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How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs


Bed bugs are tiny, bloodsucking creatures that can wreak havoc inside your home as well as in your life. These little monsters can enter your home through second-hand furniture or your luggage. Sleepless nights are just the beginning; bed bugs can also leave behind scars if you scratch the bite too much.
To make things worse, it isn’t easy to get rid of these pesky creatures. You may have to do anything from extensively cleaning your entire home to discarding the trapped bugs cautiously to eradicate these creatures from your home. Read on to know about nine amazing methods and tips that may you get rid of bed bug infestations.
Table Of Contents

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects without wings that primarily feed on warm-blooded hosts. The adult bugs are usually brown or reddish-brown, flattened, and oval-shaped. The hatchlings or newborn bed bugs are very tiny and usually the size of a poppy seed.
Due to their tiny size and flat structure, bed bugs can easily hide in between cracks and crevices. They usually lay eggs near to where the host sleeps. These insects are called bed bugs because of their choice of habitat. They are most often found hidden in bed mattresses, sofas, soft furnishings and, at times, even in clothing.
Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus are two species of bed bugs that feed on human blood. There are various ways in which an infestation can occur.

What Causes Bed Bug Infestations? Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs usually enter new places as stowaways with infested furniture, bedding, or luggage. This is why one should be extremely careful while purchasing second-hand furniture and mattresses.
Homes that are vacant and look seemingly clean can also be infested with bed bugs. These tiny creatures can also quickly spread from one apartment to another through hollows and holes in the walls. They can also move through pipings and tubes.
Let us now look at the common signs and symptoms associated with bed bug bites.

Signs And Symptoms Of Bug Bites

Bed bugs are usually known to feed on the hosts while they are sleeping. They draw blood in a painless manner.
A small amount of saliva is injected in the host’s skin when the bed bug draws blood from the host. When the bed bug feeds on the same person for extended periods, the bitten individual may become increasingly sensitive to the chemicals in the saliva of the bed bug. This can eventually trigger an allergic response.
Bed bugs bite in rows, and there may be two to three bites in every row. Bug bites may take anywhere between a couple of days to two weeks to appear. The bites are mostly raised and red, without a dot in the center.
Most individuals bitten by bed bugs do not show any symptoms, and this may make it challenging to identify and eliminate possible infestations. However, some individuals may become nauseous and ill following a bug bite. Scars, infection from scratching the bites, and, in rare instances, an anaphylactic or asthmatic reaction to bug bites are also possible.
As you can see, bed bites can cause damage inside your homes as well as on your skin if not eliminated on time. Here are some excellent ways to get rid of bed bugs for good.

Best Ways To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

1. Applying Heat (Or Laundry)

A clothes dryer can help in getting rid of bed bug infestations in household items like toys, shoes, clothing, or bedding. Portable heating devices are also available, which are specially designed to kill bed bugs in all life stages, including their eggs (1).

2. Vacuum Cleaning

Vacuuming the infested areas extensively can also help in eliminating bed bugs (2). Use an appropriate vacuum hose to thoroughly vacuum every crack and crevice on furniture, baseboards, bed stands, rails, buttons, edges of the bedding, and carpets.
Caution: Avoid using a bristle attachment as it may transfer any attached bugs to other places. Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bags in an outdoor trash can.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

You Will Need
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • A sprayer
What You Have To Do
  1. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a sprayer.
  2. Spray it on all the nicks and corners with possible bed bug infestations.
  3. You can also use rubbing alcohol as a surface cleaner to repel bed bugs.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once daily until you have eliminated all the bed bugs.
Why This Works
According to anecdotal evidence, rubbing alcohol is a solvent and may kill bed bugs by dissolving their cells. It also acts as a repellent. However, there is no study to prove this claim.
Caution: Rubbing alcohol may leave stains on some fabrics. Hence, do a patch test before spraying it on any infested fabric.

4. Scented Dryer Sheets

Scented dryer sheets are fabric softeners that help in leaving your clothes and bedding softer. They eliminate the electrostatic charges that linger on top of the washed fabrics, and this can repel bed bugs as well. However, dryer sheets only work as a prevention method and cannot help in eliminating bed bugs.

5. Sealing Cracks And Crevices

Sealing all cracks and crevices can prevent bed bugs from entering your apartment. It can also prevent the pests from infesting other nearby homes. Caulk is a popular material that can help in this regard. It is often used to seal leakages in piping and other structures (3).

6. Clean And Disinfect

Clean And Disinfect 
Disinfecting the infested areas by laundering the infested linens/clothing, scrubbing, vacuuming, and using portable heating devices can help in getting rid of bed bugs altogether. You can do this yourself or with the help of a pest control service.

7. Essential Oils

You Will Need
  • 10-15 drops of lemongrass oil or cedar oil
  • 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol
  • A sprayer
What You Have To Do
  1. Add 10-15 drops of lemongrass or cedar oil to 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol.
  2. Transfer the mixture to a sprayer.
  3. Spray it in every nick and corner of your home with possible infestations.
How Often You Should Do This
You may do this once daily until you get rid of all the bed bugs.
Why This Works
The strong aroma of essential oils can not only repel bed bugs but also kill them. According to a study published in the journal Insects, an essential oil-based pesticide saw a reduction of bed bugs in treated apartments (4).
Caution: Rubbing alcohol may leave stains on some fabrics. Hence, it is advised that you do a patch test before spraying it on any infested fabric.

8. Kidney Bean Leaves

You Will Need
Kidney bean leaves (as required)
What You Have To Do
  1. Place a few kidney beans leaves in all the areas that are most likely to be infested by bed bugs.
  2. Check for trapped bed bugs in the following days.
  3. Dispose of the used bean leaves.
Note: It is recommended that you destroy the bugs before disposing to prevent further infestations.
How Often You Should Do This
You may do this once every few days until you have eliminated all the bed bugs from your home.
Why This Works
Leaves from the bean plant have microscopic hooked hairs called trichomes on them. Trichomes often trap bed bugs by physically impaling their feet (5).

9. Diatomaceous Earth

You Will Need
Diatomaceous earth (as required)
What You Have To Do
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in all nicks and corners of your home.
How Often You Should Do This
You may do this once every few days until you get rid of all the bed bugs.
Why This Works
Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic but highly effective remedy to get rid of bed bugs. Continuous exposure to diatomaceous earth can kill adult bed bugs in 9-10 days (6).
Once you have successfully gotten rid of all the bed bugs, take the following precautions if you don’t want your homes infested by these little beings.
How To Prevent Bed Bugs
  • Avoid buying second-hand furniture or mattresses.
  • If you plan on buying them, look for signs of bed bug infestations before the purchase.
  • Reduce the clutter in your home (if any).
  • Vacuum frequently.
  • Be cautious while using shared laundry facilities.
  • Cover all the power outlets.
  • Check your pets for bed bug infestation and get them treated.
  • Inspect your furniture and other household items for infestations regularly.
These tips can be life-savers when it comes to getting rid of bed bugs for good. They can help you prevent further bed bug infestations in your homes as well.
A little caution is all you need to prevent bed bug infestations. And, of course, the pest control methods discussed above will also help. If the above methods were not successful in eliminating the bed bugs, contact pest control immediately to avoid further nuisance.
Do you know of any other ways to eliminate bed bugs? Share them with us in the comments section below.

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