Often, homeowners having a bed bug problem feel embarrassed about their situation and naturally wish to know the easiest and most hassle-free ways to address it. Hence, we are presenting 10 easy ways to get rid of bed bugs. Do note that, if you are living in a rented apartment, it is important to notify the property manager/landlord. The sooner everyone is made aware of the situation, the better it will be in making the bed bug treatment more successful.
A bed bug infestation is not easy to deal with as often, when we feel we are completely rid of them, they come right back. Many DIY bed bug control measures cannot get rid of bed bug eggs and larvae. Furthermore, bed bugs can live for very long periods of time without a blood meal. So they might continue hiding in cracks and crevices only to return when you are least expecting them.
Without further delay, here are 10 easy ways to get rid of bed bugs once and for all:
The 10 Easiest Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
1. Call a professional bed bug exterminator
Professional pest management companies use registered and safe insecticides in the form of spray applications. These can get rid of most bed bugs. The entire house is treated except the kitchen. You will be asked to prepare the house in advance: move furniture, cover the bedding, and store away pricey objects and electrical goods safely. After two weeks, a second application is done to ensure getting rid of eggs and larvae.
2. Steam treatment for bed bug control
Steam treatment at 120 F can successfully kill bed bugs and their eggs. Use dry steam directly on the bugs to also get rid of mold and other household allergens. This is one of the top 10 easy ways to get rid of bed bugs which can be implemented as DIY treatment.
3. Set traps for bed bugs
Another easy way to get rid of bed bugs is using traps. Use hot air from hair dryers to force bed bugs to come out of cracks and crevices. Then simply kill them using a paper towel. Alternatively you can trap the bugs using sticky tapes.
4. Clean and disinfect your home
Noteworthy point here is: bed bugs can be found even in the cleanest of homes or five star hotels. So, while cleanliness is important, you must also use other methods of getting rid of the bugs. However, cleaning and de-cluttering a home is essential so that there is little place for the pests to hide.
5. Launder bed clothes and linen
Wash all items showing signs of bed bug activity (blood stains, discarded exoskeletons, fecal matter) including bed sheets, curtains and other household linen. Use the highest setting of heat on the dryer for at least 20 minutes. This is a surefire way of getting rid of bed bug eggs and larvae.
6. Vacuum
If you have carpets and rugs in your home, you must ensure vacuuming them daily. Also vacuum the bed frame, couches and other furniture as well. Use the brush and crevice tools of the vacuum. If you have a bag based-vacuum, seal the bags and throw them away in trash cans outdoors. For filter-based vacuum cleaners, wash the filter in hot water and soap.
7. Cover seals and cracks
Bed bugs hide during the day and come out at night to feed. So, make use sealing tapes and caulks to cover the cracks and crevices in walls, furniture items and so on. This will reduce spaces for them to hide.
8. Get rid of infested items
In many cases, it is not possible to salvage the infested items as cleaning and disinfecting is inadequate. Box springs especially tend to get heavily infested and cannot be covered or treated. So, use a plastic sheet to discard them and label them as ‘infested with bed bugs’. This way, unsuspecting people will not pick them up.
9. Use diatomaceous earth powder
Diatomaceous earth powder consists of sharp molecules which can rip the innards of the bed bugs killing them instantly. However, it is important to apply a layer thick enough for the bugs to actually crawl through and ingest it. The house should be thoroughly vacuumed before application of the powder. The DE powder used should be organic, food grain variety which is not harmful to pets and humans. It should be allowed to remain undisturbed on infested items for a period of three weeks for it to be effective.
10. Check and recheck for bed bugs
Even though one of these ways to get rid of bed bugs have worked for you, you must still continue to check for signs of bed bugs in places such as behind picture frames, inside books, magazines and papers, on the floor, in the mattress corners, box springs etc. for weeks following the treatment. If need be, professionals must be called in again to inspect and retreat the home.
Use these 10 easy ways to get rid of bed bugs, but make sure to repeat the steps every two weeks following the first round when all remaining bed bug eggs are likely to have hatched.
