A bed bug infestation can start simply by introducing a few bed bugs into your bedroom. And there are many ways through which those blood-sucking pests can camp out in your bed without your knowledge. One of them is by hitching a ride on your clothes, either the ones you are wearing or those that are in your luggage.

This is when the importance of reaching for a bottle of bed bug repellent spray for clothes comes in.

Bed bugs cannot attach themselves to your skin. This is why they tend to feast on your blood in the middle of the night when you are taking a trip to dreamland and lying very still.

However, they can certainly cling to textured surfaces, such as your clothes. Because of this, it’s possible for you to bring home some bed bugs after staying in an infested hotel or house.

This is why it is a definite must to immediately wash your clothes in hot water for at least half an hour after coming into contact with bed bugs.

Or you may drive away those creepy crawlers with a bed bug repellent spray!

But don’t just opt for any repellent spray for bed bugs.

Whether you have sensitive skin or not, make sure that the product you are about to spray on your clothes contains nothing but all-natural ingredients.

This helps prevent skin-related issues. It can also help keep at bay problems, from mild to serious, related to the respiratory system.

What to Look for in a Bed Bug Spray

Never assume that a bed bug insecticidal spray and bed bug repellent spray for clothes can be used interchangeably.

If you use on your clothes something that’s meant for the carpet, sofa, or any other common bed bug hiding places, you may wind up facing other issues than just a bed bug infestation!

When shopping for a bed bug spray suitable for use on your clothes, look for the following.

Natural Ingredients

It is perfectly normal for bed bug insecticidal sprays to contain synthetic ingredients. Usually, this is necessary to make it possible for them to kill bed bugs and, in many instances, destroy their eggs, too.

However, it is a completely different story when it comes to bed bug repellents as they tend to come into contact with your skin.

As a general rule of thumb, it is a good idea to stay away from something with an ingredient whose name you have a hard time reading.

If possible, go for something that says “all-natural” on its packaging.

Proven Effective

Just because a maker claims that its product is the best repellent for bed bugs that you can spray on clothes doesn’t mean right away that it’s the one you should opt for.

Especially if it contains ingredients that are not scientifically proven to repel bed bugs, it will surely flush your money down the drain.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot for a spray to work effectively in driving bed bugs away from your clothes. Some of the ingredients that can yield impressive results are essential oils, many of which smell delightful.

Travel Size

It is while traveling when the risk of having bed bugs in your clothes is higher. This is why the best bed bug repellent spray that you can spray on clothes comes in a travel-size bottle that can be carried around easily.

Especially if you are in a rush, you may simply get your hands on a travel size bed bug spray Walmart offers on your way to the airport.

But still, it is a good idea to have an idea of which one to get to make sure that you can get rid of bed bugs in your clothes before they have the chance to step foot inside your home.

Ready to Use

Some products for dealing with bed bugs require measuring and mixing, which can take up some of your time and energy.

If you want to be able to rid your clothes of any hitchhiking bed bugs ASAP, the repellent should be ready to use. Shaking its bottle is the only step that needs to be taken before application.

A bed bug repellent spray that can be used on your clothes as soon as it reaches your doorstep also helps save precious space in your luggage, thereby allowing you to pack lightly.

Positive Feedback

Whether you are planning to buy the product online or offline, it’s a good idea to first log on the web to check out ratings and reviews.

Does it seem like the bed bug repellent spray on your list is getting a lot of negative reviews? Then cross it out right away and start checking out reviews on the next product.

You may also drop by the website of Consumer Reports — the best bed bug spray for clothes reviews there are unbiased. The organization, by the way, has been around since the 1930s.

Not all bed bug repellent sprays suitable for use on clothes are the same. Some can help drive away bed bugs alright, while others may simply leave you smelling weird.

Take your time when shopping to make sure that you will end up with a product that works.

Also, refrain from thinking that spraying your clothes with an effective bed bug repellent spray is enough if you have a bed bug infestation.

To put the problem to an end, you should also take the necessary steps to eliminate bed bugs. You can choose between the DIY route and getting in touch with professional exterminators.

7 Best Bed Bug Repellent Sprays for Your Clothes

For a bed bug repellent spray to work, it needs to have the right scent. So, what scent keeps bed bugs away? There are plenty of them. Some common examples include lavender, peppermint, and citronella.

This is why many of the products I will talk about below contain essential oils whose scents are extremely repulsive to bed bugs.

You will also notice that none of them contains chemicals commonly found in other products for those nocturnal pests, such as permethrin spray for mattress and tetramethrin in bed bug insecticidal spray.

Here are some of the best of the bunch.

Victoria’s Lavender Pillow and Linen Spray

Active Ingredient: Lavender essential oil
Sizes Available: 8 ounces and 2 ounces

Just like what the name says, the product is primarily for making pillows and linens smell nice. But because it contains 100% pure essential oil, it can also be used for repelling bed bugs in clothes.

It’s no secret that the use of lavender essential oil for bed bugs is one of the best ways to deal with an infestation.

That’s because lavender can not only repel bed bugs but also kill those blood-sucking insects. What’s more, based on numerous studies, the lavender essential oil can also destroy bed bug eggs.

What I really loved about Victoria’s Lavender Pillow and Linen Spray is that it doesn’t have an overpowering smell. After all, it’s made to help people who are battling insomnia.

Instead of spraying the product on the pillowcases and sheets during my hotel stay, I sprayed it on my clothes.

However, I didn’t try using it on exposed areas of my body because it’s not intended for such. But, while reading the packaging, I thought it’s unlikely to cause skin irritation or any dermatological issue as it’s all-natural.

Key Features:

  • Contains 100% natural lavender essential oil.
  • Also doubles as a room freshener.
  • Comes in a durable aluminum spray bottle.

Eunoia Naturals Aromatherapy Mist

Active Ingredients: Lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil
Sizes Available: 4 ounces

According to the manufacturer, Eunoia Naturals Aromatherapy Mist is handcrafted. It also doesn’t contain anything that you wouldn’t want to come into contact with your skin, such as alcohol, parabens, and artificial fragrances.

Thanks to the details on the packaging, I was able to spray the product on my clothes (and pillows and sheets, too) without hesitation. However, while shopping for it, the cost intimidated me.

Immediately, my hotel room was filled with the relaxing scents of both lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil.

The use of this spray with bed bug repelling properties can prove to be beneficial for those who could use some sleep after a long-haul flight or hectic travel schedule.

Refrain from assuming that Eunoia Naturals Aromatherapy Mist is more effective against bed bugs that the first product I talked about simply because it has chamomile essential oil, too.

Unfortunately, there is not enough scientific evidence that chamomile can repel bed bugs. However, it cannot be denied that it can help promote relaxation.

Key Features:

  • Combines the soothing properties of lavender and chamomile.
  • Effective for stress and anxiety.
  • Has no alcohol and synthetic ingredients.

Night Night Kid’s Aromatherapy Mist

Active Ingredients: Lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil
Sizes Available: 4 ounces

Just like the product I just talked about, Night Night Kid’s Aromatherapy Mist relies on a couple of ingredients: lavender essential oil and chamomile essential oil.

But then again, it’s only lavender essential oil that makes the product ideal for keeping bed bugs away from your clothes.

The other one, which is chamomile essential oil, can only drive insomnia away. The maker says that its offering is great for reducing tantrums in children, which is likely to happen during a trip.

Honestly, I have no idea what makes Night Night Kid’s Aromatherapy Mist more suited for kids than adults. Is it because the essential oil contents are more diluted, making the product gentler on the sensitive skin of kids?

If such is the case, I am assuming that one must spray lots of the product on clothes for it to be able to repel bed bugs effectively.

I highly suggest getting the product only if you are traveling with a child. Otherwise, opt for another one, especially something that comes with a more potent mix.

Key Features:

  • Gentle on kids’ sensitive skin.
  • Contains no synthetic ingredients.
  • Soothing, thanks to the added chamomile.

Healing Solutions Lavender Spray

Active Ingredient: Lavender essential oil
Sizes Available: 4 ounces.

If you are wondering how to repel bed bugs from biting you as well as clinging to your clothes, in many instances, it’s just as simple as spraying what you are wearing with a nice-smelling product.

Case in point: Healing Solutions Lavender Spray. It has a subtle floral scent that is really easy to love.

Because it can help promote a good night’s sleep, the product can come in handy especially if the thought of sleeping in a hotel bed that could be swarming with bed bugs eager to drink your blood is leaving you with a bout of insomnia.

According to the manufacturer, it can be sprayed on practically anything that’s out of fabric. It adds that its offering is also great for making sofas, yoga mats, carpets and others smell great.

The packaging says that, before using Healing Solutions Lavender Spray, a person who is pregnant or has a known medical condition should first consult a doctor.

It adds that it may cause skin irritation. While I was testing the product on my clothes, some of it came into contact with my skin. Luckily, I noticed no unfavorable reactions.

Key Features:

  • Has a mild lavender scent.
  • Comes in a pocket-friendly size.
  • Versatile as a refresher.

Healing Solutions Peppermint Spray

Active Ingredient: Peppermint essential oil
Sizes Available: 2 ounces

Unfortunately, there is one small problem with the product: peppermint essential oil is one of the most energizing essential oils on the face of the planet.

So, in other words, spraying it on your clothes at night may prevent you from getting some shut-eye. It’s nothing like lavender essential oil which is extremely relaxing.

Because of this, I thought that it’s better to use Healing Solutions Peppermint Spray on my suitcase to keep bed bugs at bay. It makes for a wonderful all-natural alternative to permethrin for bed bugs in luggage.

Did you know that bed bugs can also hitch a ride in your footwear? And did you know that many shoe deodorizers in the market that are free of synthetic ingredients rely on peppermint essential oil?

Due to this, the product can be used not only for driving bed bugs away from your footwear, but also keeping it smelling clean and fresh!

By the way, I found taking a whiff of the product effective for dealing with nausea and dizziness, which many people tend to encounter when taking a trip.

Key Features:

  • Bed bugs cannot stand its minty smell.
  • Contains no synthetic ingredients.
  • Great for gaining some energy.

Nature’s Defense Citronella Mosquito Repellent

Active Ingredients: Citronella, lemongrass essential oil, peppermint essential oil
Sizes Available: 3.38 ounces

Don’t let the name of the product fool you. Even though there’s the word “mosquito” on its name, Nature’s Defense Citronella Mosquito Repellent can be used as a bed bug repellent spray for your clothes, too.

That’s because citronella is also effective in driving bed bugs away. According to scientists, citronella works by keeping bed bugs (and mosquitoes and other insects) from smelling you.

So, in other words, using the product on your clothes and also exposed skin can make you practically invisible to bed bugs.

Bed bugs hate the sunshiny smell of citronella, too, although it helps lift the mood of human beings, just like other essential oils with citrusy aromas such as orange and lemongrass.

Speaking of lemongrass, Nature’s Defense Citronella Mosquito Repellent also contains lemongrass essential oil. It also has peppermint essential oil.

Both ingredients are all-natural bed bug repellents. Combined with citronella, I am fully confident that spraying the product all over is a great way to keep me from bringing home some bed bugs.

Key Features:

  • Contains citronella that repels mosquitoes and bed bugs.
  • It has lemongrass and peppermint, too.
  • Has a reasonable price tag for its size.

Citronella Essential Oil Non-GMO

Active Ingredients: Citronella essential oil
Sizes Available: 2 ounces

Here’s another product that is being marketed as a mosquito repellent but can also be used for keeping bed bugs off your clothes and skin, too. It is effective against bed bugs because of its citronella content.

To protect you even more from those little vampires that tend to nest in beds, the maker has also added a few other ingredients to its product.

They are lemongrass essential oil, peppermint essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil. All of them are scientifically proven to be effective for repelling bed bugs.

One spray and your nose will tell you right away that bed bugs won’t be able to stand it.

However, if you are not fond of strong minty aromas, then you might find Citronella Essential Oil as kind of irritating.

Aside from my clothes, I also sprayed the product on my skin. What I liked about it is that it didn’t leave a sticky or greasy film.

It also helped me feel energized — in the world of aromatherapy, the various active ingredients of the repellent are known to promote rejuvenation and a lifted mood, too.

Key Features:

  • Has an uplifting smell.
  • Does not leave a sticky residue.
  • Great for repelling bed bugs, mosquitoes, and others.

Just Before You Spray Your Clothes With a Bed Bug Repellent

You can choose from an assortment of bed bug repellent spray for clothes, the majority of which contain all-natural ingredients. Many of them are also being marketed as mosquito repellents.

But since they are free from harmful chemicals and smell nice, too, they can also be used for keeping bed bugs off your clothes.

I hope that the reviews above have helped you choose which bed bug repellent in the market you should get and take with you on your next trip!

All products mentioned above are very good, but if you ask me which one is my favorite then it’s Victoria’s Pure Lavender Essential Oil (affiliate link).