The strongest homemade bed bug killer that actually kills on contact and has some residual effect is a combination of sustained high heat and diatomaceous earth used correctly, plus isopropyl alcohol for immediate contact killing, though no homemade method alone reliably kills 100 percent of an infestation and professional treatment is recommended for severe cases. The most effective homemade approach is heat, because bed bugs and their eggs die within 90 minutes at 118 degrees Fahrenheit and instantly at 122 degrees, so washing all bedding, clothing, and linens in hot water and drying on high heat for at least 30 minutes kills all stages on those items, and using a clothes steamer that produces steam above 200 degrees slowly moved over mattress seams, box springs, and cracks can kill on contact. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made from fossilized algae that dehydrates bed bugs over several days when lightly dusted in cracks, behind baseboards, and under bed legs, but it must be kept dry and takes up to 10 days to work and should not be inhaled. A spray of 91 percent isopropyl alcohol can kill bed bugs on direct contact by dissolving their outer coating, but it evaporates quickly, does not kill eggs, and is flammable and should be used sparingly. A strong homemade spray sometimes cited is a mixture of tea tree oil, lavender oil, and water, but this only repels temporarily and does not eliminate colonies. For truly strong elimination, professional heat treatment raising room temperatures to 135 to 145 degrees for several hours plus residual insecticides is needed, as homemade killers rarely reach hidden bugs.
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