Have you been waking up in the morning feeling itchy? Do you have red welts all over your body? Both of these conditions can cause concern and are signs that you may have bed bugs. These tiny creatures feed on blood and are active during the night when you are asleep. Bed bugs can thrive if you do not take steps to eradicate them. In fact, females will lay hundreds of eggs and are difficult to notice. If you believe you have an infestation of these insects, there are some things you can do to eliminate them and rest easy once more.
Clean Sheets and Other Beddings Thoroughly
The first thing to do if you have bed bugs is to wash and dry your beddings. Some people may go weeks without doing this, but prompt action is necessary if these insects are present. Make sure when you wash sheets and blankets that you put them on a hot-water cycle. The temperature will kill the bugs. After washing the beddings, throw the items in the dryer and use the hottest setting possible. Any bugs that survived the washing load should be killed once you dry the beddings. It is most effective to dry the load for at least 30 minutes.
Don’t Forget to Wash and Dry Other Items
After cleaning your sheets you still need to wash the other regular occupants of your bed such as stuffed animals, pillows, and clothing. If you have materials that cannot go in the washer, wash them by hand in hot water and run them through the dryer cycle in the same way.
Scrub the Mattress
Washing the bedding is a critical step, but it alone may not take care of all the bed bugs, especially any eggs. You cannot neglect the mattress. The best way to handle this area is to grab a brush and vigorously scrub the entire surface of the bed. You can start by using the brush alone and then add water and soap as you see fit. Scrubbing will bring eggs to the surface, so you you then can vacuum them up. You can repeat this step as often as necessary.
Get Out the Vacuum Cleaner
Washing and drying can be an effective method. However, bed bugs can escape before you throw items in the washer. To combat this, make sure you try some other tactics. Another wise approach is to vacuum your bed. Doing this frequently and thoroughly can eliminate bed bugs and discourage more from invading your bed. You should also focus on vacuuming the floor around and near your bed to catch any of these insects that may have escaped. Do not let the vacuum sit idly after you’ve done this. If you have a bagless vacuum, dump it immediately. If you have a traditional vacuum with a bag, place the bag in a plastic container and throw it out right away.
Tend to Your Walls
Bed bugs can move quickly and undetected when they feel threatened. Your bedroom walls are among their most favorite spots to hide. If you have holes or cracks in the walls, there is a good chance that the bugs are retreating here to hide once you have started cleaning. Fixing these issues can drive the bugs out of these places and block these areas of refuge.
Keep Your Room Clean
Just like other pests, bed bugs love clutter and junk. If you have piles of laundry surrounding your bed, or if there are stacks of books, boxes, papers, or other materials, the insects could be attracted to your bed. This type of clutter gives the bugs a nice place to hide throughout the day. At night, they then have easy access to your bed to start biting and laying eggs. Organize your bedroom and keep the area around your bed clean and tidy.
Time for a New Mattress, Call the Pros
If the infestation has grown out of control and these methods are ineffective, you may have to take more drastic steps. Throwing out your mattress and getting a new one may sound like an expensive, inconvenient action, but it might be the best way to get rid of the bugs. You can also call the top pest exterminator in Los Angeles, CA to kill the bugs and keep others from coming back.
Having bed bugs is nothing to ignore. It can be much more than an annoyance, too. These insects can form large colonies, and their bites can cause infections. If you see signs that these pests have invaded your bed, follow these tips right away, so you can take care of this serious problem.
