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How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
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There are also other insects that bite people to get a blood meal, most commonly mosquitos and fleas. The big difference with bedbugs is that they will infest your bed and other furnishings, while mosquitos do not, and this is rare for fleas. Even if you can’t see them, if you get bites on your body – especially while sleeping, that are red or even blood streaked, you probably have bedbugs.
These pests are not easy to get rid of, but with persistence and patience, you can be successful. Some steps to take to get rid of bedbugs, and also to help prevent them, are listed below.
There are also other insects that bite people to get a blood meal, most commonly mosquitos and fleas. The big difference with bedbugs is that they will infest your bed and other furnishings, while mosquitos do not, and this is rare for fleas. Even if you can’t see them, if you get bites on your body – especially while sleeping, that are red or even blood streaked, you probably have bedbugs.
These pests are not easy to get rid of, but with persistence and patience, you can be successful. Some steps to take to get rid of bedbugs, and also to help prevent them, are listed below.
Visible Signs of Bedbugs
Bedbugs can be in different parts of your home and its furnishings, but the most common and problematic areas are your bed, sofas and chairs. The following are signs of the presence of bedbugs:
• live bedbugs, which are reddish and about ¼-inch long
• dark spots about the size of a period—these are bedbug droppings
• reddish stains on your mattress from bugs that have been crushed
• small, pale-yellow eggs, egg shells, and yellowish skins that young bedbugs shed
Seeing any of the above signal the presence of bedbugs and that area must be treated.
Vacuuming and Clean Up
If you ascertain you have bedbugs anywhere in your home, you can assume they can be elsewhere too. Bedbugs like to hide and nest in clutter, so get rid of much clutter as possible, especially in bedrooms, dens and living rooms. They also like to hide in things like loose wallpaper and cracks in the walls, thus try to repair these things.
After you have done the above, thoroughly vacuum your home, especially your beds, sofas, chairs and floor coverings. Afterwards, also vacuum clean the nozzle you used. Then, carefully wrap up the vacuum cleaner bag and immediately throw it away into an outside garbage can.
Killing the Bedbugs
Cleaning up and vacuuming are not enough to get rid of the bedbugs, there will likely be some that escaped. Therefore, take the additional following steps:
• Wash all bedding (sheets, blankets and mattress covers) and clothes in hot water for 30 minutes. Then put them in a dryer on the highest heat setting for 30 minutes.
• For items that can’t be washed or take high temperatures, put them in sealed bags and place them in the freezer at 0°F (-17°C). Leave them in there for at least four days.
• Use a handheld steamer unit, to spray steam all over the surface of your mattresses. Do not use a direct hot iron. Also, this may not be safe for other types of furnishings.
• If you bag suspected infested items and can’t subject them to high heat or cold – then the bagged items must be put away for a year (bedbugs can live without food for a long time).
• It is commonly known that bedbugs are killed on contact with rubbing alcohol. However, it is not advisable to do this on your furnishings.
Follow Up and Prevention
Even after all of the above, you need to keep checking for the presence of bedbugs and to repeat the above steps if necessary. Following is a list of measures to take to help prevent bedbug infestations:
• Keep your home clutter free as possible, especially bedrooms. Don’t leave papers, magazines, clothes, or other items on the floor.
• Buy and securely cover all your mattresses and box springs with a special bedbug-proof cover. Remember to totally zip them up.
• Regularly vacuum and wash bedding, furniture, curtains, and carpets.
• Seal cracks around light sockets, baseboards, and electrical outlets so bedbugs can’t sneak in.
• Check for bedbugs in all new items of furnishings and clothing brought into your home – especially clothing and suitcases that you took on a trip.
