Bed bugs are very unpleasant creatures that no one likes to have at home. We will introduce you to effective home remedies that you can use to combat bed bugs.
While natural home remedies can provide temporary relief from bed bugs, for a long-term solution, it’s advisable to consult with a professional service. For residents in Florida, reaching out to Pest Control Jacksonville FL can ensure that you receive a comprehensive and effective approach to eradicate bed bugs and prevent future infestations. Their expertise will provide peace of mind and a pest-free home.
Our sleeping places are a particularly attractive habitat for bed bugs. They are so small that they are difficult to see with the naked eye and feed on human blood. They are often an unwanted souvenir from hotels, which ends up spreading out in your own bed at home after your vacation.
Bedbug bites are uncomfortable and itchy. If you suspect an infestation in your bedroom, you should take measures to combat the bed bugs as quickly as possible.
However, you don’t have to worry that bed bugs can pose a health risk to you. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) gives the all-clear: So far there is no evidence that bed bugs transmit infectious diseases. However, the animals’ bites can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Fighting bed bugs: This is how you recognize them
You can tell that your bed linen is infested with bed bugs by various signs:
- Bed bugs are small, brown and oval in shape. When they eat, they enlarge so that you can see them with the naked eye.
- Bedbugs leave behind reddish bites that are usually arranged in a row and are known as “bug streets.” The bites often itch.
- Small black or dark red dots on the bed linen or on the mattress can be traces of bed bug droppings.
- If the bug infestation is already advanced, you will notice an unpleasant, sweet smell.
- To be safe, attach double-sided tape to your bed frame. If there is a bedbug infestation, some of the little animals will stick and thus provide clarity.
Fight bed bugs with cold and heat
Bedbugs don’t like cold any more than they like intense heat. According to Gesund.bund, you can freeze smaller objects and textiles at at least minus five degrees for at least five days to combat bed bugs. To do this, you can simply place the affected textiles in the freezer. The bed bugs and their eggs cannot survive the low temperatures.
Likewise, bed bugs cannot survive temperatures above 50 degrees. To kill them, objects should be heated at over 50 degrees for at least two hours – for example in the oven.
Wash affected textiles
If you notice a bedbug infestation, you should definitely put all washable textiles in the washing machine, according to Gesund.bund.
- You have to wash pillowcases etc. at at least 60 degrees to effectively combat bed bugs. To be on the safe side, you can treat the clothing in the washer-dryer at high temperatures.
- The high temperatures reliably kill the bugs and their eggs.
- Carry the infected laundry in a bag to the washing machine. This will prevent the bugs from spreading to other rooms.
- In addition to your bed, also check other textiles, such as curtains or your wardrobe, for bed bugs. If you notice an infestation here, you must also wash these things thoroughly.
- You can vacuum furniture and floors that are less affected with a vacuum cleaner.
Fighting bed bugs: In an emergency, get professional help
As soon as you have discovered bed bugs, you should not only follow the home remedies mentioned above, but also contact professionals to be on the safe side.
Bed bugs can survive without food for up to 18 months. So they are very resistant and it is difficult to get rid of them completely. Leaving the affected apartment for a few days or weeks doesn’t help either.
The German Pest Control Association explains that some bed bugs no longer respond to home remedies. The experts speak of a “so-called development of resistance”. Anyone who has a persistent problem with bed bugs urgently needs professional pest control.
Typical hiding places for bed bugs
Bed bugs don’t just hide in bedding, they can live in many areas of your home. Bed bugs feel particularly comfortable here:
- Mattresses
- Pillows and blankets
- Backpacks
- Clothing
- Wardrobes
- Bags
- Carpets
- Skirting boards
- Laundry basket
- Shoes
- Upholstered furniture
- Suitcases and bags
- Unused drill holes
- Sockets
This is how you prevent bed bugs
- Clean your bedroom regularly and thoroughly. While you do this, vacuum the floors and change the bedding. You should check your bed for a possible bedbug infestation. The sooner you detect them, the more effectively you can fight bed bugs.
- Tape the feet of your bed with double-sided tape. Alternatively, you can place your mattress on the floor (in the middle of the room) and place double-sided tape around the mattress. The animals then stick to it and you discover the infestation.
- Check used items for bugs before putting them in your rooms. The UBA advises not to take used furniture from the street or from bulky waste.
- If you are on vacation, you should check your room for bed bugs. If you find bed bugs, pack your clothes in sealable bags. This way you avoid bringing the animals into your own four walls. After your vacation, wash your clothes at at least 60 degrees. The same applies to used clothing, for example from a flea market.