Bed bugs are blood sucking insects that are visible to the naked eye. These creatures have flat oval bodies that are around 5 millimeters long. They have reddish-brown color and their appearance is quite similar to ticks and lice.
Bed bugs are nocturnal and therefore they don’t like lights and bright places. They feed on humans while sleeping, and that is why you will only notice their bites when you wake up in the morning.
And by this time, they’ve already gone back to their hiding places again like in pillows, mattresses, head boards, cracks, and any other out-of-the-way place.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: Exterminator
Bed bugs are very hard to get rid of, especially when the infestation is already severe. That’s why you should immediately take control of the situation as soon as you see some of these insects in your home as they can lay eggs and multiply easily.
Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of these nasty bed bugs. If the infestation is already getting out of hand and you want an immediate solution to this problem, you can hire an exterminator to fumigate your house from these insects. There are also bug sprays that you can use in order to eradicate any survivors from this process.
Natural Ways to Control Bed Bugs
If your bed bug infestation is minimal, you can apply some natural remedies to control the situation. One very effective method is to use food grade Diatomaceous Earth. This powdery substance is very effective in killing all types of insects and it is non-toxic to humans and pets too. Diatomaceous Earth functions by causing dehydration to insects upon contact, and this becomes the cause of death of these creatures.
Bed bugs are very sensitive to heat too. You can therefore use steam and heat cleaners to get rid of them. In fact, it is recommended that you spin dry your clothes in the dryer for at least 20 minutes to make sure that any insects or bed bug eggs are destroyed through the heating system in the dryer.
How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestation
Always cleaning your place up is one of the best preventive measures for controlling bed bugs. If you are frequently vacuuming your mattresses, carpets, and bed frames, the existence of these insects can be controlled. It is also recommended that you change your beddings and pillow cases at least 2 times a week as these are the most common hiding places of bed bugs. When washing your bed sheets, you should also use hot water in order to kill the insects as well as the eggs that may be present in the sheets.
As these insects can also hide in cracks and spaces between walls, headboards, and bed frames, you can also use a sealer to close up the open spaces in areas like these around your house. The less hiding places for the bed bugs to hide, the easier it will be to locate them and kill them.
Treating Bed Bug Bites
Bites from these blood sucking creatures can lead to rashes and skin allergies. You will find that there are red spots on your skin and these can be very itchy too. In order to ease the situation, you can apply some Aloe Vera gel on the affected area several times a day. The gel from this plant has a cooling effect, and it also contains Vitamin E and other healing properties that will soothe your skin’s condition.
You can also make a sticky paste from water and baking soda and apply the solution directly on the insect bites. You can leave this on your skin for about an hour, and then you can rinse the stuff off your skin by using mild soap and lukewarm water. Constant application of this mixture will help reduce the redness of the insect bites as well as the itchy feeling that goes with it.
Fighting Those Blood Suckers in Your Home
You shouldn’t allow bed bugs to feast on you while you sleep. If you suspect their existence in your home, you should immediately identify their location and hiding places. This way, you can carry out the task of destroying them more effectively. Before going on an all-out war with these creatures, make sure that you remove all clutter from your house and vacuum seal all pillows, blankets, stuffed toys, cushions, and the like.
Turn over your furniture too, as these insects can be hiding in cracks and gaps. You can then start exterminating these bed bugs until not a single one of them is left alive.