It may surprise you to find out that you have pests in your home and you want to know how to get rid of bed bugs once they have established themselves. These tiny bugs often live in furniture or bedding and can leave red, itchy patches all over your body when infested.
Try not to despair because although bites can be irritating and unsightly, bed bugs are generally harmless and do not transmit disease. The downside is that getting rid of fruit flies or mosquitoes is not that easy, and it can take time, effort, and patience to completely get rid of these creepy crawlies in your home.
Here we've put together everything you need to know to spot these pests and most importantly, how to get rid of bed bugs in your home with tips from the pros.
How to get rid of bed bugs
Know that getting rid of bed bugs is not as easy as getting rid of cockroaches . "Bed bugs are known to be treatment-resistant," says Jordan. "Commercial products will only submerge them, where they continue to increase in number and infestation worsen without you even knowing it."
For a successful bed bug fight, follow these steps.
1. Identify the affected area
If you have bed bugs, it's important to act quickly to stem the spread before they have time to reproduce and cause a larger, more bothersome infestation. You can check for bed bugs yourself, but you must be thorough as these tight little pests can fit into small spaces.
A flashlight and magnifying glass will help in the darkest and tightest areas of the house. "Bed bugs are very good at getting into small spaces around bed frames, electrical outlets, sofas, furniture and under wallpaper," says Sophie Thorogood, a member of Green Protect 's (opens in new tab) technical team, which specializes in efficiency and sustainable solutions for a pest free home.
"Check these areas carefully for signs of bed bugs, including black dots that are bed bug feces and are found on furniture surfaces and mattresses. A good inspection can tell you if you have a problem and the extent of the infestation.
Don't forget to look under the bed, between sofa cushions, furniture joints, under pictures and posters on the walls and at the joint where the wallpaper meets the ceiling.
2. Call the experts
Once you've identified bed bugs, there are several steps (see below) you can take to get rid of these pests in your home, including vacuuming, cleaning, and various treatments. However, bed bugs are particularly annoying and notoriously difficult to eradicate, which is why some experts recommend hiring a pest controller right away.
"If you think you have a bed bug infestation on your property, you should contact a pest control professional or your community," Robert Collins tells MyJobQuote (opens in a new tab) . "Bed bugs can be very difficult to get rid of if you do it yourself because they are difficult to locate and are often resistant to many insecticides."
To catch them and rid your home of bed bugs, your first task should be to use the best vacuum cleaner everywhere, including the carpets and all other hiding places, including the bed, under furniture, in the closet and all other cracks and corners. .. dark. Before you vacuum your mattress, use a stiff brush to scrub the mattress seams to remove bed bugs and their eggs.
"The best way to combat a bed bug infestation is to start with tips for decluttering and cleaning the infested area," says Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control. "Vacuum your bed and surrounding area, then put the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and throw it away."
4. Wash at high temperature or freeze
Killing bed bugs without using chemicals, high temperatures or sub-zero temperatures is a really effective method. Wash sheets and other bedding, clothing and curtains in hot water (at least 60°C) and then tumble dry on high heat.
"Remove all blankets and linens, empty all closets, and wash at the hottest temperature allowed," adds Jordan Foster. "It also helps to remove any carpeting from under infested furniture." The main goal here is to prevent bed bugs from getting into other parts of your property.
Another option is to place the affected clothing and bedding in a plastic bag and then place it in the freezer for about three to four days.
5. Dry or steam clean delicate fabrics
Check the washing symbols for delicate infested fabrics. Hot washing may not be possible and wool and silk upholstery and garments may shrink and become damaged. The best option here is dry cleaning.
"Dry cleaning kills bed bugs at all stages of life and is best for delicate fabrics and temperature-sensitive materials," says Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control.
Steaming is another good option for a mattress, sofa and other difficult places where bed bugs hide. Run the best steam cleaner at the highest setting possible down the length of the furniture, paying special attention to seams and all nooks and crannies.
"Smoky furniture kills bed bugs if they come into direct contact, so it can be useful for upholstery that can't be washed," says Sophie Thorogood of Green Protect.
6. Buy a mattress cover
After you've cleaned and removed any visible bed bugs, invest in a tightly woven, zippered mattress cover to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping. Insects trapped inside die (and cannot bite you), while new insects are prevented from entering. However, remember that bed bugs can survive for months without food, so leave the mattress cover on for at least a year to ensure the infestation is completely gone. Please note that it is possible to wash or otherwise clean a mattress cover.
"Invest in mattress covers that protect the mattress from bed bugs that enter and hide in seams, zippers, etc.," adds Jordan Foster. "These covers will also prevent bed bugs from escaping and biting you."
If your mattress is infested, you may want to buy a new and better mattress - make sure you get rid of the old one, and make sure the rest of your home is bed bug free first, otherwise the bugs will take over. New purchase and a new home.
7. Use chemical treatment
If you have tried all of these methods to get rid of bed bugs in your home but the problem persists, the next step might be to use a chemical insecticide. Look for products specifically designed for bed bugs, but be very careful in the bedroom as some insecticides are harmful if used incorrectly. Mattresses and sheets should not be treated with chemicals unless stated on the label. Have you heard that baking soda is the solution? Experts say the answer to the question of whether baking soda can kill bed bugs is no.
In general, if you decide to go the chemical route to exterminating bed bugs, consult an experienced pest control company who will be able to do the job safely and effectively. You also have access to stronger chemicals and other treatments, such as B. Misting and spraying the entire room. You may need to stay away from infested rooms for a few hours while the treatments take effect. Professional treatments require two to three visits to take effect.
8. Prevent another bed bug infestation
Getting rid of bed bugs can take a while, but when you do, the key is to prevent future infestations. You can take a few simple steps such as: B. Regular washing and vacuuming of your bedding, furniture and carpets. Organize a bedroom and avoid clutter around the bed and get rid of piles of papers, magazines, books and clothes cluttering the floor. Caulk or tape cracks around electrical outlets, tape off loose wallpaper, and caulk cracks in furniture. Another trick is to move the bed frame and headboard slightly away from the wall, which makes it harder for bed bugs to climb.
"Bed bugs tend to enter homes through luggage and furniture," says Sophie Thorogood of Green Protect. "To prevent pests from entering your home, when you travel, don't immediately put your luggage on your bedroom furniture. Instead, use luggage racks with metal feet, as bed bugs cannot climb on them Come home, immediately wash your clothes at high temperature or dry-clean them.
Placing sticky traps around the legs of bedroom furniture will prevent bed bugs from getting into your bed. Check and renew these devices regularly for a whole year.
What Kills Bed Bugs Instantly?
The high temperature of the steam (212°F or 100°C) will kill bed bugs instantly. Try a portable steam cleaner and steam all those hard-to-reach places in your home, like mattress creases and tufts, sofa seams, bed frames and corners, edges and crevices. Where can bed bugs hide? .
Steam is also a good idea if delicate fabrics cannot be washed in the washing machine and dryer at high temperatures.
Do bed bugs go away on their own?
Bed bugs need a host (human or pet) to feed on your blood. Without an available host, a young insect could die just as quickly in a matter of weeks. However, an adult bed bug can survive for months under optimal heat and humidity conditions before starving to death.
What are bed bugs?
Adult bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects about 5 mm (¹³/₆₄in) in diameter and can be dark yellow, red, or brown in color. They reproduce rapidly, feed on the blood of humans and animals, and can survive for months between meals. Bed bugs don't fly, but they move quickly on floors, walls, and ceilings. Females can lay hundreds of eggs, each about the size of a speck of dust. Hence the difficulty in getting rid of it.
Do bed bugs only infest your bed?
"Bed bugs tend to hang around or on your bed because of the easy access they have to their food source: you," says Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control (opens in a new tab) . "But contrary to their name, bed bugs are not only found in beds, they can be found in many other places. These creepy crawlies can be found under loose wallpaper, in furniture seams, on your living room sofa where you love to relax or take a nap, on upholstered chairs and in picture frames; You can even see them crawling into your closet.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
In addition to itchy bites on the skin (especially on the face, neck and arms), signs of bed bugs include blood stains on sheets and pillowcases, small brown spots (bed bug feces!) on bedding or furniture, and a musty bed bug smell. ' olfactory glands.
Why do I have bed bugs?
Having bed bugs is not a sign of a dirty home: bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime and are likely to be found in homes that follow proper cleaning instructions, strictly speaking only dirty homes. Bed bugs get into the house simply through used luggage, clothing and furniture and not because the property is dirty, rather untidy rooms provide more hiding places.
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