Bed bugs can be a nightmare to deal with. These tiny, oval-shaped bloodsuckers will leave irritating, swollen red welts strewn all over your skin. Dealing with them is never a fun process: they’re hard to detect, multiply at a fast rate and can hide in tiny, easy-to-miss spots in your home. It isn’t the best idea to just leave them alone, either. Bed bugs can seriously ruin your sleep with the irritation they cause on your skin, which can lead to unnecessary stress and further health complications down the line. If you have an allergy, the damage could be even worse as a couple of bites will leave you bursting with hives.
In fact, one might feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. Luckily, though, there is a couple of easy-to-remember, do-it-yourself tips that will help you get rid of these unwanted house guests. Reclaim your home and a good night’s sleep with the following tips on how to get rid of bedbugs yourself:
EARLY STEPS:
- Identify the problem. Take a closer look at the bugs that you are dealing with. Compare the bugs you’re looking at with a bed bug referencing photo. For all you know, you could be dealing with a different pest such as a flea. Failing this, try finding a second opinion or diagnosis from an expert in pest extermination. You don’t want to be carrying out specifically anti-bed bug measures for naught.
- On top of being a good idea in general, cleaning up clutter goes a long way towards dealing with a potential bed bug infestation. Bed bugs thrive in cluttered spaces, after all; it gives them an ample amount of narrow spaces and hiding spots.
- Vacuum all the cracks and crevices. Bed bugs love hiding in these narrow spaces. Vacuuming these and the furniture is a great way to get rid of the bed bugs. Take note that you won’t be able to find them all, however.
- Control the spread of the infestation. That spring cleaning also gives you a chance to take out the trash. Be sure to keep infected items in a tightly sealed plastic bag. If you give bed bugs an inch they will take a mile—separate items that can be potentially treated and items that can’t. The latter can be left in their sealed bag for a year or so to ensure all the bed bugs are dead. If it can’t be treated, consider discarding bed bug-infested old furniture responsibly as well. You can label a warning with a marker or spray paint.
BED BUG KILLING METHODS
If you’re looking to solve your bedbug problem, chances are you want them gone for good. There are many ways you can go about killing the little creatures, depending on the surface you want to remove them from. Here are some of the most common methods:
- Steam cleaners can help you reach all those narrow crevices and openings in your house. It also works wonders on all sorts of furniture: from the bed frames to the carpets to the couch. There are multiple steam cleaners available, and some of them are specifically marketed towards bed bug killing. Be sure to do your homework by checking user reviews and making sure they’re provided by a brand you can trust.
- While this might seem like a no-brainer, it’s good to be reminded that regular washing and dry heating your laundry can be a good way to control the bed bug population. The water drowns any bed bugs or bed bug eggs on your sheets while drying them takes care of any of the survivors. On top of it all, it’s just good hygiene in general.
- There are a handful of natural substances that bed bugs are repelled or outright killed by. Natural oils like lavender oil and tea tree oil can do a number on the bed bug population, on top of just smelling pleasant. Lemon juice and powdered pepper are cheap but still effective alternatives that you can dilute in water and spray all over the house.
- If all else fails, consider trying different types of pesticides. Sticking to one isn’t recommended because bed bugs can show surprising resilience against certain variants. Desiccants are noted to be especially effective, although they take some time to work. Be sure to follow the instructions on the back. If possible, work together with a pest management service in this step.
These DIY bed bug removal solutions can go a long way in addressing your pest issue. Should the infestation be too big for a single individual to handle however, it’s advised that you consult a professional pest management expert. GTA Toronto Pest Control provides some of the best bed bug-removal services in all of Canada and will assuredly exceed your expectations.
