The process of getting rid of bed bugs can seem exhausting as these insects are among the most difficult to eliminate. Even the process of finding out if you have a bed bug infestation can be tricky, but once you identified them in your sleeping quarters, there are important considerations before you act. Do not panic and rush into a solution, as the solution can be worse than the problem.
How to Start Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
People tend to get very upset with these bugs because they picture them in their mind crawling on their body’s at night; but always remember, these bugs are not dangerous like other insects can be. They are not known to carry any disease, so your health is not in danger. However, what you do to eliminate them, can effect your health. One of the keys to getting rid of bed bugs is do not rush out and get any type of insecticide from you local hardware store. Many chemicals that kill other insects are not effective on bed bugs, and most of them are dangerous. Unlike other insects, these bugs are found close to people, because we are their food source. They consume blood much the same way a mosquito does, and because they crawl to get around, they must be close to a person. This means a few feet away at the most. They will be found in and around your bed in small crevices. Amazingly, as close as they can be to a person, they are often difficult to find, which is what makes getting rid of bed bugs so difficult. They are nocturnal insects and only come out for a couple of hours to feed, and this is usually right before dawn. Add to this, they don‘t feed every night and you have an insect that is tough to kill.
Steps for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
The first step you want to take is to wash all of your sheets, blankets and pillow cases. Regular laundry detergent is fine and combined with warm water will kill both the bugs and their eggs. In fact, if you have an item you cannot wash, a hot clothes dryer will destroy bed bugs also. Most dryers will get hot enough to kill bed bugs. If you want to vacuum, and most people do, make sure you seal and throw out the bag when you are done. The only insecticide recommended for bed bugs is one that contains pyrethrin; this is the safest for humans and this is an important attribute as anything used in your sleeping quarters needs to be safe. Bed Bug sprays than contain pyrethrin will kill the insects on contact, but only deter them if they are not sprayed directly. Do not use this directly on your mattress, but it can be used on the box springs section. If you have a bad infestation in you mattress, you will need to throw it away and get a new one. Another option is to get a plastic case for the mattress that will trap them. Eventually they will die from starvation. You can spray around the bed and on the legs of the frame, as well as the frame. If your bed is against the wall, pull in out and spray in the corners. Many times the beg bugs live in the corners and bottoms of the wall which is what makes getting rid of bed bugs hard to do.
