Bed Bugs are nasty critters and will live for up to a year if you let them. Before you know it, you can have an infestation in your home. They can come in from just about anywhere, but do not leave on their own.
Take control before it gets out of control. No need for harsh pest control chemicals when there are plenty of non-toxic bed bug removal methods that you can try. Let’s take a closer look at natural ways to get rid of these space invaders.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are most active at night, which would explain why you wake up with bites. They do bite and can consume five times more than their body weight in blood per day/night. Bites are small, red, and can show up in a straight line.
Bed bugs’ diet is primarily blood. This can be the blood of your pets or your own blood. Seeing bites on your pets can be difficult, but you will see them itching making you think they have fleas or hotspots.
It is hard to see bed bugs as they are only a fraction of an inch big. Their eggs are even harder to see.
The Lifespan of a Bed Bug
The ugly truth is that bed bugs can live up to a year. So, if you do not kill them they will go on reproducing, and your infestation will only get worse. Even without a host (something to feed off of), a bed bug can live at least three weeks.
Unlike some insects, bed bugs can live through all four seasons. It takes temperatures over 118 degrees, and below zero degrees to kill them.
Deep Cleaning
It is easy to think that bedbugs are only present in dirty homes, which is not true. Bed Bugs live off blood, not dirt. Deep cleaning gives you the chance to get into the places they are hiding and kill them.
If you find live bugs, you can kill them by smashing them. Unlike fleas, they are easily squashed. If you don’t want to kill them, you can trap them, and set them free outside.
Vacuum Everything
A vacuum is an important tool in waging a war against a bed bug infestation. Get the bugs and the eggs in one swoop. Use vacuum attachments to get into all of the cracks around your bed, and edges of the rooms in your home.
Once you have the bed bugs sucked up they will most likely still be alive, so you have to dump the canister or change the bag immediately instead of putting the vacuum back into storage. It is recommended to do this outdoors.
Using the Washer and Dryer
Grab whatever you can and take it to the laundry room. Use hot water and the high temperature setting on the dryer. Wash all of your bedding, stuffed animals, throw rugs, and any clothing/garments that have been exposed to the bed bugs.
If you cannot put certain items through the washing machine such as pillows, you can toss them into the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 10 minutes. The heat will kill the bed bugs, and you can then take the item outside and shake the dead bugs out.
Find Temporary Lodging
The thought of living with bed bugs as your roommates can be unsettling enough to do something drastic. And this option may be just that. However, it could help the situation, and to put your mind at ease.
While you are trying to get rid of the bed bugs in your home, it will stop you from getting bit up at night if you find temporary lodging until the house is clear.
Alert the Neighbors
For those that have neighbors attached to their houses such as an apartment building or even row-homes, you may want to warn your neighbors about the problem that you are dealing with. It can be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but it is necessary if you want to get rid of them for good.
Treating your home, but not telling the neighbors to treat their homes can result in the bugs sticking around after you thought they were gone for good.
Home Remedies
People are moving towards more home remedies and natural treatments for pest control rather than harsh chemicals because they are thinking about non-toxic options. Even though the harsh chemicals can work quicker, you, your family, and your pets will not suffer from exposure to chemicals.
Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are not just for health and wellness applications. They can also be used as cleaners and insect repellants then wiped off.
A spray made from water and essential oils can be sprayed on porous surfaces like beds, carpets, and curtains. The most effective oils are tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint. The bonus is that your house will smell fabulous.
Spreading DE Powder
Diatomaceous earth (DE) powder is a sedimentary rock that has been ground into a powder and used for a variety of uses including pest control. It is a fine white powder that can be messy to work with, but it is very effective and worth the mess.
Sprinkle DE powder on mattresses, on floors, and any other surface where bed bugs may be. There are abrasive edges on the grains of (DE) that cut through the exoskeleton of bugs like bed bugs. DE powder causes the bedbugs to die from dehydration.
This option does not work instantly. It may take up to three weeks for DE powder to kill them. After a few weeks, you can vacuum up the powder and dead bugs.
Setting Sticky Traps
One of the easiest methods for getting rid of bed bugs is setting out sticky traps or glue traps. They are small, affordable, take minimal effort, and have almost zero cleanups. Set it and forget it.
Bed bugs will crawl into the sticky trap and get stuck. Once they are stuck, they will starve and die. This process may take a while and should be combined with other efforts to ensure you are getting rid of all the bed bugs.
Interceptors
A bed bug interceptor is basically a small cup with both sticky and slippery sides that bed bugs get stuck in and cannot get out of. They are similar to sticky traps but are designed to be placed under furniture legs so that bed bugs moving from their host to their hiding place get trapped in them.
Bed Bug Removal
Bed bugs are no fun and can be tricky to get rid of. Getting rid of them is tough and may be too much for some people. If you have tried and cannot seem to conquer the bed bug removal, do not hesitate to call in the professionals.
Custom Bed Bugs is here to help you. Send them an email ASAP, and do not suffer another minute in your own home.
