Bring Home Unwanted Guests? 4 Tips For Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs
If you stayed in a hotel while you were on vacation, you might have brought home more than you bargained for. You may have carried bed bugs home with you. Because bed bugs are so small – adults are roughly ¼" long– they can be difficult to find.
Bed bugs tend to hitch rides in luggage and purses. You might not even realize you have a problem until you start waking up with bites on your body. If you've discovered bed bugs in your home, you'll need to act fast to get rid of them.
1. Call the Exterminator
If your bed bug problem has taken over the whole house, you should contact an exterminator as soon as possible. Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of without professional treatment. One of the problems is that they tend to hide in small spaces, which make them tough to find. The exterminator will be able to treat the entire house, which will kill the adult bugs.
2. Vacuum the Entire House
Once the exterminator has left, you'll want to vacuum the entire house. Don't just vacuum the floor. You'll want to vacuum your mattresses and furniture, as well. Vacuuming will remove dead bugs and egg casings from your carpeting and bedding. Be sure to empty the canister each time it fills up. To ensure that you don't re-infest your home, empty the vacuum canister into a plastic bag and seal it tightly before throwing it away.
3. Steam Clean Thoroughly
Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to kill bed bugs that may be hiding in your carpeting. Fill the steam cleaning tank with hot water and add 1 cup of vinegar. Steam clean each room in your home and allow the carpeting to dry overnight. To keep bed bugs away, steam clean your home at least once a month.
4. Apply Natural Bug Repellents
Now that you've cleaned your home to get rid of the bugs, you'll want to ensure that they stay away. You can use natural ingredients to take care of this on a weekly basis. Bed bugs are repelled by the scent of lavender.
Simply fill a spray bottle with water and add several drops of lavender essential oils. Spray your mattresses, furniture and carpeting with the solution once a week. The aroma will keep the bugs away and leave your home smelling fresh.
Bed bugs are no laughing matter. Use these easy-to-follow instructions to get rid of bed bugs fast. If you continue to experience a pest problem, be sure to contact a company like Garrie Pest Control.