Bed Bug Spray Bunnings: Why They Don’t Work and Why You Should Avoid Them

Last Updated on 04/08/2025 by Tony Abrahams

Bunnings is Australia’s beloved hardware chain. Whether you’re after a hammer, a houseplant, or a Sunday sausage sizzle, you’ve probably wandered its aisles. But when it comes to bed bug spray Bunnings, is it the right place to shop?

We’ll cover its ingredients, instructions, effectiveness, safety, and better alternatives. Because choosing the wrong product doesn’t just waste money, it can make the problem worse.

Bed Bug Spray Bunnings: Your Options

Type “bed bug killer” into Bunnings’ search bar, and you’ll likely only find one product: Hovex. That should raise an eyebrow. Bunnings carries dozens of pest control products, yet only one mentions bed bugs in the name?

Other brands like:

• Richgro
• Raid
• Yates
• Green Diamond
• Gardener’s Friend
• PestXpert
• Hortico
• Seasol Earthcare

…offer insect sprays designed for cockroaches, flies, ants, and outdoor pests. Some of them even include fine print about “use on bed bugs” – but that’s not good enough. Bed bugs aren’t casual pests. They’re persistent, resilient, and require a specialised, multi-pronged approach. A general bug spray just won’t cut it.

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Does the Hovex Bed Bug Spray at Bunnings Actually Work?

The short answer? Not really. Let’s break it down.

Hovex markets itself as a multi-purpose insect killer. It’s supposed to kill bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, spiders, ants, carpet beetles, and silverfish. It even claims to kill “germs they carry.” Sounds great on paper, but in reality?

Bed bugs are not like other insects. They don’t crawl on benches or hang out in the middle of your living room. They live in tight cracks, mattress seams, electrical sockets, skirting boards, under carpet edges, inside the ensemble bed base – the list goes on. Spraying a surface, even generously, will not reach them.

And unless you spray them directly – as in, hit them while they’re moving – you’re not going to kill them. And how often do you actually see bed bugs moving around? They’re nocturnal. They hide during the day. If you’re lucky, you might catch one. But spraying at random won’t stop the infestation.

Misleading and Dangerous Instructions

The label on the can says to “lightly spray around the bed and bed frame.” That’s it. No mention of lifting the mattress. No mention of applying under the base. Nothing about checking electrical outlets, under floorboards, or within fabric seams. These are all the key places bed bugs nest.

This kind of lazy instruction gives users a false sense of security. People think they’re solving the problem, but all they’re doing is disturbing the bugs and pushing them deeper into hiding. Worse stil, if you don’t treat the infestation properly, the bugs may scatter into other rooms, spreading the infestation.

Compare this to professional advice or real DIY systems. You’ll be told to isolate the bed, use interceptors, apply powder in cracks and crevices, steam the base, encase the mattress, and keep everything 30cm away from the wall. That’s real prevention. That’s real strategy. A single spray can does none of this.

Why This Spray Fails

Even if permethrin (the active ingredient) works on direct contact, it doesn’t mean it works in practice. Why? Because you’ll never reach every bug with a spray. The only way to truly eliminate bed bugs is to target every single hiding place and block every path to you.

Bed bugs don’t behave like roaches or flies. They’re programmed to find their host (you), feed at night, and return to safety. If one path is blocked, they find another. If they smell danger, they move. This is why surface sprays create a dangerous illusion. You may kill a few on contact, but the rest will simply shift their base of operations… often into places you didn’t expect, like wardrobes, lounge suites, or even bags and shoes.

Hovex claims “6 months residual efficacy.” That sounds strong, but the bugs won’t walk on poisoned surfaces willingly. And unless the poison kills eggs too – which it doesn’t – the problem keeps cycling.

Does It Really Last 6 Months?

The claim about six months of effectiveness refers to the chemical residue remaining on surfaces. In theory, any bed bug walking through it will die. In reality? Bed bugs avoid sprayed areas. They’re not going to stroll across a poisoned skirting board if they can help it. They’ll find a new route. Under the carpet. Through wall cavities. Behind furniture.

So yes, the residue lingers. But if it doesn’t reach the bugs or disrupt their life cycle, it’s practically useless. Plus, that same residue might be exposing you and your family to unnecessary toxins for months on end.

Is Hovex Spray Safe To Use On Your Mattress Where Bed Bugs Live?

Not really. The active ingredient, permethrin, is a synthetic pyrethroid, a class of insecticides that mimic the natural pesticide found in chrysanthemums. Sounds harmless? Not quite.

In laboratory tests, long-term exposure to low doses of permethrin caused liver and kidney damage in rats. It’s also being investigated for potential links to cancer. The World Health Organization classifies it as a possible human carcinogen.

The label warns: avoid skin and eye contact, don’t inhale, don’t spray near flames. That’s fair. But it doesn’t mention using gloves, a respirator, or proper ventilation. And if you’ve got kids or pets? Think twice. They spend more time near the floor and furniture, exactly where you’re spraying this stuff.

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Why We Pulled Our Products From Bunnings

Here’s a bit of inside info. We used to sell our DIY Bed Bug Barrier products at Bunnings. But there was one major problem, they didn’t want to stock the full system. Just the powder. Or just the barriers. Without the full kit – mattress covers, interceptors, steamer, DE powder, etc. – people weren’t getting results. So they blamed the product.

That’s not fair to the customer. Or to the product. So we pulled out. Because half a solution is no solution at all.

Since then, we’ve focused on education and offering the full DIY system directly through our site. Everything you need. Clear instructions. Free support. No poisons. No guesswork. And most importantly, it works.

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Need a Safer DIY Bed Bug Remedy?

If you’re serious about getting rid of bed bugs, here’s what we recommend:

• Use Diatomaceous Earth in cracks, crevices, and around the base
• Encase your mattress and ensemble base to trap existing bugs
• Use interceptors under the bed legs to stop new ones from climbing up
• Steam the frame and base to kill hidden bugs and eggs instantly
• Move your bed 30cm from walls and furniture

One application. Done right. That’s how you win.

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10 Reasons to Avoid Bed Bug Sprays from Bunnings

1. Only Kills on Direct Contact
   Sprays like Hovex only work if you hit the bugs directly. Bed bugs are expert hiders -they won’t be casually walking across sprayed areas.
2. Misleading Instructions
   Labels recommend “lightly spraying around the bed” – this does nothing to reach bugs hiding in crevices, baseboards, or inside bed frames.
3. False Sense of Security
   Users think they’ve treated the infestation, but in reality, they’ve barely scratched the surface. The bugs simply hide deeper or move to another room.
4. Does Not Kill Eggs
   Even if a few bugs are killed, the eggs remain untouched. New bugs hatch and restart the infestation.
5. Limited Residual Effect
   Though it claims “6-month efficacy,” bed bugs avoid sprayed surfaces. The poison lingers – but doesn’t lure or kill the bugs effectively.
6. Spreads the Infestation
   Sprays make the infestation worse by forcing bed bugs to relocate. They hide in wardrobes, under furniture, or move into other rooms.
7. Unsafe Chemicals
   Contains permethrin – a synthetic neurotoxin linked to liver and kidney damage in animal studies. Also suspected to be a potential carcinogen.
8. No Integrated Treatment
   Bed bugs require a complete system: interceptors, DE powder, steam, encasements. A spray can alone is never enough.
9. Poor Customer Ratings
   With only 2.4 stars on the Bunnings website, it’s clear most customers don’t find it effective.
10. We’ve Tried It – It Doesn’t Work
    We once sold at Bunnings but withdrew when they refused to carry our full system. Without all parts of the treatment, customers couldn’t succeed.

Bed Bug Bites in Australia: How to Find, Treat and Prevent Bed Bugs Fast

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Frequently Asked Questions: Bed Bug Spray Bunnings

1. What’s the best thing to spray for bed bugs?
   Diatomaceous Earth (DE). It dehydrates bed bugs, is non-toxic to humans and pets, and provides long-term control. Dust it into cracks around your bed frame for continuous protection.
2. What kills bed bugs instantly and permanently?
   Steam above 59°C to kill all life stages instantly. Mattress covers trap and starve bugs. Diatomaceous Earth ensures long-term kill. Combine these steps for a permanent solution.
3. How do I prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?
   Use interceptors under bed legs. Dust DE in hiding spots on the bed frame. Keep bedding off the floor. Encase mattress and ensemble base. And isolate the bed from walls and furniture.

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Final Thoughts: Bed Bug Spray Bunnings

Anyone can put poison in a can and call it a bed bug treatment. But real results require a system – not a shortcut. Don’t waste your time or your health on sprays that don’t work. Choose a smarter, safer way.

DIY Bed Bug Treatment Video – Ensemble Bed

DIY Bed Bug Treatment Video – Bed with Slats

If you have enjoyed our blog, Bed Bug Spray Bunnings, then you might like to read Bed Bug Spray at Woolworths.

Sources: Bed Bug Spray Bunnings

Bunnings Warehouse

Yates