we’re sharing the best sprays, traps, and treatments on the market to kill bed bugs– the same ones we use to effectively treat our customers’ homes.
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Best for Direct Contact Kill
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Best for Large Areas
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Most Eco-Friendly
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Summary:
An effective, ready-to-spray aerosol pesticide that kills bed bugs on contact – even those that are resistant to other pyrethroid insecticides.
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Summary:
A water-based concentrate that provides long-lasting bed bug control for large areas.
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Summary:
An eco friendly spray that kills bed bugs on contact using botanical, natural ingredients.
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Our Top Picks
- Best for Direct Contact Kill: Temprid Ready to Spray Residual
- Best for Large Areas: Syngenta Demand CS
- Most Eco-Friendly: Nature-Cide All Purpose
- Best for Cracks & Crevices: Cimexa Dust
- Best Bed Bug Mattress Cover: Utopia Zippered Mattress Encasement
- Best Bed Bug Trap: ClimbUp Insect Interceptor
Summary: An effective, ready-to-spray aerosol pesticide that kills bed bugs on contact – even those that are resistant to other pyrethroid insecticides.
Type: Aerosol Insecticide
Key ingredient(s): Imidacloprid 0.05% beta-Cyfluthrin 0.02%
Also good for: Ants, spiders, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, fleas, moths, wasps, and more.
Temprid Ready To Spray is our top pick because it’s easy to use, highly effective, and capable of killing bed bugs on contact in all life stages – from eggs and nymphs to adults.
The spray lasts up to six months, which means it offers residual protection against bed bug reinfestation throughout your home.
The aerosol formulation is mess-free and easy to use, and the bag-on-valve technology within the can means you can apply this spray from any angle without leaks or loss of pressure.
Because this formula offers a crack and crevice injector and sprays a distance of 10-12 feet, it’s also ideal for use in hard-to-reach areas or as a spot treatment.
We recommend spraying it to the box spring, around your headboard, or the underside of any other places where people sleep.
That said – don’t put it right on your sheets. Focus, instead, on spraying it in the bed bugs’ path of travel.
Our Experience: When we tested this product, we found that it killed bedbugs instantly, and the spray formulation coated cracks and crevices very well, making it ideal for treating areas like baseboards.
How to Use: Shake well before use.
To use this product as a crack and crevice treatment, attach the crack and crevice nozzle and inject it directly into bed bug harborage areas, moving the injector tip along the area at a rate of 1 foot per second for moderate infestations and 6 inches per second for heavy infestations.
To use the product as a spot treatment, hold the nozzle 12-18 inches from the surface you want to treat, and spray it at a rate of 2 square feet per four seconds.
Reapply the product every 7-10 days until the infestation is resolved.
- Provides fast knockdown
- Mess-free and easy to use
- Dries clear
- Provides up to six months of residual protection
- Easy, one-step formulation
- No mixing or measuring
- Should not be sprayed on surfaces that come into direct contact with people, such as mattresses and bed linens
- The crack and crevice nozzle can be a bit flimsy during treatment
- People and pets cannot enter the treated area until this product has dried completely
Summary: A water-based concentrate that provides long-lasting bed bug control for large areas.
Type: Micro-encapsulated insecticide.
Key ingredient(s): lambda-Cyhalothrin 9.7%
Also good for: More than 30 other pests, including ants, mosquitos, beetles, boxelder bugs, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, and flies.
Syngenta Demand CS is our favorite option for bed bug control in large areas.
What makes this product unique is that it’s approved for indoor use, and the micro-encapsulated formula features a powerful pyrethroid. This allows it to stick to the bodies of bed bugs and provide long-term protection.
This product is also pet-safe when dry (as long as you use it according to label directions), so it’s an excellent option for treating dog beds and other bedbug-infested pet items.
It’s an effective barrier treatment and can help protect beds, couches, and other sleeping areas from bed bugs.
Our Experience: We field-tested Syngenta Demand CS and appreciated how easy the bottle’s built-in measuring cup was to use. We also noticed that this formula is odor-free, doesn’t stain, and provides weeks of broad-spectrum pest control after application.
How to Use: To use this product to treat bed bug infestations, vacuum all floors and surfaces before application.
Mix and dilute the product according to label directions, and apply with a hand-held or power-operated fogger.
Wear protective equipment, including an N95 mask, to protect yourself during application. Apply the spray to all harborage areas, including baseboards, crevices, the space behind bed frames, underneath beds and furniture, and bed springs.
Do not apply the formula to infested bedding, mattresses, or other surfaces where people lie or sit.
If you want to enhance the efficacy of this product, you can tank-mix it with labeled insecticides, IGRs, synergists, and other products.
- Does not stain or leave an odor
- Provides weeks of broad-spectrum pest control after application
- The low mixing rate makes this an economical choice, even for large treatment areas
- The convenient built-in measuring cup makes this product easy to mix and dilute
- When used as directed, this product is safe for use around kids and pets
- Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin
- Must be mixed before each use
- The cap can be loose, and the product may leak if stored incorrectly
Type: All-purpose spray insecticide
Key ingredient(s): Clove Oil – .05% Cottonseed Oil – .05%
Also good for: Spiders, ants, aphids, beetles, box elder bugs, caterpillars, cockroaches, earwigs, fleas, flies, hornets, mites, mosquitoes, clothes moths, silverfish, ticks, stink bugs, yellow jackets, silver leaf white flies and others
Formulated with 100% natural ingredients and powerful essential oils, Nature-Cide All Purpose insecticide kills bed bugs on contact and is approved for use both indoors and outdoors.
Unlike lots of other bedbug treatment products, this one is safe enough to use directly on bed linens and can be used as a bedbug preventative when traveling.
We like that this product is pre-mixed and ready to use as soon as you buy it, which makes it an ideal choice for in-home bedbug treatment. Unlike some of the other products on this list, you don’t need to worry about measuring and diluting concentrate or mixing a fresh batch every time you want to treat an area.
Our Experience: When we tested this product, we found that this one doesn’t leave a sticky or oily residue on the treatment area after use. Because it is formulated from natural ingredients, though, it didn’t last quite as long as other pesticides, and we needed to reapply it frequently.
How to use: Shake this product well before use and then apply liberally to bed bug harborage areas, including mattresses, bed frames, box springs, dog beds, and other linens. Repeat as needed until the infestation is resolved.
- Natural and non-toxic
- Affordable
- Safe for indoor use
- Safe for use around pets
- Does not leave behind toxic pesticide residue
- Will not stain surfaces
- Safe for daily use
- Must be reapplied frequently
- The plastic spray nozzle cracks easily
- Must contact bedbugs directly to kill them
- Strong essential oil smell, which may be unpleasant for some people
Summary: A safe, non-toxic insecticide dust that’s effective against bed bugs, fleas, and other household pests.
Type: Insecticide dust
Key ingredient(s): Silicon dioxide 92.1%
Also good for: Kills ants, cockroaches, silverfish, firebrats, spiders, mites, fleas, ticks, pantry beetles, moths, and termites.
CimeXa Insecticide Dust Insecticide is our go-to crack and crevice treatment because it’s safe, highly effective, easy to use, and long-lasting. In fact, this product offers up to 10 years of protection when applied in undisturbed areas, such as wall voids.
Uniquely, this product also kills bedbugs who have become resistant to other treatments, including pyrethroid-based insecticides.
Made of 100% desiccated silica dust, this product kills bed bugs by clinging to their bodies and deteriorating their waxy, protective coating, eventually dehydrating them. The product can be applied as a dust formulation or mixed with water and applied as a spray.
Our Experience: When we tested this product, we found that it was relatively easy to use, although the dust formulation can be messy and we recommend wearing an N95 mask when you apply it to prevent inhalation. We also found that it doesn’t kill bedbugs as quickly as some of the other treatments on this list, and that you need to use quite a lot of the powder to get results.
How to Use: To apply this product as a dust, use a handheld bulb duster (like this one), puffer bottle, or power duster to apply at a rate of 2 ounces per 100 square feet.
Paint the dust into cracks, crevices, and mattress and cushion folds with a craft or paint brush.
Flip your mattress over and apply the dust to all areas beneath your bed frames, including the seams of your mattress.
To apply the product as a liquid, combine up to 1 pound of the product with 1 gallon of clean water and apply 1 quart of the mixture for every 250 square feet of treatment area.
- Kills a broad spectrum of household pests
- Nontoxic and safe for indoor use
- Kills bed bugs resistant to other insecticides, including those containing pyrethroids and neonicotinoids
- Odorless and non-clumping
- Dust formulation can be messy to use
- Must purchase separate bulb duster
- Power duster application is limited to cracks, crevices, voids, attics, and crawlspaces to ensure containment of dust particles
Summary: A 100% waterproof mattress encasement to protect against and prevent bedbug infestations.
Type: Mattress cover
Key ingredient(s): N/A
Also good for: Protects against dust mites
The Utopia Zippered Mattress Protector is a great addition to any home. This secure, zippered cover protects mattresses from 360 degrees with a stretchable, tightly-knitted polyester fabric. In addition to offering protection against bed bugs and dust mites, this mattress cover is also 100% waterproof, meaning it will protect your mattress from spills and stains.
Our experience: We found this mattress cover easy to use and care for. It’s machine washable and can be dried on high to kill any bed bugs present, while the dense knit material locks bed bugs in and kills them. The the cover is easy to take off and put back on. The material is soft to the touch and doesn’t add bulk while sleeping.
How to Use: Stretch the mattress cover around your mattress and zip to close.
- Non-toxic
- Easy to use and launder
- Completely encases mattresses to seal bed bugs and dust mites in and kill them
- Can be used to protect new mattresses from bed bug infestations
- Comes in different sizes
- Material may rip on metal bed frames
- It’s made of polyester, which is a synthetic fiber that some people may be allergic to
- Waterproof coating may degrade over time
- Zipper closure can rip near seams
Summary: An interceptor bed bug trap that keeps bed bugs from climbing the legs of your bed, sofa, and other furniture.
Type: Bed bug trap
Key ingredient(s): N/A
Also good for: Prevents bed bugs from crawling up furniture
The ClimbUp Insect Interceptor Bed Bug Trap is a non-toxic, easy-to-use bedbug trap that allows you to monitor bedbug populations and keep your furniture bedbug free. Available in different sizes and shapes, these bedbug traps are made from durable plastic that’s too slick for bedbugs to climb up.
When bedbugs approach the bed or other furniture from the floor, they fall into the other well of these traps. This allows you to monitor bedbug infestations and use a contact insecticide to kill the bedbugs contained within the trap.
The dual-well design shows you which direction bed bugs are crawling – to or away from your furniture.
Our experience: When we tested this product, we found that they’re easy to set and use. We like that they’re a non-toxic, non-pesticide way to trap and contain bedbugs and that these traps are available in a variety of sizes to suit different types of furniture.
How to Use: Place one trap under each leg of furniture like your bed, sofa, and other upholstered items. Monitor the trap’s well for bed bug activity, and use a contact pesticide to kill bed bugs that fall into the trap.
- Non-toxic, pesticide-free
- Dual-well design shows you which direction bed bugs are crawling – to or away from your furniture
- Fits a variety of furniture with posts or feet
- Ideal for monitoring and early detection
- Affordable
- Does not kill bed bugs
- Requires you to move or lift furniture to place the traps, which can be difficult
- Requires hands-on contact with bedbugs
- Can be unsightly
Buyers Guide
Wondering how to choose the best bed bug treatment for you? Here are our top tips:
1. Think like a pest
Before you can get rid of bed bugs, you need to think like a pest and focus on interruption.
While you can’t remove their food sources (you’re the food source!) you can focus on interrupting their life cycles and removing their hiding places.
To get rid of these pests, focus on treating all possible hiding places (more on this next) and think about how they’re making their way into your home.
The more you can think like a bed bug, the more successful you’ll be at eliminating them.
2. Take a comprehensive approach
Bedbugs can be difficult to control because they can come into your home on new furniture items, including mattresses and sofas, or hitch a ride in your suitcase or clothing after travel.
Because of this, you need to focus on preventing and eliminating them.
Here’s how:
- Check any used furniture thoroughly for bed bugs before bringing it inside (pay special attention to seams and tufts)
- Launder clothing, drapes, and other items in hot water and dry on high when possible
- Look for bedbugs in areas like the texture of your popcorn ceiling and the seams and tufts of your mattress and other upholster
- Use a combination of traps and treatments to attack bed bugs
3. Use both contact and residual sprays
To kill all bed bugs in your home, focus on contact sprays and formulas that offer residual protection.
We recommend using a product like Temprid Ready To Spray to kill bed bugs on contact, and Syngenta Demand CS to provide residual protection. Use CimeXa Insecticide Dust to treat cracks, crevices, and wall voids, and combine all those efforts with good sanitation and bedbug traps to monitor bedbug infestations.
Be sure to read all label directions, follow them exactly, and wear protective gear when applying bed bug treatments.
4. Consider more extensive treatment
In some cases, the only way to get rid of bedbugs is to hire a professional extermination company to help.
Because bed bugs can hide in tiny harborage areas like the space behind baseboards or around electrical outlets, a whole-home treatment by a professional may be the only way to get rid of the pests once and for all.
Pest management professionals will use professional-grade sprays, insecticides, and other products to treat every crack and crevice of your home and eliminate bed bugs completely.
Bottom Line
Effectively eliminating bedbugs requires a multi-faceted approach.
While there’s no single product that will kill all bed bugs all of the time, using a combination of spot treatments, residual pesticides, traps, mattress covers, and good sanitation and hygiene can protect you from bed bugs both now and in the future.
For best results, we recommend using every product we mentioned on this list to protect yourself and your home.
How We Tested the Best Bed Bug Products
Our list of the best bed bug treatments includes options ranging from contact sprays to residual insecticides and tarps.
To choose the bedbug treatments we used to compile this list, we gathered all the top products we use in the field (and in our homes) as pest control professionals and chose the top options in each category.
After we developed our initial list of treatments and products, we evaluated each option based on how quickly it kills bed bugs, how safe it is to use, how well it performed, and how affordable it is.
The result is a comprehensive list of effective, targeted, professional-quality bed bug treatments that actually work to treat and prevent bedbug infestations.
Bed Bug Control FAQs
Bed bugs usually get into your home by hitching a ride on infested furniture, clothing, luggage, pet beds, or other items. They can also travel room-to-room in multi-unit and multi-family apartments.
If you have bed bugs in your home, the best way to get rid of them is to combine prevention and treatment. Inspect all new and used furniture before bringing it into the home, use contact and residual sprays to protect against bedbugs, and look for products that target bedbugs at all life stages, from eggs to adults.
Utilize preventative and protective treatments like mattress covers and traps, and invest in professional bedbug treatment, if needed.
It takes about 3-6 weeks to get rid of bed bugs in your home, and an average of 2-4 pest control treatments. For best, fastest results, we recommend choosing products that kill adult and larval bed bugs, and paying close attention to sanitation and prevention methods.
Products containing pyrethrins and pyrethroids will kill bed bugs and their eggs. We like Steri-Fab to kill live bedbugs and bed bug eggs because it works fast and it’s professional-grade – just be sure to read the label first!
