How To Use Vinegar To Get Rid Of Bedbugs: The Dos & Don’ts

For people looking to avoid chemicals or those who simply want a quick home remedy, vinegar might seem like the perfect answer, but do you know how to use vinegar to get rid of bedbugs?

Vinegar is cheap, readily available, and considered safe around children and pets, at least compared to traditional insecticides; however, as with any pest control method, vinegar has its limits, and knowing how to use it correctly is crucial.

In this guide, you will learn exactly what vinegar does to bedbugs, how to apply it, where to use it, and the dos and don’ts that come with this DIY method.

 

What Makes Vinegar Effective Against Bedbugs?

Vinegar, especially white distilled vinegar, contains acetic acid. This acid is what gives vinegar its strong smell and sour taste.

When sprayed directly onto bedbugs, the high concentration of acetic acid attacks their nervous system and ultimately kills them.

The smell is so potent that it irritates the bugs and can flush them out of their hiding spots.

This is why so many people are searching for how to use vinegar to get rid of bedbugs, not just for its affordability but also for its ability to offer quick, visible results when used the right way.

But make no mistake, vinegar is not a long-term solution, and it comes with limitations you should know about.

 

Read also: Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs On Contact? (Surprising Facts To Know)

 

What Can Vinegar Not Do?

Before jumping into the steps, it is important to understand the limitations of vinegar in bedbug control:

1. It only works on contact. This means you must spray it directly on the bug.
2. It does not kill bedbug eggs, which are often tucked away deep in crevices.
3. The smell does not last long enough to act as a repellent.
4. It cannot penetrate through thick materials, so bedbugs hiding inside mattresses or deep furniture joints may remain unaffected.
5. Once vinegar dries, it loses its killing effect.

So yes, vinegar kills some bedbugs, but it cannot eliminate a full-blown infestation. That said, it still plays a useful role in early detection or minor cases.

 

What are the Types of Vinegar to Use to Get rid of Bedbugs?

Not all vinegars are created equal when it comes to pest control. If you are looking into how to use vinegar to get rid of bedbugs, go for the type that has the highest acetic acid content.

• Best Choices:
  • White Distilled Vinegar: Contains around 5 to 7% acetic acid. It is strong, cheap, and widely available.
  • Cleaning Vinegar: Even more acidic than standard white vinegar (6 to 8% acetic acid), but less safe to use around pets and fabrics.
• Less Effective:
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Weaker acid content, often scented, and not ideal for pest control.

Stick with white distilled vinegar unless you have nothing else on hand.

 

How to Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Bedbugs (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Locate the Infestation.

Start by identifying the hiding spots. Bedbugs love small, dark, tight spaces close to where you sleep or sit.

Focus on mattress seams and corners, behind the headboard, inside box springs, baseboards and wall cracks, electrical outlets and switch plates, behind picture frames, and inside couch cushions.

You can also look for telltale signs like dark spots (fecal matter), eggs (tiny white grains), or live bugs.

Step 2: Fill a Spray Bottle

Do not dilute the vinegar. Pour pure white distilled vinegar into a clean spray bottle. The solution needs to be strong to affect the bugs. A fine mist sprayer is ideal because it covers more surface area.

Step 3: Spray the Hotspots Thoroughly

Begin spraying all the areas where you found signs of bedbugs. Make sure to:

1. Soak mattress seams and folds.
2. Spray under the bed frame and baseboards.
3. Focus on cracks in walls and furniture joints.
4. Apply to the edges of carpets.
5. Spray heavily: just misting will not be effective. You want the vinegar to touch the bugs to be lethal.

Step 4: Spray Visible Bedbugs on Sight

If you see a bedbug crawling, do not hesitate. Spray it directly. Vinegar kills them best this way. If you want to test the effectiveness, you can try spraying a small number of bugs in a glass jar and observe how quickly they react.

Step 5: Repeat Daily

Vinegar is not a one-time fix. You must continue spraying every day for at least one to two weeks, depending on the severity of the infestation.

This helps catch newly hatched bugs and those you missed earlier.

 

Read also: Natural Bed Bug Repellents That Actually Work: Top 7

 

Combine Vinegar with Cleaning for Best Results

If you are serious about getting rid of bedbugs naturally, do not rely solely on spraying. Combine your vinegar treatment with aggressive cleaning practices.

•  Vacuum Everything
  • Use a strong vacuum with a crevice tool to suck up bugs, eggs, and droppings. Focus on the:
    • Mattresses and box springs
    • Bed frames and headboards
    • Carpets and rugs
    • Couch cushions
  • Empty the vacuum bag outside immediately and seal it in a plastic bag.
• Wash All Bedding in Hot Water

Bedbugs cannot survive high temperatures. Wash your sheets, pillows, blankets, and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting.

• Declutter the Room

Bedbugs love hiding. Remove books, boxes, shoes, and piles of clothes from under the bed or around the room. Less clutter means fewer places to hide and lay eggs.

 

Boost the Vinegar Method with Other Natural Tools

To increase your chances of success, consider combining vinegar with other natural remedies.

1. Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE): This fine powder, made from crushed fossils, damages the outer shell of bedbugs and dehydrates them.
   Sprinkle it around bed legs, wall edges, and furniture joints after the vinegar spray has dried.
2. Try Heat and Steam: Steam is one of the few natural methods that can kill both bedbugs and their eggs. Use a handheld steamer on your mattress, couch, and baseboards.
   Steam every few days while continuing your vinegar treatment.
3. Install Bedbug Traps: Place sticky traps or interceptors under the legs of your bed. These help you monitor progress and prevent bedbugs from climbing back onto the mattress.

 

What are the Safety Precautions When Using Vinegar?

While vinegar is non-toxic compared to chemical sprays, it is still acidic and needs to be used with care. Below are safety precautions to adhere to when using vinegar to get rid of bed bugs:

1. Avoid contact with eyes or open skin wounds.
2. Do not mix with bleach. This creates toxic chlorine gas.
3. Test vinegar on fabrics first, especially delicate materials, to avoid discoloration.
4. Ventilate rooms during and after spraying.
5. Store vinegar safely away from children.

 

What to Do when Vinegar Is Not Enough

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the infestation gets worse, and that is because bedbugs are notoriously hard to kill once they multiply.

If you are spraying daily and still seeing bites or bugs, it may be time to consider the following methods:

1. Professional heat treatment.
2. Insecticide-based extermination.
3. Replacing infested furniture.

Still, learning how to use vinegar to get rid of bedbugs gives you a valuable head start and can keep things under control while waiting for a professional.

 

How to Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Bedbugs (FAQs)

Can I Use Vinegar to Completely Eliminate a Bedbug Infestation?

No, vinegar cannot completely eliminate a bedbug infestation. It only kills bugs it comes in direct contact with and has no effect on their eggs.

Vinegar is best used as a temporary or supportive measure alongside thorough cleaning, steaming, and possibly professional treatment.

How often Should I Spray Vinegar in My Home to Kill Bedbugs?

You should spray undiluted white vinegar on affected areas once a day for at least one to two weeks, especially in places where bedbugs hide.

Daily spraying helps manage new bugs that hatch from eggs; however, this does not guarantee complete elimination.

What Kind of Vinegar Works Best on Bedbugs?

White distilled vinegar is the most effective because it has a higher concentration of acetic acid.

Cleaning vinegar may work faster due to its stronger acidity, but it should be used with caution around sensitive surfaces, pets, and children.

Is it Safe to Spray Vinegar on My Mattress and Bedding?

Yes, but with caution. While vinegar is generally safe, it can discolor certain fabrics or damage delicate materials.

Always do a small patch test first and ensure you air out the room properly after spraying.

Will Vinegar Keep Bedbugs away after Spraying?

No, vinegar does not act as a long-term repellent. Once it dries, its effect fades, and bedbugs may return.

For lasting protection, combine vinegar with other methods such as vacuuming, heat treatments, or diatomaceous earth.

Can I Mix Vinegar With Bleach or Essential Oils for Stronger Results?

Never mix vinegar with bleach, as this creates toxic chlorine gas, which is extremely dangerous. Mixing vinegar with essential oils may mask the smell, but it will weaken its effectiveness.

For best results, use undiluted vinegar alone.

 

Read also: Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs? What You Need To Know

 

Conclusion

Using vinegar to control bedbugs is a popular home remedy because it is cheap, accessible, and fairly effective for mild infestations.

When sprayed directly on the bugs, it can kill them quickly, thanks to its high acetic acid content. However, it does not kill eggs or offer long-term protection.

That is why it is best used as part of a broader pest control routine, including vacuuming, steaming, and daily cleaning.

If you ever find yourself facing a bedbug scare and wondering what to do immediately, now you know how to use vinegar to get rid of bedbugs effectively. It might not be a permanent fix, but it sure is a great first step.

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