Will peppermint oil kill bed bugs?

Peppermint oil or pulegone irritates any insect that is pheromone sensitive. It forces bed bugs to flee, usually into the walls away from the initial area, then when followed up with the DE it kills some of the bed bugs by damaging the exoskeleton as they return to feed on humans.

Unfortunately DE is carcinogenic, and peppermint has some unpleasant side effects such as triggering seizures in people that are sensitive. It is your choice to risk using peppermint oil as a pest control agent. But there are better products out there.

Essential oils, can cross into the blood stream via the lungs, skin and through ingestion.
The lightest essentials oils cross over easily, where heavier oils do not, such as cedar oil, neem oil, and sesame oil.

Peppermint or pulegone, poisoning slows the heartbeat, shallow breathing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, depression, dizziness, twitching, unconsciousness, uncoordinated movement, and flushing.

Peppermint or pulegone, thyme, clove, and oregano oils are all very light, and cross easily. Clove or Eugenol has a history of contamination with lighter fluid and paint thinner. Oregano oil is highly volatile, and so is Peppermint.


While all this can be true it rarely if ever happens with "natural" peppermint oil and is much less harmful than using "chemicals" to kill bedbugs. If you want to use an oil that will kill them for sure then use "cedar oil". This will kill all of them as long as you fog and spray every inch of your house and all of your belongings. If you live in an apartment complex then you will have to make sure that ALL of the units are treated, otherwise they will escape to an untreated apartment and then re-infest everyone again. While this can be a nightmare, you can get rid of them if you are diligent and follow ALL instructions to the letter. Using pest control can be effective too if this is your choice, it is a matter of which agent you want to use to rid them.
Also, be prepared to get rid of furniture and possibly moving. If you move, make sure that ALL of your stuff is treated and you do not bring "any" of the bugs with you to your new place!
I know about all of this as i myself survived an infestation in an apartment complex.
I now live somewhere new, bug free.