Are Bed Bugs Bugging You? Get Rid of Them!
As tiny as they are, bedbugs can be a big problem unless you find a way to get rid of them. So, how do you know that they exist? Mysterious bites or hives on your body is an obvious indication. Reddish stains on your bed or live bugs sightings is also a cue to a bedbug infestation.
Now that you know that they are there, what do you do next? Get rid of them!
Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Though there is no risk of diseases or illnesses from a bed bug bite, it is infestation nevertheless and should not be taken lightly. No one wants a sleepless night or wants to wake up in a red-stained bed bug squished bedspread! It is essential to get rid of bed bugs as quickly as possible. So, here is what you need to do:
Find Them First
The foremost step in getting rid of bedbugs is to find out where they are hiding. A bed bug is large enough to be visible to your eyes and is usually about 1/4th to 5/8th inch long. It is oval-shaped, flat and reddish-brown in color. Usually, these pests leave a reddish-brown mark on the bedding and also have a distinct odor. Since these are small and flat in shape, they can easily hide in crevices and cracks, which may go unnoticed on a casual inspection.
Using a flashlight and a magnifying glass, check all the places in your infested room to find bugs, eggs, fecal matter, or larvae. Some of the common places to find bed bugs are on beds and mattresses, behind switch plates, between books or magazines on shelves, wall scones or they may travel with you too. No place should be left uninspected and no place should be ignored as they can hide anywhere. After you find the infested area, it is now time to prepare it for treatment.
Preparing the Room for Treatment
Before you commence treatment, it is essential to first prepare the room for it. Your things might come in the way, hence it is better to first clean and clear for the treatment to be effective.
De-clutter:
Remove all the items in the room like soft toys, bedding, etc and if they are infested put them in a plastic bag with vapor strips to kill the bugs. Note that these items removed from the infested area need to be cleaned thoroughly as unclean items can become potential carriers of infestation.
Take apart the bed frames:
Bed frames need to be dismantled as these are convenient hiding places for bed bugs. It is necessary to have access to crevices of bed frames so that they can be treated thoroughly. If the mattress is also infested, use appropriate solutions like mattress encasements. If the infestation requires a mattress change, treat it before disposing of it. Untreated mattresses can become potential infestation transporters as well.
Remove art from walls:
Any paintings or wall art should be removed and be checked thoroughly for infestation. Even though these are just artwork, bed bugs can take refuge and conveniently could get transferred from this room to another room along with the art.
Remove any furniture:
Check the furniture for bed bugs as they can hide in drawers or spots that do not see light. Move all the furniture away from walls before inspecting. It is also recommended to remove all the drawers from dressers and desks and inspect before moving it all out of the room.
Launder the infested bedding:
Clothing and other linen cannot be treated using insecticides. Hence, it needs to be washed in hot water to get rid of those bugs hiding in it. If you are unable to wash it in a washing machine using hot water, you can sun-dry or heat the garments in a clothes dryer.
Now that the area is prepared for cleaning, the actual bug treatment can start.
Treating the Room
Now is the time to turn bed bug villain! Bed bugs treatment requires the use of chemicals and pest killers. It is best recommended that you leave it to the pros. There are renowned names like CustomBedBug who have expertise in getting rid of bed bugs easily and quickly. These experts have the necessary equipment and tools to inspect and treat these pests without any hassles. However, if you want to do it yourself, then here is how you can go about it.
Scrub & Vacuum
Scrub the infected area with a strong brush so that all the larvae and the eggs get dislodged. Once that is done, you can use a vacuum cleaner to clean it. Use all the hose attachments to get to the crevices on the furniture and in walls and other places. Ensure you do it properly as good vacuuming will help remove all the hidden bugs from bedding, carpets, bed frames, bed stands, etc. After the job is done the vacuum bags need to be disposed of.
Electric Steamer
Hot steam using an electric steamer can come in handy when trying to reach out to bedbug hideouts or hard to reach spots. You can use it on cracks and crevices or anyplace else or can just use it to random clean.
Plastering
If there are any cracks or holes in the wall where the wires or pipes pass fill them with glue or plaster so that it eliminates the bed bug sites.
Pesticides
The bugs can be cleaned out but cannot be killed without insecticides. Use ones that contain pyrethroids or neonicotinoids, as these have the capacity to flush bed bugs out of their hideouts. For maximum results, clean the surface first using a vacuum cleaner. Then spray the chemical using a sprayer on all the infested areas which include the doors, closets, door frames, cabinets, loose plaster, etc. Do not spray on surfaces where people sleep or sit as these contain chemicals. If you need to, it is recommended to use a product that is safe. If at any point you feel that the bed bugs are not getting eliminated, use professional help.
Track your Success
One of the best ways to check if the solutions you have adopted is working or not is to use interceptor cups. Place these cups under the bedposts or the place where bed bugs were present. Inspect the cups regularly to know if the bugs you are catching are increasing or decreasing. Make sure to clean the interceptors by emptying it into the trash bag or dipping it in soapy water.
As previously mentioned, chemical treatments are essential for killing and getting rid of bed bugs. While you can use over-the-counter products, these can be dangerous if not used properly. Since these have close proximity to bedding and mattresses, it is essential to use products that are considered safe. However, the safest and easiest way to get rid of bugs is to hire an expert. They are specialists and exterminate bugs effectively. To prevent further infestations it is better to avoid visiting places where the risk of bed bugs latching onto you or your stuff is more.
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