Before you start dealing with your pest problem, it's important to know what ones you are dealing with, ensuing that they are indeed bed bugs and not other biting insects such as mosquitoes or fleas.
Spotting bed bugs can be difficult as they only come out at night due to their nocturnal nature. During the day, the little bugs tend to hide in cracks and crevices near their preferred feeding area - usually a bed.
Once you've narrowed this down and have identified that you have an issue with bugs, it's important that you deal with them as soon as possible.
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Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control has shared that to get rid of bed bugs requires "cleaning the places where they reside" , writes the Express, with several steps anyone can try.
How can I get rid of beg bugs?
The first step is to wash whatever items you can in a bedroom that is infested with bed bugs.
Jordan said: “Wash bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water, and dry them on the highest setting. The items that cannot be washed, such as stuffed animals and shoes, should go in the dryer on high for 30 minutes.”
Bed bugs can be killed at all life stages through dry cleaning, which is the “best treatment” to get rid of them claimed the expert.
He added: “Bed bugs are most effectively eliminated with heat treatment. Heat (above 56C) destroys bed bugs at all stages of life, even their eggs. Moreover, it is more time-efficient than chemical treatments.”
To get rid of bed bugs and their eggs, a stiff brush needs to be used to scrub the mattress seams. This is a common area for these pests to hide in.
Hoovering the bed and surrounding area should also be a regular occurrence when trying to get rid of bed bugs. As soon as you have finished cleaning, place the waste into a bag and dispose of it in the outdoor rubbish bin.
Households can also use a tightly woven, zippered cover for mattresses and box springs to effectively prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping.
Jordan revealed that bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding, so “prevent them from returning by keeping them covered for at least one year”.
Bed bugs can also hide in any crack or under peeling wallpaper so make sure walls are repaired. Lastly, clear any clutter around the bed to give the bugs fewer spots to hide under.
It may make sense to get rid of an infested mattress and get a new one, but households should still make sure to get rid of bed bugs everywhere in their home, or the new bed will also become infested.
For those who have taken all of the necessary bed bug prevention steps and have not been successful with DIY treatments, they’ll need to seek help.
The chances of getting an infestation can be reduced if households keep up with good housekeeping, such as vacuuming their house and washing their bedding regularly.
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