It’s the uninvited house guest from hell – a bed bug.
These creepy-crawlies can get into your home and take up residence in your bed. They love to bite us while we sleep, causing health problems ranging from itchy bites to severe allergic reactions.
You can find them all across the globe, even in five-star hotels – bed bugs are happy to live anywhere.
But if you have them, how can you get rid of them? You’ll want to draw them out from their hiding places and then kill them – read on to find out how.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
Bed bugs are small, flat creatures, with plenty of ability to hide.
What do bed bugs look like? You’ll probably know them when you see them, but they are round, brownish-red insects with flat bodies.
They love to hide in mattresses and box springs, in fabric folds, and even in the bed frame itself. However, it’s not only beds they like – you can also find them in carpet, furniture, and cushions.
How Can I Draw Them Out?
Now that you know where to find bed bugs, you’re probably ready to draw them out and get rid of them.
There are two key points to remember. First, bed bugs are photophobic, meaning they hate light.
They’re also attracted to heat, such as the body heat of a person sleeping in bed. When drawing out bed bugs, we can use this to our advantage.
Here are some of the best ways to draw out bed bugs so that you can get rid of them.
Steamer
If you have a steamer, such as the one you use for removing wrinkles from clothes, this can be a good tool for removing bed bugs.
The heat coming out of the steamer will draw the bed bugs out of their hiding spots so that you can find them. If you don’t have a steamer, a hairdryer also works well.
Point the nozzle a few inches away from where you think the bugs are hiding, and the hot air is sure to attract them. This works well for hard to reach places, such as cracks in the wall.
Remove Them By Hand
It may not be the most fun way to do it, but can you actually remove bed bugs by hand after the heat has drawn them out. Shining a flashlight in the area you think they’re hiding may make them easier to find, and you can then pick them up with a tissue.
If you see any egg casings, you’ll want to remove those as well. Otherwise, your bed bug population is only going to continue to grow.
Removing bed bugs manually probably isn’t the best way to completely solve the problem, but it helps. Plus, it’s a good strategy for removing any that you happen to see.
Set Traps
Another way to get rid of bed bugs is by setting passive traps. These are traps that a bed bug can crawl into, but then can’t get back out again.
You can even make your own traps, as long as you have a material that will trap the bugs. Water works well for this, since they’ll drown in it, but sticky tape or Vaseline can do the job as well.
There’s also a type of trap that works by emitting chemicals that mimic the smell of humans, which the bed bugs are attracted to. If you go for this type of trap, you’ll want to sleep in another room – otherwise, the bugs will go for you instead of the traps.
Call a Professional
If you just don’t want to deal with bed bugs on your own, your best bet is to call a professional exterminator. They can come to your home, assess the problem, and come up with a treatment plan.
They can also answer any questions about how to get rid of them. This article may help you answer that question as well: https://www.custombedbug.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-for-bed-bugs-to-spread-in-portland-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/.
Use Pesticides
Pesticides can be very effective in removing bed bugs. Look for pesticides made from a chemical compound called pyrethrin, as they are lethal to the insects.
Spray all the areas where you think the bed bugs are hiding, then leave the room for about 30 minutes. This should kill almost all of the bugs that are in the room.
Just be sure to purchase pesticides that are safe for indoor use.
How Can I Prevent Them From Coming Back?
After you’ve drawn out bed bugs and killed them, you want to make sure they don’t come back.
You’ll want to thoroughly wash all of your bedding, curtains, and pillowcases, making sure to use hot water. Vacuuming regularly and keeping the room clean will also help.
Some people also choose to seal their mattresses, as this can prevent bed bugs from getting back in.
Use This Bed Bug Survival Guide to Protect Your Home
A bed bug infestation can be a nightmare, making you feel unwelcome in your own home. Luckily, once you discover you have bed bugs, you can take the steps above to get rid of them.
Stop bed bugs in their tracks and make your bedroom a safe, welcoming space again. It may take a few days and several treatments, but bed bugs will be gone before you know it if you follow our tips.
Get started today and banish bed bugs for good.
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Featured Image Credit: by sementsova321
