A bed bug infestation at home is certainly an experience no one would like to deal with. Not only are they annoying, but they can cause serious problems. Loss of sleep, itching, and skin infections can all be signs of bed bug presence in your home.
There are two ways to get rid of bed bugs, the chemical way and the natural one. Using chemicals to remove bed bugs will definitely do the job, but sometimes this is not an option. There are multiple natural home remedies that you can make on your own to chase away the pesky insect. With the help of this guide, you will learn how to naturally get rid of bed bugs.
The first step in getting rid of bed bugs is to make sure you have them at home. Here are some of the most obvious signs of a bed bug infestation.
The most apparent sign of bed bugs is spotting bites on your skin. The bites usually show up in groups and are in a straight line.
Bed bugs do not pose a serious threat to your health, however, if you’re allergic, medical attention may be required after being bitten.
Look for tiny blood stains on your bedsheets and mattress. If a bed bug gets to a blood source, it will usually suck up more than it can hold. Then, while it travels around your bed, it may drop a few blood drops, leaving visible stains.
Bed bugs produce pheromones, which makes them have a very distinctive smell. If there’s a large infestation, you will be able to smell them very easily. The scent is very unpleasant and it resembles that of a wet towel.
Like most living creatures, bed bugs have excrement which they produce after eating. If you spot black dots and stains, it may be from their fecal matter.
Bed bugs eggshells may be very hard to spot due to their small size and light colour. However, keep an open eye for tiny spots of ivory material in and around your bed.
If you spot bed bugs just crawling around, you have an infestation. Adults are dark brown and around 5-7mm in length. Be aware that these creatures are nocturnal and most of the time they thrive at night.
If you see a sign of bed bugs, you need to thoroughly inspect your home. Find their favourite hiding spot as fast as possible so they don’t spread into other parts of the house. Bed bugs aren’t easy to find due to their small size. Their narrow bodies allow them to hide in very tiny holes. Since bed bugs feed off human blood and are nocturnal creatures, here are the areas you should inspect.
Depending on how big the infestation is, you may find them in furniture as well. Check furniture joints, cabinets and drawers, as well as crevices along the walls.
As previously mentioned, using chemicals to get rid of a bed bug infestation will surely do the job, but sometimes isn’t the best way. There may be small children or pets in the house, or you may be allergic. For those reasons, natural remedies are a perfect solution. We have prepared a list of the best natural home remedies to get rid of bed bugs.
Alcohol can kill bed bugs upon contact. This also works for their eggs. However, it’s only possible if sprayed directly on them. This may be very hard to achieve as bed bugs are small and can hide in tiny cracks and crevices.
Baking soda will dehydrate the bed bugs. Spread it around places you have seen them, including cracks and crevices. Then vacuum the surface and reapply every day, until all the bed bugs die.
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best natural solutions against all types of bugs, including bed bugs. We recommend using the pesticide-graded version. Spread it around the floor and anywhere bed bugs may hide.
If you’ve dealt with bed bugs, and you managed to exterminate them, you wouldn’t want to see them back into your home. Prevention is the best and most effective method to keep them away from your property. Here are some tips on how to prevent a future bed bug infestation.
Get rid of any unnecessary items you may have at home such as old furniture, boxes from things you have bought, and old clothes. A cluttered house provides the bed bugs with more places to hide.
Often bed bugs can be brought to your home after returning from a vacation. They can get inside your suitcase and then be introduced to your home. To make sure that doesn’t happen, inspect the room you’re staying in and make sure it’s not infested. Hotels and motels are near the top of the list of most infested places by bed bugs. Check your personal belongings if your journey involves staying at a hotel.
Unlike fleas, bed bugs can’t jump. However, they can crawl on your clothes and be carried to a new home. If you have guests coming over, ask them to take their jackets off at the entrance and place them in an isolated area, such as a wall hanger.
If somehow the bed bugs manage to come back and your property gets reinfested there are a few things you can do:
We can make the creepy-crawlies disappear!
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