Topping the list of the most annoying pests has to be this: bedbugs. Not only do they give their victim sleepless nights, but they also cause itchy, red spots, and are notoriously difficult to detect.
The worst thing about these bugs is that they don’t discriminate against who they feed on – even a well-kept home or bed can be prone to bedbugs if they can find their way in. So, essentially, anyone can be a victim of a bedbug infestation. This makes it even more important to be aware of the remedies to treat this problem. For minor infestations, you can try these home remedies first:
Know thy enemy
Before you do anything, it is vital to know where the bedbugs are residing. Although they are quite tiny, they are still visible to the eye if you look at the right places. Think back to where you got your bedbug bites, and examine the bed, sofa, carpet, or cushion in question. You might have to look underneath the upholstery, in the nooks and crannies of the frame, and underneath the covers.
Vacuum thoroughly
If you’ve identified where the bedbugs are, you can start to remove them by vacuuming them. Vacuum the affected items and areas, especially the corners. It might help to have a dry toothbrush to loosen out bugs or their eggs from crevices. After vacuuming, tie up and dispose of the waste bag immediately so that the bedbugs have no chance to re-infest your bed.
Use heat
One way to kill off bedbugs is by using heat. Depending on the affected items, you can wash them in hot water, or tumble dry at high heat. Cleaning your bed linens regularly this way can also help to keep bedbugs in check. However, before doing this, you should check if the fabric is suitable for washing in high heat.
Freeze them
If heat can’t be used, the other extreme is to subject the affected items to sub-zero temperatures. This works only if you have access to a freezer that can go up to about -15 degrees Celsius or lower. The freezing method is good for small items that have been infested. Place the items in the freezer for about 4 days to ensure that it is thoroughly frozen so that the bedbugs can die off.
Cover up
Another method to eradicate the pests takes a simple approach – by covering your mattress with a sealed case, it prevents the bedbugs from feeding on you, while starving them over time. New bedbugs will also be easier to spot as they do not have access to the crevices available on the mattress itself.
While these methods may be helpful, they are not always suitable – for example, when your infested item is easily damaged by extreme temperatures. While the best way to keep your home bedbug free is to be alert about not bringing them inside in the first place, sometimes the problem has been there even before you know it.
If these home remedies don’t work for you, or are unsuitable for your circumstances, the best thing you could do is to call for help from a pest control company. Make sure to choose a professional company that is highly experienced in bedbug control so that they know exactly what to do to chase away those pests.
