Bed bugs are a nuisance. Not only do they disturb while we are at peace but are also difficult to locate. These are very tiny creatures that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Furthermore, they are smart and reproduce quickly. Bedbugs know where to hide in order to avoid detection. Considering the fact that a female could lay around 500 eggs in her lifetime, it is important to get rid of them as soon as they are spotted or felt. Fortunately, you can get rid of them but you will have to put in a bit of effort and time.
Read our step by step guide to get rid of bed bugs, the professional way.
Identify Bed Bugs
The first thing you would want to do is to identify bed bugs. Normally, people are not aware of the differences between bedbugs, fleas, ticks, or any other insects. There are different ways to eliminate fleas, ticks, and other insects. Therefore, if you were to wrongly identify the insect and provide bedbug prevention treatment, chances are that the problem will not be solved.
Furthermore, they are quite clever as well. As soon as they sense movement, they will flee and hide. Therefore, if you have to catch them, you will have to be a step ahead
Inspect your pet animal
Yes, you heard that right, bedbugs will also feed on your pet animal or animals. Although bedbugs prefer feeding on humans but if they are not able to find one around, they will work with pet animals. Furthermore, pet animals are a perfect hiding and feeding spot for these things. Since animals are usually hairy and furry, bedbugs will hide inside them and feed for hours. Therefore, if you are unable to locate and eliminate them, inspect your pet animal. Might be that they are feeding on it as well.
Clean Up the Clutter
There is no doubt that a cluttered home will provide a free opportunity for bedbugs to hide. In such cases, not only will they reproduce quickly but it will also become harder for you to locate them. If the bed bugs are in your mattress, you could try installing bed encasements or simple box springs to keep them away. This shall make it harder for them to reach you but it does not mean that the problem is solved. Keep the encasement intact for a while. Make sure that you opt for the one that is tested for bedbugs.
Regularly Wash and Heat the bedsheets
Heat is the prime enemy of bedbugs. Professional exterminators use chemical treatments, deep heat, and steam cleaning to kill them. If your bedsheet is bug-infested and you happen to throw clothes on them, there are high chances that your clothes will become infested as well. Therefore, wash them first and then put them in a hot dryer for around 20 minutes. Repeat the process if necessary to get rid of them completely.
Vacuum the bugs
Vacuuming your carpets and rugs etc. can help you solve the problem. However, you will need to get under the bed, furniture, inside the cracks and crevices to get a proper hold on them. Make sure that you change the bag as well so that the bugs do not have anywhere to escape. Wrap a plastic bag over the vacuum bag and throw it in the garbage can.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
If the bed bugs are being a little too hard on you, you could give the following home remedies a try.
Silica Gel
Silica Gel is normally found in shoe boxes and food products. You might not have known but these things are proven to act efficiently against bedbugs. Grind the silica gel beads and spread the powdered form in areas where you believe bedbugs could hide and lay eggs. However, if you have kids and pet animals, be extra careful. Silica gel is harmful to both kids and animals.
Use Scent
Spraying a perfume over the bed could prevent bedbugs from reaching you but that is temporary. Bedbugs do not take chances upon smelling something unidentified. In fact, they consider it a potential threat, therefore, they choose to keep away. However, they will find another place to inhabit, so make sure that you work on eliminating them permanently.
Use Double-Sided Tape
Now the double-sided tape is a clever idea. If the bedbugs are clever, it is only right that you are as well. Therefore, use double-sided tape and paste it along the bedposts. This way, while you are sleeping and it is time for the bugs to climb, they will stick to the tape. However, remember not to drag your clothes and blankets on the floor while you are at it. This will ruin your efforts.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
If you are looking for a product that does miracles, use diatomaceous earth. The thing with the diatomaceous earth is that it is made from natural sedimentary rock. It is crushed into fine powder usually before used. Spread it around in your room or the entire house if possible and necessary. It will take around 10 days for it to work, so you will have to show patience. Do not spread the earth in your mattress. It might sound as if it might work. However, it could get inside your lungs, and prolong exposure could damage them.
Final Word
As this article reaches its conclusion, we are sure to have helped you with your good night’s sleep. Once you get rid of bedbugs, the task is to now keep them away for a lifetime. Make sure that you regularly wash your bedsheets and heat them, inspect your pet animal or animals, and vacuum the sleeping area. You wouldn’t want this problem to pop up every now and then and that is why it is suggested to maintain and contain things along the way.