Will paint thinner kill bed bugs?

The answer is, yes – paint thinner will kill bedbugs (and bedbug eggs). But it won’t be very pleasant for you, either. There are also a lot of other concerns with using paint thinner on bed bugs.

Paint thinner (otherwise known as turpentine), will technically kill bedbugs because it is highly toxic. That said, it’s also very noxious to humans. The smell is extremely unpleasant and even unsafe (manufacturers typically recommend that you only use it in a well-ventilated area).

Here are a couple of facts about paint thinner:

• Paint thinner is a combination of several different VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
• Acute exposure to paint thinner “may cause dizziness; headache; irritation of eyes; sore throat; weakness; nausea; muscle twitches, and depression of central nervous system.”
• Severe overexposure “may cause convulsions; unconsciousness; and death”
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) sets a “permissible exposure limit” of 500 ppm, but strongly recommends limiting exposure to 100 ppm or lower as a margin of safety.

All things considered, paint thinner does not seem to be a good treatment for bedbugs.

Paint thinner will also probably repel more bugs than it kills. This sounds good at first, but it’s actually a major problem if you’re trying to get rid of a bed bug infestation. When they smell the fumes, they will burrow deeper into the walls. This makes it harder to get rid of them in the long term.

Is paint thinner safe to use against bedbugs?

Furthermore, paint thinner is not only poisonous, but it is highly flammable. It is not worth the risk of burning down your house when there are much better ways of killing bedbugs.

Interesting fact – herbal tinctures were created from turpentine (paint thinner) and henna flowers to repel bedbugs as early as the 1730s. Luckily, we have much more effective methods of killing bedbugs today.

The final verdict: while paint thinner might technically kill bedbugs, we certainly wouldn’t recommend it. The fact is that there are many modern treatment methods that are more effective, and much less dangerous to humans and pets. We can teach you how to get rid of bedbugs yourself here.

Related articles:
Does bleach kill bedbugs?
Does hand sanitizer kill bedbugs?
Does kerosene kill bedbugs?

Thank you for reading about using paint thinner to kill bedbugs! Please refer to all manufacturer instructions and warnings when using a bed bug control product. This website is an independent resource. This site receives compensation from the Amazon Affiliates program, which allows us to run this site at no cost to you. Your purchase price and this review are NOT affected. This website receives NO compensation directly from the manufacturers of any product. We do not necessarily endorse any bed bug products that may appear on the 3rd party ads on this site, which will be clearly marked as such. We are not responsible for any inaccuracies or omissions, or any new information that has been released since the time of publication, or your actions taken as a result of any of these things. Content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for consulting with a professional. If you have any doubts about your ability to safely utilize any of these pest control methods, please consult a professional bed bug exterminator before attempting them. You can find a trusted local exterminator online. Read more about us here.