Bed bugs are taking over the whole country, they have even been discovered in the Empire State Building for Gods sake! With Luck any problem you find yourself having with these incredibly small vampires will be on a far lesser scale but it can still be very disconcerting non the less.

First there are the itchy, red welts on your body, some people don’t display any reaction to the bed bug bites but for a large percentage the unbelievable itching just makes a bad situation seem a whole lot worse. Then, you have to face the fact that your property has an invasion of bugs and you have to figure out how to get rid of bed bugs as quickly and effectively as possible.

There are a few easy steps you should follow which will hopefully get rid of your bed bugs. However, if you have a large infestation, in more than one room you may need to bring in professional help.

Okay, here is how to get rid of bed bugs the do-it-yourself way!

1. De-clutter and clear the room. Throw away anything you no longer need such as newspapers, magazines, books etc. Put all this “stuff” into plastic bags, seal them tightly and dispose of them.

2. Remove all bedding, clothing etc. and place these items in sealed plastic bags as well. Launder everything at as high a temperature as fabrics allow. Items which cannot be laundered may be placed in your tumble dryer on a high heat setting for approximately 10 minutes. Alternatively you might use a steam cleaner to get rid of bed bugs in items unsuitable to laundering or tumble drying. Once garments have been treated place them in fresh plastic bags, seal them up to avoid recontamination. REMEMBER – you will have to inspect and treat drawers, closets etc. because bed bugs will hide out anywhere.

3. Once the room is completely clear, vacuum everywhere in a methodical, thorough way this must include the bed, soft furnishings, curtains, inside furniture, even obscure places like smoke alarms, light switches and alarm clocks have to be checked. It is vital that you empty the contents of your vacuum cleaner into a plastic bag and seal it tightly immediately you complete this part of the task.

4. Repeat step three this time with a steam cleaner. Bed bugs cannot withstand heat and a steam cleaner gives an immediate and intense source. This will help get rid of bed bugs at all stages in their development from eggs and nymphs through to full grown adult bugs.

5. If you discover any small cracks or crevices in walls or floors now is a good time to have them repaired. This will get rid of bed bug hiding places!

You could take the process no further and hope that you have got rid of all the bed bugs. However, if someone asks me how to get rid of bed bugs I always suggest taking treatment a step further.

It is possible to buy a wide selection of bed bugs sprays and treatments but one which I personally have used and had success with is Bed Bug Patrol. It is totally non toxic and works really quickly to get rid of bed bugs who may have escaped the vacuum and steam cleaners. From the same company you can also purchase fossil shell dust and bed bug traps. These are relatively inexpensive but will effectively get rid of bed bugs. In fact you can purchase everything you need in a kit.

These steps tell you how to get rid of bed bugs, but completing this routine once may not be sufficient. You may have to repeat the whole thing a couple of times before you can declare your home a bed bug free zone!

GOOD LUCK!

Tagged with:

Filed under: General

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!