When you rest your head after a hard day’s work, two things are on your mind: sleep and sweet dreams. Certainly not creepy-crawling bedbugs having a field day all over your body. But alas, these pesky critters can invade homes like a thief in the night, leaving you reeling from itchy and painful bite marks. But all hope is not lost, because there are tried-and-true ways to cripple a bedbug infestation. If you’re figuring out how to get rid of bedbugs, read on.
What Is The Main Cause Of Bedbugs?
The sudden appearance of bedbugs is often a mystery. Where did they come from? How did they get there? Bedbugs are hitchhikers. This means if you happen to be somewhere with bedbugs, they can latch onto you, feed, and reproduce once you’re home. Living in your premises rent-free. Before thinking about how to kill bedbugs, here are the possibilities on how you could have gotten bedbugs in the first place.
- Travelling: If you travel frequently, there’s a high chance of you bringing bedbugs home. Bedbugs can be found sneaking around in lodging and all forms of public transportation from taxis to planes.
- Watching movies in cinemas: Bedbugs are attracted to warmth and your presence in a cold cinema draws hidden bedbugs out of hiding to bite you, or worse, latch onto your clothing and follow you home.
- Someone brought bedbugs to your home: If someone who has bedbugs visits or even spends a night in your home, they can offload the bedbugs to sofas, tables, or any pieces of furniture they might’ve come in contact with.
- Shopping for vintage furniture: Buying pre-loved furniture is akin to treasure hunting. It’s exciting and fun, but some treasures come with hidden passengers. In this case, bedbugs may be breeding and harbouring within these vintage pieces.
Learn How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs In Your Home
Identify Possible Infected Areas
Bedbugs are small, flat invasive infects that rely on blood to survive. They’re hard to spot with the naked eye. Smart and hardy, bedbugs can live for months in between meals. And a female bedbug lays about 500 eggs in her lifetime. Hence, it’s crucial to find them early before they breed. Start by inspecting places with narrow spots using a torchlight or a magnifying glass. Known places where bedbugs love to hide include:
- Curtain folds
- In between couch cushions
- In furniture cracks or joints
- Under or on bed sheets and blankets
- In electrical outlets
- Under carpets or table runners
- Behind cupboards or wardrobes
Next, spot bedbugs by these telltale signs:
- Bloodstains on your mattress from bedbugs that may have been crushed
- Dark or rusty small spots on sheets, pillowcases, and your mattress—these are bedbug droppings
- A strong, musty odour
- Tiny, yellow shells that young bedbugs shed
Contain & Halt The Infestation
Once you know you have an infestation, the next step is crucial: how to get rid of bedbugs. And getting rid of bedbugs start with first thoroughly cleaning the areas where they’re found. A quick and effective way to trap bedbugs is with a vacuum cleaner. Run the vacuum cleaner over your mattress, couch, and other places where you’ve noticed signs of a bedbug infestation. Once done, place the vacuumed contents in an airtight bag and discard it.
Next, put the affected sheets and clothing in a washing machine and run a high-temperature cycle to eliminate any remaining traces of bedbugs. If you cannot wash an item (a couch for example), use a steam cleaner.
Use Insecticides To Kill Bedbugs
When home remedies fail, how do you kill bedbugs then? With insecticides. The insecticides today contain active chemicals that guarantee effective results, all without leaving residues and pungent odours. Here are some options to consider:
- Bio-D SleepTite Bed Bug & Dust Mite Control Spray: Independently tested in the US, this non-toxic, scented spray destroys bedbugs in under five minutes with a mortality rate of 94%. Its family-friendly formula makes it safe to use around children and pets.
- Pesso Eco Bedbug Removal Spray: A non-invasive spray containing natural minerals, it cracks open the bedbug’s protective layer, leaving it to dry out and die. The spray doesn’t leave stains too, so you can use it on bedding and furniture.
- Harris Bed Bug Killer: Harris Bed Bug Killer is another great option when figuring out how to get rid of bedbugs at home. This high-pressure aerosol spray is known to annihilate bedbugs and their eggs in one fell swoop. It’s also odourless and non-staining.
Bedbug infestations can take weeks—or even months—to wipe out. If the area remains affected or littered with bedbug trails, repeat the disinfection process.
Knowing How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs Is Important For Every Household
Just the thought of bedbugs is enough to make some people itch. While they don’t carry diseases and generally don’t pose life-threatening danger, bedbugs are annoying, disgusting, and just terribly stressful to live with. Thankfully, as long as you know how to get rid of bedbugs, you don’t need to worry about them infiltrating your abode. If you’re struggling with more pest problems at home, read our guide on how to banish cockroaches and lizards through effective home solutions and products.
