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Bed bugs are hard to get rid of, and one of the biggest reasons is their tiny size, the rate of reproduction.
These bugs will leave itchy and red spots on your body. The good news is that you will be able to get rid of bed bugs by following a few steps.
Read on to find out how to get rid of bed bugs for good!
Step 1
Finding out if you have bed bugs is the first step. Tell-tale signs include rust-colored spots on your mattress and bedding. They emit a musky sweet odor.
You can use a bed bug trap, that will show you their presence within an hour.
You can use a magnifying glass and a flashlight but they can be hard to find because of their tiny size.
Then place bed bug traps around the house in corners and under areas to see how widespread the problem is around your house.
Step 2
Start clearing clutter off the floor. Particular attention to things that are under the bed.
Place items you’re keeping in plastic totes because bed bugs like to hide in cardboard boxes. For organization, I recommend clear plastic totes so you can see what’s in them.
Put all your bedding in a plastic bag immediately and then put them in the wash. Use a detergent made to kill bed bugs.
Use the Hot water cycle and dry in the Highest setting to sanitize your laundry.
Step 3
For your other items, put them in plastic bags with a towel saturated with safe bed bug killer, like this Kid and Pet-friendly bed bug killer by EcoRaider.
Seal these bags and leave them for 1-2 weeks. This should kill the bed bugs and you can then open it again.
Step 4
Then vacuum your house thoroughly.
Then vacuum your bed and mattress. Pay attention to the crevices in the mattress and furniture. Vacuum under rugs.
To make vacuuming easier, you can invest in a cordless vacuum. I especially like the Dyson Animal and it’s made all my vacuuming chores feel easy. The dust ejects well even for allergy sufferers like me. I use a baby wipe to close the container. It picks up any excess dust and I no longer sneeze when emptying the vacuum.
Step 5
Then use a bed bug killer spray, that is kid and pet friendly, on all the nooks and crannies in the house.
Open the windows to ventilate the minty scent.
For heavy infestations, you have to spray weekly for at least 2-3 weeks until the bed bugs disappear.
To get through very heavy infestations, you may want to use a bed bug fogger. The fog will get into all nooks and crannies. Follow the specific directions on the fogger. You will need to leave your room(s).
Step 6
After taking the actions to get rid of bed bugs, it is time to check if the methods have worked out or not.
Layout new disposable traps under the bed and other hiding places to check if there are any bed bugs left.
Step 7
Now you will want to prevent bed bugs from coming back to your home.
There are some steps you can take aside from cleaning your house regularly.
You can cover your mattress with a bed bug proof bed cover, like this one from Amazon, which will prevent the bed bugs from living inside the mattress. This will also seal in any bugs and allergens.
You can place bed bug interceptors under your bed.
And move your headboard a bit so that it doesn’t touch the wall. This prevents not only bed bugs but also spiders from walking onto the bed while you sleep.
How to Prevent Getting Bed Bugs During Travel?
One of the common ways to get bed bugs is when you travel. They reproduce rapidly after they hitchhike on your luggage and clothes to your house.
Set a bed bug trap to check if your hotel room has bed bugs.
Bring a travel spray to spray your luggage before packing.
Do the unpacking outside your house. Put all your clothes in a plastic bag and carry it to the laundry room. Wash at a hot temperature and dry at a high temperature to sanitize.
Takeaway
Here’s to your bed bug-free future! With care and maintenance, you will be able to keep the bed bugs away from your home.
Related: How to Bug Bomb a House
