Eliminating Bed Bugs
The bed bug is an insect which survives by feeding on the blood of
humans and other warm blooded animals. Bedbugs are generally active at
night and their known habitats are mattresses and any crevice or the
underside of furniture in a house.
There is no simple solution to ridding yourself of bed bugs. The final
solution will actually depend on the extent of infestation and the
ultimate aim always has to be the complete elimination of the
 persistent
bed bugs. There are a number of ways of doing this and it is up to you
to choose the method that is most suitable.
Is it a bed bug?
One of the first things to do is to make sure that the area you need
to treat is really infested by bed bugs. Bed bug bites are no different
from the bites of other insects like mosquitoes. However bed bug bites
will always leave reddish spots or fecal matter on the bed linen or
mattresses. You could also notice eggs or skin shed by bed bugs,
especially in the crevices or folds of mattresses. And of course if you
do find a live one compare him with images of bed bugs that are
available online.
Keeping the bed bug away
Bats and birds are likely hosts for bed bugs in their nests and need
to be kept away from your home by screens or other devices. Unnecessary
clutter in a house is also an invitation for the bed bugs as they would
have found a lot of places to hide in. While you are removing this
clutter, examine the items, especially clothes and bed linen and see
that there is no sign of any bed bug infestation. If you do find some
evidence, launder those items in hot water to make sure that all the bed
bugs and their eggs are eliminated. If it is difficult to do this, leave
the clothes in the sun for as long as possible. You can use this same
trick also for any furniture of yours that has shown a tendency to play
host to bed bugs. Get carpets and area rugs steam washed at any nearby
laundry.
Once you have got rid of the clutter, inspect the premises and vacuum
every bit of the area as thoroughly as possible. Scrape places where you
suspect eggs have been laid and if you find any crevices or opening in
the furniture caulk the openings with bees wax or such natural filler so
that there is no place for the bed bugs to enter. When you are removing
the clutter from the room, see that you just do not dump it another
room, as this could start bed bug infestation there.
Eliminating bed bugs
Use the recommended pesticide or if you feel diffident about this
engage the services of a pest control agency to do as thorough a job as
possible. Spray the pesticide on all furniture and mattresses etc as
suggested by the manufacturer and refrain from using the room for some
time.
 Steam cleaning is one very effective way of ridding yourself of bed
bugs. Bed bugs and their eggs get killed by the extreme heat where
temperatures are over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry steam or low moisture
steamers are the best because they inhibit the growth of mold, which can
affect wet areas. Steamers of the commercial variety are available on
hire and you can also get the pest control agency you have appointed to
use steamers.
Bed bug infestation has to be tackled early and at regular intervals
if you find that these occur very often. See if you can trace the source
of these infestations. Luggage of frequent travelers is a source and if
you or someone in your family spends a lot of time on the road, subject
their luggage to inspection on arrival and keep all these things out in
the sun for a few days to make sure that the bed bug infestation has
been eliminated.
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