Bed bugs are parasitic insects which feed on blood. Unfortunately, ever since the 90s, these parasites have become extremely common and difficult to eliminate.
FEW FACTS ON BED BUGS
- They have been present for thousands of years all across the world
- Adult beg bugs are similar to ticks. They are oval in shape, brown in color, and about 1/5 inch long
- They consume up to six times their body weight in the blood
- They come out at night and hide during the day
- They can thrive in clean home, contrary to popular belief that they live in dirty places only
- According to the CDC, they are generally harmless and don’t carry or spread disease
STEPS TO A BED BUG-PROOF HOME
Once settled down in your home, these parasites are difficult to eliminate. They thrive under different conditions, reproduce very fast, and can go without food for up to 400 days.
While most people opt for chemical extermination, the problem is that these sleep bugs eventually become resistant to those chemicals. This article provides 9 effective tips to get rid of these nasty bugs, in an all-natural and safe way.
1. Then Inspect Again
Early detection is the key to fight off bed bug infestation. Get a flashlight and a mirror and start! Inspect the mattress and the box spring, looking for bed bug feces. Make sure you check all cracks in the bed frame as well as the headboard and behind it.
2. Physically Remove the Ones You Can See
Try anything you can to eliminate them whether it`s vacuuming them up, crushing them in a towel, or catching them on sticky tape.
3. Launder all Bedding
Launder everything near the sleeping area, including sheets, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Dry them out on hot cycle as high heat kills the parasites off.
4. If You Can’t Wash it, Freeze it
Just like high heat, low temperatures also kill off bugs and their eggs. Therefore, items which cannot be washed can be put in the freezer instead.
5. Vacuum Thoroughly
Vacuum the mattress, headboard, bed frame, and all crevices on a daily basis. Seal the vacuum bag and throw it away outside the home when done.
6. Try Essential Oils
Bed bugs cannot stand cedar oil, orange oil, and tea tree oil. Dilute them with water and mist the problematic areas.
7. Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is very effective against bed bugs and even professional exterminators use it. All you have to do is to put on a mask and sprinkle the mattresses and bed frames with DE. Vacuum before bedtime.
8. Remove Clutter Around Beds
Eliminating clutter around and under the bed helps limit their hiding places. In case you notice any signs of bed bugs, treat these areas with any of the methods outlined above.
9. Prevention
This step is of utmost importance, regardless of whether there are any bed bugs or not!
- Get a bed bug-proof mattress encasement for your mattresses to reduce dust mites
- To reduce their hiding places, fill all cracks in bed frames with sealant or caulk
- Install bed bug traps under the legs to stay on the safe side and prevent dust mites from becoming a problem.
