Are Bed Bugs Robbing You of a Good Night’s Sleep?
There’s nothing quite as annoying as being attacked by bugs living inside your mattress. Luckily, there are some effective and affordable ways that you can eliminate these pesky little critters. Here are 9 pest elimination methods you can try today.
1. Vacuuming Is Your Best Friend
- This method is free, as long as you already have a vacuum. All you’ll need to do is invest a bit of time to reduce the number of bed bugs and their bites.
- Start by vacuuming the necessary sections in a bug-infested room. Carefully and thoroughly vacuum all the crevices, cracks, floors, rugs (if you have any) and upholstered furniture. Then, turn your attention to the bed frame, the space underneath the bed and the legs. It only takes around 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the room.
- Once you’re done, take out the vacuum container bag and change it immediately to prevent the bed bugs from coming back. Throw the contents in a sealed plastic bag and put it on an outside bin.
2. Dispose Of Your Bed Mattress Properly
- It’s of the utmost importance to prevent the spread of bed bugs by disposing of your unwanted mattress properly.
- Bed bugs are quite adept at traveling and infesting beds and furniture. If you’ve decided that you no longer want a bug-infested item in your house, make sure to destroy, dismantle or slash the mattress so no one else will think of using it.
3. Use Heat To Kill Bed Bugs
- Sometimes the old method is still the best method. Case in point- you can utilize heat from the sun, or use a hair dryer or something similar to raise the temperature to bug-killing levels.
- Simply raising the room’s temperature via space heater or HVAC won’t be enough. Keep in mind, bed bugs are susceptible to heat only if it’s hot enough to kill them. One of the most effective and affordable methods for killing bed bugs is to put items and small furniture in a black bag and expose them to sunlight. You can put mattresses and large items of furniture directly on the yard or patio for 30 minutes to 1 hour to kill bed bugs living in or on these items… and all you need is heat.
- The best bug-killing temperature is at around 45 degrees C or 113 degrees F. Keeping this temperature level sustained is key to eliminating the nasty little pests taking over your bed.
4. Wash And Heat Dry Fabric Regularly
- Regular washing and heat-drying bedding and the associated fabric is a surefire way to both kill and prevent bed bugs from taking residence inside your mattress.
- Bed bugs are resilient insects that can live for a short time inside hampers and laundry baskets. Don’t forget to clean these regularly and put them out in the sun for 10 to 20 minutes each week. Then, wash and dry your bedspread, blanket, bed sheets and pillowcases to kill and prevent the bugs from coming back.
5. Clean Up The Mess
- De-cluttering is a free, yet effective way to remove bed bugs and other insects hiding in your home.
- Remember, more hiding places equal more opportunities for bed bugs, spiders, rodents, ants, and other unwanted pests to invade your home. Furthermore, it makes things much more difficult to find them and ensure a bug-free environment. You can reduce the number of hiding spots by simply cleaning up and organizing your home.
- Throw what you don’t need in the trash, then put things back to where they belong! One cheap way of dealing with bed bugs is by covering mattresses with a special cover or encasement. Buy one that’s of good quality and won’t tear. That way you don’t have to replace it every year.
6. Use A Bug Spray
- A bug spray should only be used as a last resort, and be sure you’re researching any type of pesticide you use so you’re sure to get a product that’s effective.
- Identify all the possible hiding places, cracks, crevices, and holes in every bed bug infested room. You can try a homemade solution of detergent that’s diluted with water. Put the solution in a sprayer and apply directly to all possible hiding places.
- After a few days, if the bedbugs still remain, use a bug spray and apply generously to the areas. It’s best to leave the room for a good 30 minutes or so after you’ve sprayed or treated to avoid negative side effects. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label. And when in doubt, contact a professional.
7. Try The Freezing Technique
- Exposing your rooms, all fabrics and your bedding to extremely low temperatures can work great against bed bugs as well. However, you must make sure it’s kept constantly at freezing for the best results.
- Keep in mind that home freezers may not be enough to kill bed bugs. Use a thermometer to ensure you’re within the right temperature range for this to work. The best time to do this is obviously during winter months. As always, exercise caution and make sure to keep an eye on your furniture and mattresses. The goal is to remove the nasty pests without ruining your beds and furniture!
8. Don’t Panic
- While some will consider throwing everything out and starting over, there’s always the option to save time and money by treating a bed bug infestation on your own. All you have to do is use the methods outlined above. With a bit of effort, you can save your mattresses and still get a good, bedbug free, nights sleep.
- Disposing of bedbug-infested furniture can wind up spreading these pests to someone else’s home. Please be courteous and dispose of bug-infested bedding and furniture properly.
9. Call A Professional Pest Management Service
- Sometimes, the task of eliminating bed bugs is best left to the professionals.
A professional pest control company can do a thorough inspection of the rooms in your home to identify the source of the infestation. They have the necessary tools and products necessary, but more importantly, the knowledge and experience to get the job done right!
