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.
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.
