Home Remedies For Bed Bug. It may sound appealing to use home remedies to get rid of bed bugs if you have any DIY experience. However, bed bug treatment should not be attempted at home.
In reality, it is unlikely that any home remedies for bed bug extermination will succeed in completely eradicating the problem. And, of course, not all home remedies target the bed bugs you can see – instead focusing on the bed bugs that aren’t visible.
To get rid of bed bugs, you’ll need expert guidance in order to eliminate them.
It’s crucial to have all of the information before resorting to home remedies to get rid of bed bugs. Let’s first examine the signs of a bed bug infestation in order to gain a better understanding.
What Are Bed Bugs?
The blood of people and animals is eaten by bed bugs, which are tiny insects. They’re great at hiding in dark, soft areas and crevices, and they’re mostly active at night. The name “bed bug” comes from the fact that this is a wonderful location for them to rest.
They’re tiny (about the size of a grain of rice), so it’s difficult to notice them with the naked eye, but if they’re roaming around your home and eating you and your family members, you’ll be sure to detect them. Their bites are itchy and uncomfortable, despite the fact that they aren’t harmful.
Where Do They Come From?
Bed bugs enter from the outside and seem to “magically” appear. You may pick them up on your travels to hotels, friends’ houses, or even from buying secondhand clothes or furniture. It could mean the literal outdoors.
If a neighbor deploys a bug bomb, that can also be a source of an infestation. For their own good, these critters are too smart. The noxious fumes seek out a safe haven in the form of a neighbor’s house when they are released.
The bodies of these creatures are quite flattened. As a result, they can squeeze through virtually undetectable openings and gaps.
Signs That You Have Bed Bugs
You’ll need to establish if you have a bed bug infestation before you can eliminate them.
The difficulty with identifying these tiny insects is that they are so small. Nonetheless, there are indicators that allow you to know if bed bugs are present in your mattress.
If you notice red or rusty-colored stains on your mattress or sheets, it’s most likely dried blood from these insects.
Because they are small and lighter in color, it’s difficult to notice egg shells on your bed, carpet, or even on your furniture. However, tiny flecks of white or ivory on your bed, carpet, or even furniture are egg shells of bed bugs.
Fecal matter, as well as the skin of younger bugs when they shed, might be seen in little black stains or black dots on your bed or mattress.
Despite their size, bed bugs may develop and become more apparent after they’ve fed. You’ll have to take action to eliminate bed bugs as soon as you find them on your furniture or your bed.
Bed bugs also appreciate the following aspects of your home, in addition to the ones mentioned above. The following are the ones mentioned above:
The reason why bed bugs are most active at night is because of carbon dioxide, which is the most appealing to them after midnight as it is the greatest source of CO2 for them.
Bed bugs naturally choose filth, used, or unwashed clothing because it is more likely to be infected. Since your garments smell of you, they attract it, allowing it to home in on them.
Warmth or Humidity: Our homes are comfortable since they have a lot of humidity or heat, which our houses exude to them. They prey on human and animal blood for the same reason. We provide a morsel for them because their bodies are usually warm.
Bed bugs favor dark-colored sheets because it offers them a space to conceal and blend in. As a result, if you prefer gloomy tones of bedding and linen but your home has a severe case of bed bugs and other insects, you must switch from gloomy to brilliant or white-colored beddings.
What causes bed bugs?
It’s crucial to first understand what causes these nasty bugs before we teach you how to get rid of them.
Bed bugs have no relationship with dirt, so an extra shower every day will not keep them at bay!
So, what causes bed bugs if it isn’t dirt? Bed bugs may be found anywhere that has animals or people, since they feed on blood.
Bed bugs can hide in anything from bedsheets to your t-shirt after feeding, and since they move from location to location following a meal, your home is likely to suffer the worst of it.
Myths around home remedies to kill bed bugs
Getting rid of bed bugs can be done in a variety of ways. You may have attempted to repel these pests using those strategies, but it appears that they had no effect.
Of course, some of the pills aren’t real pills and don’t do anything for you. They’re just myths. Here are some myths that you should stop believing and debunk for others.
Bed bugs may be repelled by mothballs, but they won’t do anything to eliminate them when it comes to removing bed bugs.
Spraying rubbing alcohol on places where bed bugs prefer to dwell may kill some of them, although there are other that can easily reproduce. Moreover, rubbing alcohol is flammable, posing a fire danger when it’s sprayed on upholstered furniture or your mattress.
Dryer sheets are used to clean down furniture or mattresses, according to some individuals, and may eliminate bed bugs. There is no proof that this will help you get rid of those pests in your house, however.
Best Home Remedies for Bed Bugs
To eliminate bed bugs from your home, try using one of these methods.
Vacuum.
Vacuum your bedding, furniture, and even the tiniest seams on your bed frame, walls, and wallpaper on a regular basis to make sure you’re getting rid of all dust.
Vacuuming the box spring as much as possible is also a good idea. Any insects and eggs you discover on your mattress, upholstered furniture, and other places may be removed with a brush. After that, before discarding the vacuum bag, seal it and remove its contents. While you’re at it, don’t forget to clean your vacuum.
Use Extreme Heat or Extreme Cold.
Wash your bedding, clothes, stuffed toys, and soft items in the washing machine on the highest temperature setting (above 140° Fahrenheit) to eliminate bed bugs immediately.
Put non-washable items in plastic bags and put them in the freezer if you can’t toss them into the wash. Before emptying and shaking out the items to eliminate dead bedbugs and eggs, leave them there for at leas 24 hours.
Use a steam cleaner on the hottest setting (above 140° Fahrenheit) for large items like bed mattresses or furniture. Run the steam cleaner over the bed or upholstery a few times, focusing on places where bed bugs like to hide in nooks and crevices.
Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous Earth, which kills more than 90% of bed bugs, is commonly regarded the most effective natural bed bug treatment.
It’s also inexpensive and simple to use – simply sprinkle it into the tiniest of cracks and crevices in its powdered form. The bad news is that there’s a downside. It takes between 10 and 15 days to complete.
Apply 100% Diatomaceous Earth to the afflicted region and leave it there for a few days. You should begin to notice dead bed bugs, which you may vacuum away, gradually. Until all bed bugs appear to have been eliminated, repeat the process several times.
Borax.
Borax is a bed bug suffocation remedy that is found in the home. Sprinkle borax over your mattress in order to use it. Bed bugs must be left to die for at least 24 hours. When bed bugs are inundated in borax, they will struggle to breathe since it inhibits their ability to eat.
When washing your clothes in the washing machine, you can add borax. They’ll dry out as a result of the acid being a salt.
Since it is finer than other varieties, I recommend purchasing Millard brand of borax powder for suffocation relief. Bed bugs can enter through the openings because the others are too rough.
Rubbing Alcohol.
Alcohol, including bed bug eggs and larvae, can kill almost anything. You may kill bed bugs on contact if you use an alcohol dilution of 90% or more.
When I see bed bugs, I like to spray them with alcohol from a spray bottle. I also spray the areas where they deposit their eggs, such as nooks and crevices.
It’s important to note that alcohol is poisonous to your health and highly flammable, so use it with care.
Tea Tree Oil.
Tea tree oil is another option for bed bug removal in your home. The antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties of tea tree oil are well-known, but it also has antiparasitic properties. This treatment is only effective if you have a small infestation on your hands.
Spray the furnishings, mattress, cabinets, cushions, drapes, and other items with a 20-drop spray bottle of tea tree oil mixed with water. To completely eliminate any clothes, linens, and bedding, they must be washed in hot water.
Hydrogen Peroxide.
This is a contact insecticide that may be sprayed on bed bugs, but it is not as effective as isopropyl alcohol and stains because it is a bleaching agent. If you want a contact killer spray over hydrogen peroxide, I suggest using straight rubbing alcohol.
Lavender and Peppermint Oil.
It may come as a surprise that lavender can be used to fight bed bugs, given its associations with rest and relaxation. Lavender oil may be applied to investigate possible hiding sites for bed bugs in the same way that tea tree oil can.
Because lavender essential oil is safe for you and your pets, you don’t have to worry about any side effects.
Peppermint oil’s strong fragrance, on the other hand, may help keep these bothersome insects at bay. You may create a natural spray to eliminate bed bugs in your residence by combining the two.
Baking soda.
Baking soda is one of the most useful at-home remedies for bed bugs and is often a popular first option when it comes to at-home remedies. Baking soda, on the other hand, is effective against bed bugs.
Baking soda absorbs moisture from the waxy layer of a bed bug’s shell, resulting in dehydration. Baking soda granules might also damage a bed bug’s shell, causing internal bleeding.
Sprinkling baking soda throughout the places where bed bugs normally hide, such as the mattress and around your bed, is a common technique for treating this well-liked do-it-yourself bug solution.
You’re supposed to vacuum it up and start the process after a few days.
Bleach.
By oxidizing the outer shell of bed bugs, Bleach kills them on contact. Since it is such a powerful chemical, Bleach is an excellent contact spray, but it stains everything it touches and shouldn’t be used on your furniture, bedsheets, or garments.
Vinegar.
When it comes to bed bug extermination, vinegar is as powerful as it seems. It’s also the ideal emergency home remedy because it’s something most of us have in our homes.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that while vinegar may harm the nervous systems of bed bugs, it has no effect on eggs.
Using white distilled vinegar, saturate the edges of the infected region (such as beneath and beside furniture) before applying to bed bugs. In this manner, the vinegar will be unable toitivity them when they flee.
Cinnamon.
Many people think that a spray of cinnamon leaf oil can eliminate bed bugs, however the aroma can only mask them at best.
How to get rid of bed bugs using a pesticide
The quickest DIY solution for bed bug control is to use pesticides. You must prepare the location before you begin spraying.
After that, you’ll need to get a bed bug killer so you can exterminate any bed bugs lurking around your mattress.
Spray the pesticide across the mattress, especially near corners and seams. Spray the mattress, including the headboard, slats, and any drawers that are within reach. Make sure to spray into the corners.
Bed bugs may emerge from their hiding places in an effort to flee the poison if you have a particularly severe infestation.
Vacuum the entire bed again after an hour or so to sweep any dead insects away. Continue to keep an eye on the situation throughout the next few days, and if necessary, execute additional therapies.
Hire the bed bug professionals
It’s essential to note that, even if you use the best bed bug control methods, you can only manage the ones that you can see. Bed bug treatments alone aren’t sufficient to eliminate an infestation.
Remember how difficult it is to control bed bugs before attempting to kill them yourself. Even if just a few of your self-treating efforts survive, the infestation may quickly recovers, making your self-treating efforts seem pointless.
A professional extermination company like Terminix® is the best way to exterminate bed bugs effectively. Bed bugs can be found, detected, and eliminated. We understand where they hide and how to find them.
To set up an appointment, please contact us. Let us assist eliminate bed bugs where they live and breed, saving you time, money, and stress. Get started today with a FREE inspection.
Prevention methods
Bedbugs are easier to avoid than to cure, as with most things. You may attempt the following options to prevent bedbugs from invading your home:
1. Vacuum regularly.
One of the simplest ways to get rid of any bedbugs is to vacuum them. Vacuuming on a regular basis will help keep the area bug-free, even if it isn’t enough to deal with a whole infestation.
2. Check second-hand furniture.
You should always consider what’s lurking inside when bringing second-hand furniture into your home. Before buying anything, always check for bedbug signs.
Recognize that simply eradicating bedbugs will be a job in and of itself if there are any symptoms.
3. Take precautions when laundering.
Furniture and clothing are both common places for bedbugs to hide. You should always take extra steps to prevent picking up any other person’s germs if you have shared washing facilities.
Always carry clothes in sealed plastic bags and keep them out as little as possible when traveling to and from the launderettes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do their bites look like?
The welts develop as a result of the bites. Many bites in a row, often forming a straight line or displaying a linear development, are common. Bites from these insects are often raised, unlike flea bites, which are flat.
Do homemade repellents work?
Yes, and some jobs are better than others. Some kill the bed bugs right on contact, while others either encourage them to leave or discourage them from entering. As you’ll see in our list of home remedies and treatments for bed bugs, some kill the insects immediately.
How can I get rid of their eggs?
The most effective way to get rid of the eggs has been heating. This entails thoroughly drying washing materials on high heat after washing them in hot water. Steam or blast them with a hairdryer for items that can’t tolerate that level of treatment.
Conclusion
Did you know that in the 1940s, bedbugs were almost wiped off? However, they began to appear in residences and hotels in 1995.
Although the reason remains a mystery, experts believe it was a mix of broader travel, pesticide adaptation, and people forgetting how nasty these creatures are that allowed them to return with such ferocity.
Thankfully, there are a number of effective ways to get rid of these insects permanently in your home.