The last thing you want to worry about is bed bug infestation. Sadly, they are prevalent and can cause many problems in your home. If you wake up to blisters, itchy spots, or red rashes; this could be a sign of bed bugs.
Bed bugs are oval, small, brownish insects that survive on the blood of humans (and animals). Adult bed bugs have flat bodies, almost the size of an apple seed. After feeding, however, their bodies become swollen and reddish.
These tiny pests cannot fly but can hurry over floors, ceilings, and walls. They can infest headboards, the seams of your mattress, bed frames, and box springs. Adult female bed bugs may lay eggs in hundreds, each of which is about the size of a particle of dust, over a lifetime.
Eliminating them can be tricky as they are hard to detect and can multiply rapidly. The pest should be destroyed as quickly as possible because they can invade other areas of your home and cause a significant problem.
Basically, bed bugs don’t mean you have a dirty home. They can be brought into your house through clothing and other household items, used furniture and beds, and luggage.
Fortunately for you, there are many ways to terminate them naturally. This insect pest cannot survive in extreme hot or cold temperatures; therefore, methods like drying on high heat, steam cleaning, and hot washes are natural home remedies to wipe them out from your clothing and bedding.
Another way to eliminate them is to place small items in the freezer. This post shares a few ways to eliminate them without calling an exterminator.
Getting rid of bed bugs
It would be great if you were patient when trying to get rid of the pests because it often takes time and effort. However, suppose you cannot curb it by yourself. In that case, probably because you experience an extensive invasion or constantly travel and don’t have the time, you will need to call a professional exterminator. Here are the ways to get them out of your home;
1. Elimination by heat or cold
Temperature is an effective way of removing these insect pests in a mattress or other vital areas. To do that, gather affected bedding or clothing and wash them in hot water for 30 minutes.
After the washing cycle:
- Dry out the items in your dryer on the highest potential heat setting for not less than 30 minutes. You can also sun dry the washed items.
- Put affected things in a freezer at least zero degrees Fahrenheit as an alternative to heat washing.
- Allow them to stay for four days to ensure all bed bugs are killed.
2. Cover mattresses
Get bedbug-proof covers around your mattress and zip the proof cover to prevent them from entering. All bed bugs trapped inside will then be killed. Aside from that, the covers also serve as a protective barrier that lay-off bed bugs from biting you while you sleep.
4. Use steam
You can kill bed bugs without an exterminator by using a steamer on couches, mattresses, and other places where they hide. However, if home remedies are unattractive to terminate bed bugs, you can turn to insecticides such as pyrethrins and pyrethroids.
Conclusion
Adult bed bugs are apple seeds and can satiate from the blood of humans and animals. Although they are known not to spread disease or cause infections, they cause a lot of personal discomfort.
One primary symptom of bed bug bites is a skin infection caused by scratching the itchy skin. Wounds can occur, allowing bacteria (and other microbes) to enter the injury.
Speak to a doctor if you experience severe itching caused by this pest.