How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are nasty little critters, and for something that only grows up to 5mm long, they sure can be a big nuisance. They are able to live in the cracks and crevices of your bed for up to a whole year but can also travel on clothes and furniture. In order to survive and grow, they feed on human blood and the bite marks left behind cause red, itchy spots over exposed parts of the body while sleeping.

While they do not transmit diseases and are mostly uncomfortable than anything else, a bed bug infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible. Occasionally, some people with an extreme number of bites and who have also lost a lot of blood eventually became anemic, a condition which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. It is also believed among doctors and other medical professionals that bites can also trigger allergies and asthma, so it is important we get rid of bed bugs and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.

What are the signs and symptoms of bed bugs?

Before you start to panic and think there are bed bugs all over your bedroom, you should know what some of the signs are that you need to look out for.

• Regularly waking with bites (often found on legs and arms)
• Small insects on your mattress, pillow or bed frame
• Brown spots (unfortunately, bed bugs go to the toilet in your linen!) or blood spots on your mattress
• Bed bugs release an odour called alarm pheromones which smell depending on the size of the infestation. A particularly bad infestation will be more pungent and has been known to smell sweet and musty.

Bed Bug Treatment

Removing an infestation from your life requires some patience as it can take some time and effort to get rid of bed bugs. Once you have identified the infested areas, you can begin the steps of treatment and containing them once and for all.

No matter what method of containment you choose, you should always clean or possibly throw out any possible hiding places in the surrounding area. If your bed is infested, this includes curtains, linens, clothes, etc. While we will be going through methods for getting rid of bed bugs in the bedroom, these can also be applied for other areas of the home.

Containment

• Running a vacuum over the infested and surrounding areas.
• Blocking any potential escape areas; tape up electrical outlets, glue cracks in the wall, moving the bed away from the wall so bed bugs cannot climb on etc.
• Removing any possible hiding places; books, magazines, loose clothes and any other clutter on the floor or under your bed.

Killing Bed Bugs

• Washing bedding is one of the most effective bed bug treatments as they are vulnerable to high levels of heat. Leave your bedding or any other affected clothing in hot water for 30 minutes, then put them in the dryer on the highest setting for another 30 minutes.
• Another end of the temperature spectrum, you can place affected bedding or clothes inside bags and store them in the freezer. Bed bugs cannot survive in temperatures below zero, so keeping them in there for up to four days will guarantee their containment.

For serious infestations you may require something stronger. Using chemicals or insecticides are the best way to get rid of larger bed bug infestations. These include:

• Products that are designed to kill bed bugs or contain the chemicals prytherines, pyrethroids, or neonicotinoids. These are the most common chemicals used against bed bugs.

However, if the infestation is too much to handle or you want to avoid the hassle, consulting a professional pest controller will be the best option for effective treatment.

Keeping Bed Bugs Out

Getting rid of bed bugs is one half of the battle: keeping them out and making sure they stay that way is the other. The steps you can take to prevent another infestation include maintaining the cleanliness of your bedroom or the previously affected area. That means vacuuming regularly, reduce clutter and generally remaining vigilant of any signs of bed bugs.

Due to mattress seams being one of the most common hiding places for bed bugs, getting a fully encased mattress protector is an effective line of defence. We offer an extensive range of mattress protectors including the Allerzip Mattress Encasements which feature the SecureSeal technology, making it bed bug proof.

Whether or not you are even infested, having a mattress protector and keeping up with all of the containment and treatment methods listed above can make sure you never have to get rid of bed bugs. To find a mattress protector that fits your type of bed, visit the catalogue here.