Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs?

Vinegar may kill a bed bug that you soak directly, but it isn’t a reliable way to deal with them. It can’t reach bugs hiding deep in seams and cracks, it isn’t known to kill eggs, and it stops working once it dries. It won’t clear an infestation, and the NHS doesn’t list it as something to try.

Reviewed by James Rhoades, Owner, ThermoPest · Last reviewed 16 October 2026

If you’ve just found bed bugs, reaching for the vinegar in the kitchen cupboard is an understandable first move. This guide explains what vinegar can and can’t do, whether the type matters, whether it repels bed bugs or helps in the wash, and what to do instead while you work out your next step.

Does white vinegar kill bed bugs?

White vinegar is the type most people try, and it’s the one people search for most. It’s a weak solution of acetic acid in water. Sprayed straight onto a bed bug and left wet, it may kill it. That’s about as far as it goes.

We’re not aware of any published research showing that vinegar controls bed bugs in a home, and the main guidance people in the UK rely on doesn’t recommend it. The NHS bedbugs page covers hot washing, tumble drying, freezing and vacuuming, and says the things you can try yourself are unlikely to get rid of bedbugs completely. Vinegar isn’t on its list.

What does vinegar do to bed bugs?

Vinegar only works on contact. It has to land on the bug and stay wet. It doesn’t soak into mattress piping, bed frame joints or the gap behind a skirting board, which is where most of the bugs are. Once it dries, it leaves nothing behind that keeps working, so bugs that walk over the same spot later aren’t affected.

Will vinegar get rid of bed bugs?

No. Even if you kill the few bugs you can see, the rest of the colony and its eggs stay hidden and carry on. That’s why people who spray vinegar often feel it’s working for a day or two, then find new bites.

Does vinegar kill bed bug eggs?

There’s no good evidence that it does. Bed bug eggs are tiny, about the size of a speck of dust, and sticky when first laid, so they stay glued to the surfaces they’re laid on. They hatch in about a week at room temperature.

Eggs are laid in the same tight cracks and seams the adults hide in, so a spray that only works on what it touches is unlikely to reach most of them. Miss the eggs and the problem comes back, however many adults you kill.

Does apple cider vinegar kill bed bugs?

Apple cider vinegar is no better than white vinegar, and it’s more likely to leave a sticky residue and a smell on fabrics. The same goes for white wine vinegar, malt vinegar and cleaning vinegar. They all rely on acetic acid, and none has been shown to clear bed bugs.

Do bed bugs hate the smell of vinegar?

There’s no good evidence that the smell of vinegar keeps bed bugs away. Bed bugs find people by the warmth of our bodies and the carbon dioxide we breathe out (the BPCA describes heat and carbon dioxide as the host cues they respond to), and they’ll keep coming to the bed while someone is sleeping in it.

Repellents in general don’t do much against bed bugs. Insect repellents used for ticks and mosquitoes don’t appear to be as effective against bed bugs, and that applying them at bedtime isn’t recommended. A vinegar spray has no evidence behind it at all.

Does vinegar repel bed bugs or move them on?

Spraying around the bed is more likely to disturb the bugs than drive them out for good. Anything that disturbs them can push them into new hiding places, other rooms or, in flats, next door. That’s also why we don’t recommend foggers, bug bombs or smoke bombs: they tend to scatter bed bugs rather than clear them.

Does vinegar in the laundry kill bed bugs?

Adding vinegar to the wash isn’t known to make any difference. What helps is the heat of the wash and the dryer. The NHS advises washing affected bedding and clothing on a hot wash (60°C) and tumble drying on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes. For items that can’t be washed, it suggests sealing them in a plastic bag and putting them in the freezer for 2 to 3 weeks.

• Bag laundry in the bedroom and carry it straight to the machine so you don’t drop bugs on the way.
• Once clean and dry, keep items in fresh sealed bags until the problem is sorted.
• Only throw away items that can’t be washed or treated.

For delicate fabrics, see our guide on whether ironing, washing or drying kills bed bugs on clothes.

How do you use vinegar on bed bugs, and is it worth it?

If you still want to try vinegar on a bug you can see, plain vinegar in a spray bottle is all people use. There’s no special mix that makes it work better. Keep these points in mind:

• Test first. Vinegar is acidic and can mark some fabrics, wood finishes and natural stone. Try a hidden patch.
• Don’t soak the mattress. A damp mattress is unpleasant to sleep on and slow to dry.
• Keep it away from electrics and open a window while you use it.
• Never mix vinegar with bleach. Chemistry World, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s magazine, explains that mixing bleach with an acid can release chlorine gas.

Honestly, the time is better spent on the steps in the next section, which help far more.

Does vinegar and baking soda kill bed bugs?

No. Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda fizz because the acid and the alkali react with each other, and what’s left is mostly water with a little dissolved salt. The mix isn’t stronger than vinegar alone. Our guide on whether salt kills bed bugs explains why salt doesn’t help either.

Which is better for bed bugs, alcohol or vinegar?

Neither is a good choice, and alcohol is the riskier of the two. Alcohol should not be used to control bed bugs: rubbing alcohol can harm you and catches fire easily.

Why can’t home remedies like vinegar clear bed bugs?

Bed bugs are hard to get rid of because of where and how they live, not because people pick the wrong kitchen product.

• They hide in tiny gaps. Their flat bodies fit into crevices no wider than a toothpick.
• The eggs are easy to miss. They’re tiny, glued in place and hatch in about a week.
• Sprays don’t last. In our experience, most bed bug sprays sold to householders have limited effect once they’ve dried, and the NHS says bed bugs may be resistant to some insecticides.
• They keep feeding. While someone sleeps in the room, the bugs have everything they need.

If you’re weighing up other products, our guides on whether Dettol kills bed bugs, whether Indorex kills bed bugs and whether UV light kills bed bugs explain what each can and can’t do. For a wider look, see what kills bed bugs on contact.

What should you do instead of using vinegar?

These steps won’t usually clear an infestation on their own, but they reduce numbers and stop you spreading bed bugs while you arrange help:

• Hot wash and tumble dry bedding and clothes, or freeze what can’t be washed, as the NHS describes above.
• Vacuum mattress seams, the bed frame and carpet edges, then bag the contents and put them in an outside bin.
• Clear clutter from around the bed, bagging items rather than moving them loose to another room.
• Keep sleeping in your own bed. Moving to the sofa often spreads the bugs, because they follow you.
• Don’t use foggers, bug bombs or smoke bombs, and don’t throw out your mattress straight away.

Our guide to getting rid of bed bugs yourself goes through each step in more detail, including what’s safe and what isn’t.

When should you get professional help?

If you’re still getting new bites, finding live bugs, or seeing signs in more than one room, it’s time for a professional. The NHS advises contacting your local council or a pest control service if you think you have bed bugs.

At ThermoPest, our bed bug heat treatment is heat-led, with targeted spray where it’s needed, so it reaches the seams, joints and cracks that vinegar and other home remedies can’t. A return visit may be needed to check nothing has survived. If you live in a flat, we ask to inspect neighbouring flats too, because bed bugs can move between homes. You can check our prices before you call.

FAQs

How long does it take vinegar to kill bed bugs?

There’s no reliable figure, because vinegar isn’t a proven bed bug treatment. At best it may kill a bug that’s soaked and stays wet. It does nothing to bugs it doesn’t touch, and nothing once it has dried, so it can’t clear an infestation however long you leave it.

Does vinegar and water kill bed bugs?

Diluting vinegar with water makes it weaker, not more effective. Neither plain vinegar nor a vinegar and water mix has been shown to clear bed bugs. A hot wash and hot tumble dry, as the NHS advises, does far more for bedding and clothes.

Does vinegar keep bed bugs away?

There’s no good evidence that it does. Bed bugs are drawn to the warmth and carbon dioxide of a sleeping person, and even insect repellents for ticks and mosquitoes don’t appear to be as effective against bed bugs, so we don’t recommend applying them at bedtime. Spraying vinegar around the bed won’t stop bites.

What home remedy kills bed bugs instantly?

No home remedy reliably clears bed bugs. Vinegar, salt and alcohol aren’t effective treatments, and alcohol is a fire risk. Heat from a hot wash and tumble dryer helps with fabrics. For bugs hiding in the bed and room, professional treatment is the dependable route.

Is it safe to spray vinegar on a mattress?

A light spray on a small area is unlikely to harm most mattresses, but test a hidden patch first and don’t soak it. Vinegar won’t reach bed bugs inside the seams, so it’s not worth the damp. Never mix vinegar with bleach or other cleaning products.