By Mitch Rice
1. Identify the Problem
The first step in getting rid of bed bugs is to identify the problem. Look for signs of an infestation such as small, reddish-brown spots on mattresses and sheets, dark streaks on walls or furniture, and a sweet musty odor in your bedroom. If you suspect that you have bed bugs, it’s important to act quickly to prevent them from spreading throughout your home. The best detection method is sniffer dogs, so consider hiring some dogs to come in for an hour and confirm if you have a bed bug problem and exactly where the bed bugs live.
2. Clean Your Bedroom Thoroughly
Once you’ve identified the problem, it’s time to start cleaning your bedroom thoroughly. Vacuum all carpets and furniture with a powerful vacuum cleaner and use a steam cleaner if possible. Wash all bedding and curtains in hot water (at least 120°F) and dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Make sure to dispose of any vacuum bags or steam cleaner bags outside immediately after use so that any live bugs are not reintroduced into your home.
3. Seal Cracks & Crevices
Bed bugs can hide in cracks and crevices around your bedroom so it’s important to seal these areas off with caulk or other materials such as steel wool or mesh screens. This will help prevent new bed bugs from entering your home while also trapping any existing ones inside the sealed area where they can be more easily eliminated with insecticides or other treatments (see below).
4. Use Insecticides Carefully
Insecticides can be effective against bed bug infestations but should only be used as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions and with caution due to potential health risks associated with some products. It is recommended that you consult a professional pest control operator before using insecticides as they may be able to provide advice on which products are most suitable for treating bed bug infestations in your particular situation.
5. Check Secondhand Furniture & Clothing Before Bringing It Home
When shopping secondhand items such as furniture or clothing, always check them carefully before bringing them into your home as they could potentially contain bedbugs that could spread throughout your house if left unchecked . Be sure to inspect all seams , folds , tags , etc.. closely before making a purchase .
6. Isolate Infested Items
If you do find evidence of an infestation , it’s important to isolate those items away from other parts of the house until they can be treated properly . Place them in plastic bags and store them away from living spaces until further action can be taken. Further action might involve heat treatment.
7 . Use Mattress Covers
Mattress covers are an effective way of preventing new bedbugs from entering mattresses while also trapping existing ones inside where they can then be killed by insecticide treatments ( see above ) . Make sure that mattress covers fit tightly over mattresses without leaving gaps through which insects could enter / escape .
8. Monitor Progress Regularly
Once treatment has begun , it ’ s important to monitor progress regularly by inspecting affected areas every few days for signs of activity such as eggs , larvae , adults etc .. If necessary re – treat affected areas again after two weeks if no improvement is seen during monitoring sessions ; this will ensure complete elimination of the infestation once treatment has been completed successfully .
9. Call In Professional Help
In cases where DIY methods fail, calling in professional help may be necessary ; experienced pest control operators have access to more powerful means than those available over -the – counter which may prove more successful at eliminating stubborn infestations quickly & effectively without putting anyone’s health at risk due to misuse / incorrect application techniques etc. Whole-room heat treatment for example will kill 100% of bed bugs in any room and only takes the pros an hour and a half to carry out.
10 Prevent Reinfestation
Finally once an infestation has been successfully eliminated it’s important to take steps towards preventing reinfestation by reducing clutter around beds & bedrooms generally – this makes hiding places less accessible for future invaders ! Additionally consider investing in mattress encasements designed specifically against bedbug invasions – these are relatively inexpensive but offer excellent protection against future problems !
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
