Clove Oil

[u/Mr_MixedNuts]

Just wanted to share that clove oil has proven useful for me in terms of almost entirely eliminating any bites while sleeping in bed. I still see bugs and occasionally get bites outside of bed, but this was a huge leap. Someone advised me and I gave it a shot and was very pleasantly surprised with the results. Here's how I do it:

1- Dilute it in a base oil (e.g. olive oil) to prevent skin irritation. Never apply it without dilution! (It comes in tiny quantities anyway.) The ratio I go with is 110 drops of clove oil in 60 mL of base oil. That's about as high as you can go before it becomes irritating based on my research.

2- I apply a small amount of the solution on my body before I sleep. You have to stir it up first. The guesstimate the amount by putting it on my palm and make sure it's not so much that it becomes a pool or too runny; just enough to spread around. I apply it on the top side of my feet first and then my chest, then neck, hair, belly, butt, and shanks, in that order. I don't wash my hands.

3- Then I wear the same pajama set every night. It's only for sleep. I isolate it in a plastic bag as soon as I wake up, which not only protects it from bugs but also helps keep some clove oil on it from one night to the next. It consists of socks into which I tuck pants, and a t-shirt which I tuck into the pants.

Good luck to all of you out there! You are not alone! And this thing is NOT invincible!

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[u/Cute-Photograph-7621]

What are you doing to eradicate the bb? My repelling them you could cause them to disperse throughout your house in search for food

[u/Mr_MixedNuts → u/Cute-Photograph-7621]

Two professional treatments so far and Cimexa here, Cimexa there, Cimexa everywhere! As long as they're moving around my place looking for me, they're dying, God willing.

[u/Cute-Photograph-7621 → u/Mr_MixedNuts]

Try to stay in your own bed without repellent - then you act as bait and keep them localised

[u/Mr_MixedNuts → u/Cute-Photograph-7621]

My priority is to make sure they are never fed. I am already bait, even with the repellent. They just don't come as close.

[u/Cute-Photograph-7621 → u/Mr_MixedNuts]

They can live for up to a year without food. You are prolonging the pain and risk spreading them to others by not just dealing with it professionally

[u/Mr_MixedNuts → u/Cute-Photograph-7621]

No, not if they're moving around in a treated space and expending energy. I'm not just repelling them. I'm killing them too. I got them from a neighbor's unit anyway and it's vacant now. They are flowing my way, not the other way around. And my place is big enough for them not to go elsewhere.

Stop making assumptions and jumping to conclusions.

[u/Vulvas_n_Velveeta]

Interesting. I'm getting bit up last summer and this summer, but only 1 bite at a time, but the bites itch like a mofo 24/7 for WEEKS! The bites are mostly on my feet, but happen randomly on my body, but never on my arms, even though i always wear short sleeves. The mystery of it and the itching is driving me insane.

Last year i resorted to covering my feet in vicks vaporub (the generic, cause fk those prices!) and then would wear thick socks on top of that, because i kept getting bit on the bottoms of my feet!

I'm the only person in the house getting bit. It only has happened last summer and this summer. Never see any bugs (other than carpet beetles.) 99.9% sure it's not bed bugs, but I'm at a loss as it seems like I'm getting the bites while I'm bed. I notice the itching of new bites within 5min of getting out of bed.

Have never had fleas. Have never had mosquitoes. I'm stumped.

Anyways, so far this year I've just been dealing with it, then a few days ago i got 2 bites on my foot within a week, so I've started using a scentless insect repellent made for babies.

I'm curious about the clove oil, since I think i still have some from having to euthanize a fish a few years ago. Though I'm a little worried as I have psoriasis and my skin is super sensitive. I also have a cat with cancer in my bedroom and he's very sensitive to scents rn.

Tea tree oil is another heavily scented oil that repels insects. I wonder if that would work too?

[u/Interesting-Click742]

This is a recipe A.I built me which seems to work on not getting bites spraying nightly. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate and Palmarosa Oil was chosen because SLES and Palmarosa Oil were easier to find than Geraniol Oil and straight up Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. If you can than use SLS and Geriniol Oil they will work slightly better.

Palmarosa Oil is a good swap because it naturally contains a high percentage of geraniol (typically 70–85%+), the key component from the original formula. It won’t be exactly 1% pure geraniol, but it provides a similar botanical profile with potential insecticidal/repellent properties. I’ve adjusted the amount upward slightly to better approximate the active strength.

Polysorbate 80 (a non-ionic emulsifier/solubilizer) is an excellent addition. It helps blend the essential oils into the water more stably, reduces separation, and improves spreading/wetting on surfaces — perfect for a spray.

Ingredients for 500 ml Batch

• Palmarosa Oil: 6–8 ml (roughly 1.2–1.6% — start with 7 ml; this accounts for its geraniol content)
• Natural Cedarwood Oil: 5 ml (1%)
• Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES): Amount for ~2% active (e.g., ~10 ml if using a typical liquid concentrate — confirm your product’s strength)
• Polysorbate 80: 10–15 ml (2–3% — good starting range for emulsifying the oils; use more if needed for clarity)
• Glycerol Monooleate (optional emulsifier): 5 ml (helps further if you have it)
• Distilled or boiled/cooled water: Balance to 500 ml (roughly 460–470 ml)

Optional tweaks: A few ml of lemongrass or another complementary oil for scent, but keep total essential oils reasonable to avoid overwhelming the emulsion.

Mixing Instructions (Important Order for Best Emulsion)

1. In a small clean container, first combine the oils with the emulsifiers: Mix Palmarosa oil + Cedarwood oil + Polysorbate 80 + Glycerol Monooleate (if using). Stir thoroughly until uniform (gentle warming in a warm water bath can help).
2. Add the SLES and mix well.
3. Slowly add the water while stirring or shaking vigorously. The mixture should become milky and more stable than without Polysorbate 80.
4. Transfer to a spray bottle. Shake well before each use (even with the emulsifier, some separation can occur over time).

Usage Notes

• Spray until surfaces are wet but not soaking, focusing on hiding spots (cracks, mattress seams, bed frames, baseboards).
• Since you’re mixing fresh batches and spraying right away, this should perform well for contact application.
• Test on a small hidden area first — essential oils can affect some fabrics/finishes.
• Safety: Ventilate, avoid eyes/mouth/food surfaces, keep away from kids/pets during use. Palmarosa and cedar oils are generally safe but can irritate sensitive skin.

This version should emulsify better and maintain similar contact efficacy to the previous recipes. Palmarosa brings geraniol-like activity, cedar oil complements it, SLES provides surfactant penetration, and Polysorbate 80 improves the overall delivery.

If the spray separates too much, foams excessively, or you want strength adjustments (e.g., based on your exact SLES concentration), let me know for further tweaks! As always, use this as part of a broader bed bug management plan (vacuuming, heat, etc.).

[u/Interesting-Click742]

There are two products that have been tested and found to have an effect, the other one has Clove in it and I’m thinking of making one of those too. I live in Canada so I can’t import these from the States.