If you have ever woken up with inflamed, red, itchy spots on your arms or legs, chances are your house is infested with bed bugs. These bugs are experts in hiding. Due to their tiny size and flat bodies, they can easily hide anywhere in your house and go undetected. You may have hundreds of bugs in your house and not even know it.
Normally, bed bug control should be left to the experts. However, you can take matters into your hands while waiting for the professionals to arrive. In this blog, we will discuss a few home remedies to reduce the number of bed bugs in your house.
Home remedies for bed bug removal
Vacuum your house.
The best way to find and remove bed bugs from your house is by vacuuming the place. Remove clutter and vacuum your entire house. Bed bugs usually hide in obscure places. Pay special attention to their hiding spots. These may include the following.
- Nooks and crannies of mattresses.
- Drawer joints.
- Loose wallpaper and wall hangings.
- Electrical receptacles and appliances
Vacuuming not only helps you get rid of the live bugs but also their eggs.
Heat treatment.
If there is an infestation in your bedsheets, pillowcases, curtains, blankets, or even your clothes, it is time to give them a good wash using hot water. Usage of hot water is particularly important as bed bugs cannot withstand the heat and thus, die due to dehydration. After washing with water, place your clothes in the dryer for another dose of heat so that the little creatures have little chance of surviving.
Vinegar.
Spraying white distilled vinegar on bed bugs can kill them by directly affecting their nervous system. Make sure you spray the vinegar liberally on the bugs, so they do not get a chance to scurry away from the liquid.
Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous Earth is a type of naturally occurring sand that is extremely rough and sharp to the sensitive exoskeletons of bed bugs. When these bugs crawl over or into this sand, it shreds them into pieces. To kill the bugs, sprinkle the sand in the infested areas. You should see results in 24-48 hours.
Baking soda.
Sprinkling baking soda in the infested areas removes moisture, killing the bugs due to dehydration. When you suspect an area of infestation, sprinkle a little baking soda and vacuum everything after a week. You may need to repeat this to ensure there are no bugs or eggs left.
Bed bug problems can surely get out of hand when they multiply in numbers. After that, no amount of baking soda, vinegar, or any other home remedy would save your house from them. At a point, bugs may keep coming no matter how many methods you use. That is when you should call the pest control experts.
