Last Updated on April 15, 2024 by Ali Hamza
In the US, bed bugs are a major issue that is only becoming worse. Small, blood-eating insects known as bed bugs feast on both human and animal blood. They may survive for up to two months without food and, if the immune system of their host does not eliminate them soon enough, they can spread illness. You might not be aware that you have bed bugs until it’s too late since they are so small and difficult to spot. Once you’ve seen them, there are fortunately several ways to get rid of these annoying bugs, but first, what should you do?
Vacuum everything.
Vacuum everything. This is the most important step in controlling bed bugs, as it helps to remove all of their eggs and adults from your home. The vacuum should be large enough to suck up dirt from mattresses and upholstered furniture, carpets, and rugs, curtains (if you have any), drapes (if you have any), etc.
Wash all clothes in high temperatures.
- Use hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting of your dryer, which is usually between 130°F and 140°F (54°C to 60°C). You should be able to feel the steam from these clothes when you touch them.
- Wash all sheets, pillows, comforters, and mattress covers separately from your bedding if possible because bed bugs can hide in these items as well as inside mattresses themselves. If you don’t have time to wash everything at once then do one thing at a time: wash sheets first so they’re ready when you go back downstairs after doing laundry; then start with pillows; move on to comforters next; finish cleaning out any plastic bags or vacuum bags containing dirty laundry before starting up again with clean ones. If there’s no way around washing everything separately within this process then just focus on getting rid of any visible signs of infestation before moving on to making sure none remain hidden within your linens!
Use a steamer.
A steamer is an effective tool for bed bug control. You can use steamers on mattresses, box springs, and other furniture to kill adult bed bugs as well as nymphs that are hiding out in the seams or cracks of these items. Do not use a steamer on hardwood floors because it can damage those surfaces. Also beware: do not use steamers on electronics or other items that can be damaged by heat!
Isolate the problem areas.
Isolate the problem regions as the first stage in bed bug management. You must concentrate on the areas where they are most likely to be hiding, such as the bed sheets or mattress, rather than just treating the entire house.
Use sticky traps (like these) to get rid of bed bugs rather than sprays or powders that could scratch surfaces. Since sticky traps target individual adults rather than entire infestations at once, research investigations have consistently proven them to be more successful than conventional fumigation techniques.
Additionally, after an inspection is complete, vacuum up any visible evidence that was left behind, including any personal items that might still have blood stains on them, empty boxes with used sheets inside, old clothes kept out of the laundry room due to infestation, and empty boxes with used sheets inside.
Examine all cracks and crevices.
To find bed bugs, look in the cracks and crevices of your mattress. If a mattress is infested with bed bugs, it can hide in these small spaces during the day. You may be able to see them with a flashlight if you shine it directly on the mattress; however, some people experience adverse effects from using this method (such as headaches). If you are unable to identify any bed bugs after inspecting your mattress for several minutes, consider renting an extermination service that uses heat treatments or pesticides to kill all stages of life cycles within an infestation area.
Use a bed bug removal spray.
- Spray a pyrethrin-containing pesticide over the mattress, box spring, and headboard.
- Spray your bed frame’s headboard, rails, and legs gently, as well as any other furniture in the room where you sleep (i.e., dresser drawers).
- Avoid using sprays on your clothes since they may turn the fabric black or brown. Instead, wash your clothes in hot water with detergent to get rid of any pesticide residue that may have lingered after application.
- Avoid spraying directly onto locations where people sleep or work since this might irritate or discomfort people or animals that sleep close to such areas while being treated (which typically lasts between 30 minutes to 3 hours depending upon how many insects are present).
Win The War on Bed Bugs
Bed bug infestations don’t just happen in homes; they may also occur in public locations like businesses and schools, where there may be more people present than typical right now. This implies that it’s critical for everyone who spends time in these locations (whether for work or recreation) to be aware of the precautions that must be taken after being exposed earlier today. Remember that bed bugs are not something you can ignore or pretend doesn’t exist. When you have a major infestation of bed bugs in your home, getting rid of them might be difficult. You may avoid an infestation by taking the required precautions before things get out of hand.
