There’s nothing quite like having a case of bed bugs in your bedroom. The amount of psychological stress, physical pain, and damage they can cause are much more than any other pest.
Coming from personal experience, I know how hard it can be to think straight when you see a bug crawling on your bed. The amount of stress and anxiety put into the situation makes you feel like there will never be an end in sight!
While they are annoying and scratching the itch may cause skin damage, they are usually not harmful to your health and should not be a major health concern.
The question I am sure is going through everyone’s mind right now is, “How do I get rid of these nasty little bugs?”
There are many ways for people to go about having their bedroom treated by professionals or themselves.
We will talk about all options available from treatment done by yourself with common household items in this post.
These include using chemicals available from hardware stores, hiring professional exterminators specializing in killing pests such as bedbugs and using pesticides or alternative methods such as heat treatment and steam cleaning.
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small and flat, growing up to roughly half an inch long. They love hiding in tight spaces such as mattresses or duvets, but you can also find them behind skirting boards and door frames if they have a nearby food source (usually our blood).
Depending on your home’s temperature, they lay around five eggs per day, hatch after about two weeks. The bed bug nymphs look like smaller versions of their adult selves with no wings attached – these cannot fly but will run very fast when disturbed!
How can you identify if these critters are in your home?
If you have unexplained rashes appearing on your skin, you might have scoured the internet for a solution but still remain confused whether you have these nasty bugs in your home.
These are the common signs that might warn about the presence of bed bugs:
Waking up with bites similar to mosquito or flea bites.
If you wake up with unexplained bites on your body that look like mosquito or flea bites, but there are no mosquitos around, this might be a sign of a bed bug infestation.
Bed bug bites will most likely appear as red bumps with blisters surrounding them anywhere between one day up to two weeks after being bitten by the pests.
These bites usually itch crazily, and if you scratch them, they will leave a dark mark on your skin.
Bloodstains on sheets
If you find bloodstains on your sheets, but you don’t have any open wounds, these may come from bed bugs being crushed during sleep.
They normally feed at night while we’re sleeping because their hosts (us) don’t move very often when asleep, unlike during the daytime. As it is such a tiny bug, it can be crushed easily by human body weight.
Black spots around mattresses and walls
Identifying their droppings are the first steps you should take; Their droppings are small black specs that resemble mold growth on the wall.
Be sure to check around the side of your mattress for these black spots or even tiny white eggs from bed bugs.
How to check if you have bedbugs in your room
Bed bugs can be very difficult to get rid of, but you should start by finding out how they are getting into your home in the first place if possible.
Putting up DIY bed bug traps around your bedroom at night will help monitor where these pests are coming from and might give you a clue as to why there is an infestation before it gets out of control.
Here are some DIY solutions you can use to check for bed bugs in your bedroom
Yeast CO2 Traps
You can build a DIY Yeast CO2 trap to lure the bed bugs into their demise! The yeast trap produces a high concentration of CO2, making it irresistible to bed bugs who use the CO2 humans release as an indication of a food source.
Place this trap while you are not in the bedroom so the bed bugs will be attracted to the only food source available in the room.
Plastic Cups on Legs
To make a DIY bed bug monitor with no chemicals involved, you can cut bottles in half and place them under the legs of your bed frame.
You can sprinkle baby powder on the inside of the trap (on your bed frame legs), so the bed bugs can climb into the bottle but will be unable to crawl out of the slippery bottle.
Placing these traps on your bed frame will cut off one of their entry points to your bed – the ground. Be sure to move your bed away from the wall so they can only get to you through the bed frame legs.
How to get rid of bedbugs from your bedroom?
You need to be sure that all members of your family know how to check for signs of infestation so everyone is aware of what they should do if they find any of the signs.
Once you have found an infestation, call professional pest control services immediately to get rid of these pests before becoming a bigger problem!
1. Hire a professional pest control company
Pest control companies usually offer two options for bed bug infestations – heat treatment or chemical treatment.
Because bed bugs are sensitive to heat, heat treatment is effective; heating up your home to 70 degrees will kill all life stages, including eggs.
This is often the best chemical-free way to get rid of bed bugs, but it requires you to have an air-tight seal in your bedroom, and you will have to remove most items from your bedroom before starting the process.
Chemical treatments are a more common option. It usually involves spraying chemicals on different surfaces throughout your room and making sure those pesky bed bugs don’t come back any time soon.
2. Use Diatomaceous Earth
It works by puncturing the bug’s waxy exoskeleton and dehydrating them, but it is completely safe for humans to use around your home.
While it is safe for consumption (not recommended), the ultra-fine particles means that it is a breathing hazard. Applying them while wearing a mask and keeping the room well-ventilated until the powder is settled down is highly recommended.
Be sure to apply Diatomaceous Earth to a quiet area of the room, so the fine dust will not be kicked up in the air when you are walking around.
3. Use chemical sprays
These chemicals are extremely toxic to humans, so you mustn’t inhale the spray and immediately leave the room if there is an accident with spraying.
There are plenty of different options available, and these chemical sprays can be bought at any online store or hardware store close to you.
4. Use steamer for bed bugs
The best part about this is that it can penetrate into tiny cracks or other places where these insects gather, making it perfect for your bedroom!
Before using the steamer on any furniture in your room, make sure you know if they are wood or cloth because hot steam will damage many materials, including those two types of items.
Once done with treatment, clean everything as soon as possible as leaving dead bug bodies, feces, or bloodstains may attract more infestation from all over the neighborhood. Get professional help immediately.
How to prevent bed bug infestations
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to prevent them in the first place!
Here are some tips on how to prevent these nasty bugs from coming back home to your bed with you!
1. Inspect hotel rooms while traveling
When traveling, staying in a building and room that has hundreds of people moving about is unavoidable.
One thing you can do for this is inspecting your room regularly, especially after checking in to the hotel, allowing you to find the problem early.
If you are suspicious of any bugs, immediately leave the room and ask for a new one! You can also place your luggage in the bathtub for the time being to be extra safe.
2. Avoid buying second-hand furniture like bedding or sofas
In the world of today, there are plenty of ways to buy second-hand furniture and clothes, but buying them from a friend or someone you know is definitely not recommended.
This can be very dangerous because bed bugs tend to move around in small items like clothing, pillows, and mattresses, so it will take longer for them to notice if they have hitched a ride with you back home!
If your budget allows it, opt for buying your items brand new instead.
3. Buy bed bug mattress protectors and pillow covers
A simple way to prevent the infestation in the first place is by buying bed bug mattress protectors and bed bug pillow covers.
These types of items are usually very affordable, but they will keep your bedroom entirely safe from any potential infestations by encasing your mattress and pillow in a protective covering.
4. Always eradicate bed bug issues early
Lastly, the best way to eliminate bed bugs is by eradicating them early before they have a chance to spread throughout your home!
If you notice the slightest signs of a bed bug infestation, even if it’s just in a single room, you should visit professionals immediately. These insects can be very difficult to find if left untreated for too long because they tend to move around and reproduce quickly.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are a common problem faced by people around the world. Having bed bugs does not mean you are dirty. They are indiscriminate and just love feasting on human blood.
They can quickly spread throughout your home if not taken care of. To effectively get rid of bed bugs, it is crucial that you regularly use these tips!
Remember, these tips on preventing and treating infestations are meant to prevent future problems, but sometimes it might be necessary to call someone else with more experience in getting rid of bed bug issues once again!
Although professional extermination services are costly, the peace of mind and feeling of safety is priceless.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where do bed bugs come from?
Bed bugs are typically found in warmer climates because they need a suitable environment to survive and reproduce.
However, that doesn’t mean you will find them only in these areas! They can easily hitchhike on belongings like clothing or suitcases to move around the world without using their wings, which makes it extremely difficult to know where they came from.
2. What kills bed bugs?
There are various ways to kill bed bugs, including using certain chemicals, freezing them with cold temperatures, or heating up rooms at a high temperature.
However, the most effective way is by calling an exterminator because they have all the proper equipment and required knowledge to get rid of these pests completely!
3. How long do bed bugs live?
A typical bed bug can live around a year while hibernating and not coming out to bite you. This means that they can come out and infest your room when you least expect it!
4. Are bed bug exterminators worth it?
Since bed bugs can be a very tough pest to get rid of, especially if you cannot find them.
Although the cost is rather high for this kind of work, it will give you peace of mind knowing that your home and bedroom are safe from these nasty insects once again!
