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Bed Bugs – How to get rid of them
There is a common misconception among people that bed bugs are no longer an issue, or part of a child’s nursery rhyme. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The number of bed bug infestations is constantly rising, with major cities experiencing more bed bug issues than ever before.
There are a few easy things that every person can do to avoid a bed bug infestation. First and foremost, good housekeeping is crucial. However, the most common cause of bed bug infestations in most buildings is second hand furniture or rugs that were not well inspected before they were brought into a home. Regardless of whether a resident finds a piece of used furniture in an alley or an antique store, it is important to closely examine a piece of second hand furniture for signs of a bed bug nest. More on this website @ https://jenkinspest.com/bed-bugs/
Few people realize just how frustrating a bed bug infestation is until they have dealt with these insects first hand. There are some cheap and simple techniques to help with an infestation along with many specialized products available to buy.
An easy method is to wrap tape which is folded lengthways around the feet of an infected bed to trap the bugs that are attempting to climb up the bed legs. This is known as the barrier strategy and is useful once the bed has been fully cleansed.
Products to exterminate bed bugs can be highly effective and exist in a variety of forms. There are insecticide sprays which are applied to infected areas and commonly have residual properties for up to a month. There are also dusting powders which are used is areas where using liquid would not be practical. Also there are insecticide fumigators which create a fog that can eliminate bed bugs from an entire room.
Bed bug resistant mattress protectors are popular products to accompany insecticides as they immediately protect from bed bug entry, exit and bites. Professionals are sometimes brought in and use similar products to those intended for amateur use.
Alongside the use of products are some basic codes of practice when tackling a bed bug infestation. In most cases, all dressers and closets in the infected rooms must be emptied with drawers set aside so that every crevice can be treated. All linens and clothing will have to be washed with hot water and stored in plastic bags until the treatment is complete. Severe infestations may require the disposal of rugs and certain items of furniture.
How can re-infestations be prevented? It is vitally important that all bedding is washed two or three times at a very high temperature to destroy any remaining eggs that may hatch. Keep a close eye out for any signs of a bed bug nest. Furniture, floor boards and upholstery should be closely inspected. As always, however, keeping a clean and tidy home is the number one way to keep a home completely bed bug free.
Proven Ways of Treating Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny insects with a flat body and may appear to have a brownish color. Unlike other small insects, they have no wings but do have mouth parts which they use in sucking blood. Treating bed bugs is easy when you know how to distinguish them from other insects and also being aware of their hiding places.
Once the bugs bite to suck blood, they usually introduce their saliva which mixes with the blood of the person. As a result, the person will scratch at the particular spot since the skin will have been irritated by the sucking insect. The scratching is very strong and will cause the skin to swell and it can be painful.
To know if the bugs have invaded your house, normally you notice you have been bitten and you scratch a lot at the spot. There may even be traces of some blood on your bed sheet. When you check on some corners of your mattress you may notice that they have left their laid eggs there and some of their waste products.
When it comes to eliminating the bugs, you need to be quite observant in noticing these small details, which will eventually lead you to finding out their hiding places. A careful observation will lead you from one place to another. You may begin by checking out your mattress and especially on torn areas. Proceed into checking the bed stands and corners, and rest assured you will find them hiding there.
Apart from the bed and the mattress, the bugs like to hide beneath your carpet where they comfortably leave their laid eggs. They also dwell on your folded clothes, inside your wardrobe, and even around your house. Again if you are keen you will notice their presence there.
After you are very sure the bugs are present, the next thing to do is to find ways of eliminating them completely. For this you will not only need to have a recommended insecticide for killing the bugs, but also you need to be armed with warm water, vacuum cleaner and some other tools. Begin by removing the mattress from the bed, and work seriously on it first. Try to separate the bed into parts by undoing the areas joined together. For this you may need to have tools like screwdrivers to undo the fastening. Put the bed stand aside, check out those holes and also look around for any visible cracks on the stand. Using the insecticide, spray on those holes and cracks thoroughly.
When the bugs are on the mattress, it is hard to completely get rid of them since they most certainly have laid so many eggs in different areas of the mattress. Therefore, it is best to take the mattress outside and burn it. You may sprinkle some paraffin just to make sure it burns down completely. To effectively do away with the eggs of the bug, take a brush and sprinkle the insecticide on it. Like one doing some painting, use that brush to do the same on the eggs. After you are done spraying all areas, take other infected items like clothes, curtains and dip them in extremely hot water. For items which are not possible to be washed, take them out and lay them to dry in the hot sun. Other items infected but not useful can always be burnt.
Using your vacuum cleaner, vacuum the carpet, furniture and walls. In fact, you can practically vacuum the whole house so as to eliminate any eggs that have been left by the bugs. If you also have containers around, check inside for any visible signs of the bugs. If found either take the container out and clean it or if not needed just discard it too. For cracks in walls and other areas, you should find a way of filling them up or if you have the necessary tools you may try to fix them.
In as much as the bed bugs do not spread diseases, their presence alone is very annoying. When you consider the damage they do to your skin, causing all the itchiness that at times may result into wounds, it is important that you follow the above in treating bed bugs. If at times you find it a bit hard for you, always engage the services of an expert to help you eliminate the bugs completely.
