Bed bugs are among the most stalwart pests and getting rid of them 100% isn’t a walk in the park. Even after trying various home remedies and treatments, many homeowners still find themselves back to square one because they failed to eliminate the other few remaining bugs.
A few bed bugs are enough for a re-infestation to occur because these tiny critters reproduce fast and their minute size affords them the upper hand in a way that they are not easily seen or detected early on. Also, they are only active during nighttime when people are asleep.
However, effectively eliminating bed bugs for good is very possible with the right procedure and by properly observing the preventive measures.
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Treating a Bed Bug Infestation at Home
Your home is supposed to be your refuge or sanctuary which is why you need to protect it, and those living in it, from nuisances like pests. Bed bugs, for one, can disrupt the peace you have at home because they bring feelings of irritation as a result of their bites and keep people from having a good night’s sleep. Hence, knowing you have pesky creatures like bed bugs sharing a roof with you is definitely a nightmare.
One sure way towards solving your bed bug problem is to first look for the different signs of a bed bug infestation.
Bed Bug Evidence
You must locate their potential hiding spots, which are typically within the areas of your bed and in spaces close to the bed. Search for bed bug feces, eggshells, exoskeletons or molted skins, and blood stains. You may also notice a musky odor lingering in your bedroom. Once you perceive these signs, you will be directed to where the bugs may be hiding and you will also be able to assess the extent of the infestation.
For a more thorough inspection of possible bed bug activity, you need to contact a licensed pest control company so you can be entirely sure of what you are dealing with.
Best Home Remedies for Bed Bug Problem
To discourage these annoying crawlies from thriving in your property, you need to apply these home treatments that are proven to effectively kill bed bugs:
1. Apply heat when washing and drying.
Bed bugs normally tuck themselves in materials made of fabric such clothes, linens, beddings, curtains, stuffed animals, etc. Since you can wash these items, you can do so but use hot water instead. Extreme heat definitely kills bed bugs. As a follow up measure, further heat the washed items by drying them in the clothes dryer. This bed bug removal technique is recognized to be effective and it’s something you can effortlessly do at home without having to spend money.
2. Freeze bed bug infested items.
Bed bugs may also hide in objects that are non-washable. Their size allows them to easily insert their flat tiny bodies into the smallest crevice or crack. You just need to put those non-washable items in a plastic bag and leave them inside the freezer with a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. All it takes is 24 hours to 4 days for the bed bugs to be totally eradicated under extreme cold.
3. Vacuum.
If the infestation is confined in a small room, vacuum cleaning truly works. This treatment method absolutely sucks the bed bugs, their nymphs, and eggs out of their hidey-holes. Vacuum cleaning has to be done regularly and you should target those surrounding your bed, walls, furniture, floors, cabinets, drawers, and other potential hiding spots. To make sure the bugs don’t escape from the vacuum cleaner, you should dispose of the vacuum bag immediately. Throw the vacuum bag into an outdoor trash container that is tightly-sealed and see to it that the trash bin is situated well away from your home to prevent the annoying pests from crawling back to your property.
Of course, applying these home remedies work best if you practice precautionary measures. By far, these DIY bed bug treatment techniques are the safest, easiest, and most effective. It will be unnecessary for you to call in the service technicians when initiating these methods. No chemicals are involved in the process and you can certainly save money for paying a professional. However, if the infestation is too heavy to be treated by DIY methods, then your best alternative would be bed bug heat treatment. If you decide on considering a bed bug heat treatment at home, you need to contact this time a licensed pest control expert.