Seven Tips to Effectively Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are saboteurs of good sleep. They are parasitic insects that are causing havoc in many homes around the world. Recently, they have also invaded hotels, hospitals, theaters, and other facilities. They latch onto furniture, beds, and other comfortable surfaces. Although bed bugs are not life-threatening, they can cause discomfort and should therefore be removed from your home. Below are seven tips on how to effectively eliminate them:

1. Clean hiding places

Bed bugs don’t just thrive in beds but also in mattresses, seams, creases, cracks in bed frames, couches, dust covers, curtains, and drawers, underneath furniture, carpets, rugs, and others. These are possible hiding places of bed bugs that must be checked and cleaned from time to time. You will know if bed bugs are present by the pungent odor they produce. You can schedule a routine cleaning of these places which involves dusting and vacuuming of dirt serving as their shelter. When you are done, empty the vacuum cleaner immediately and put the vacuum bag in the freezer for 24 hours before disposing the contents to kill larvae that you might have vacuumed.

2. Wash bed linens

If you think that there are bed bugs in your bed, wash your bed linens in hot water immediately. After rinsing, set your dryer to its highest temperature setting and let them dry. Bed bugs can’t survive in high temperature so this procedure should kill them. This does not only apply to bed linens but also to bed sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and bed skirts.

3. Move your bed away from walls

Bed bugs don’t fly. They crawl. To avoid them from crawling from their hiding places especially behind walls into your bed, move your bed away from the walls.

4. Eliminate clutter

You can also get rid of bed bugs by eliminating clutter in your room especially those around your bed. Clutters are good hiding places for bed bugs and eliminating clutter discourages them from staying in your room.

5. Seal up cracks and holes

If you have any cracks or holes in your walls and even furniture, no matter how small they are, seal them as soon as you discover them. Cracks and holes are favorite hiding places of bed bugs so you are better off if these hiding places are sealed. Also seal any openings where pipes and wires enter your home.

6. Use homemade pesticides to eradicate them

Before calling an exterminator, there are some less harmful killers of bed bugs. These killers include rubbing alcohol and steam. Spraying alcohol and steamed water directly to the affected areas can kill the larvae but not bigger bed bugs. However, if your home is infested with bigger ones, it is better to contract the services of an exterminator.

7. Don bring bed bugs into your home

When travelling, there is a possibility that you can get bed bugs from one of your accommodations and bring them into your home. To avoid this, wash all the clothes you brought with hot water and dry them using high heat in your dryer. This procedure can help kill not only bed bugs but also their larvae.

The bites of bed bugs can be itchy and annoying. Don’t allow yourself or your family to be pestered by bed bugs. By following the seven tips cited above, you can have a better chance of getting rid of bed bugs in your home effectively.