The initial discovery of bed bugs will strike fear in any homeowner or parent—however, after the primary panic hits it is time to take action! Bed bugs are persistent and difficult to eliminate, but with the right techniques, you can banish them from your home and put your mind at rest. Unfortunately, they nest inside walls and mattresses, and they’ll follow you around the house at night, so moving to another room won’t provide you with relief. That means it will take a lot of work to cleanse the house of these buggers, but it can be done. Keep reading to get a few ideas for evicting these unwanted guests and enjoying a clean home once again.
Minimize Hiding Spaces
The first step is to getting rid of bed bugs is to eliminate their hiding spaces. They love a cluttered space, so start by getting as much clutter out of the house as you can. Take down thick curtains, shake out and vacuum floor rugs, and even clean off furniture. These little creatures can find their way in to anything, and will seek refuge if they find a good hiding space. All bedding can be washed in hot water and dried to kill off bed bugs. Do the same with stuffed animals, blankets, and even clothing. According to Albuquerque termite and pest control professionals who specialize in bed bugs, any items that have been washed and treated can then be sealed in plastic bags to kill off any lingering bugs.
Nighttime Relief
Your next order of business is going to be nighttime relief. Moving to another room won’t work, but you can make your bed safe from the invaders. Encase the mattress in plastic and move the bed away from all walls and furniture. Bed bugs are excellent climbers, but they cannot jump. You can buy bed risers at the local store to keep your bed away from any carpet that might be infested. Once your mattress has been sealed, the bedding has been thoroughly washed, and the bed has been moved away from other infested areas, you’ll have an isolated sleeping space where you can rest easy.
Vacuum Daily
Before you start putting down the sprays or powders, you should vacuum the home to pull up bed bugs and their eggs. Despite their name, bed bugs will hide throughout the house (not only in your bed) so thorough vacuuming is a great way to kill off a majority of the infestation. Use the extension hose to clean along baseboards and in corners. Try to vacuum the home daily as part of a long-term treatment plan for the bed bugs. If you are really worried about the infestation, you might consider having your carpets cleaned. The carpet is one of their favorite hiding places, so the more you treat it, the more bugs you’ll be able to kill off and extract.
Use the Right Products
If the infestation is limited to one room or a particular bed, many of these tactics will work, however the next problem to consider is reproduction and spreading. Bed bugs can spread throughout the entire home very quickly, and then it will be more difficult to get rid of them for good. Once you’ve tried a few of these methods for yourself, it is a good idea to call an exterminator. Bed bugs are resistant to most treatments, and an exterminator will have the right equipment and products for ending the infestation for good. Once they’ve completed an inspection and administered some treatments, the exterminator will likely give you recommendations for sprays, sticky pads, or other products you can use to as part of a long-term treatment that will keep the bed bugs at bay.
Many homeowners are tempted to leave their home for a week or toss out all their furniture as a way to get rid of bed bugs, and while this seems like a quick fix, it will only spread the problem. Once you discover bed bugs, take quick action to clean and clear any spaces that could be serving as a home for these creatures. Once you’ve done your part to clean the area and your belongings, seek the help of an exterminator to finally get rid of the bugs and their eggs for good. If you resolve the problem quickly and efficiently, you’ll be able to sleep better at night and eliminate an even bigger problem in the long run.
