subject: Bed Bugs: 7 Tips For Banishing These Nasty Creatures From Your Bedroom [print this page] Bed Bugs: 7 Tips For Banishing These Nasty Creatures From Your Bedroom
Bed bugs are nasty little creatures that can take up residence in your home, and make your life quite unpleasant. While they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," it doesn't help when you're experiencing the disconcerting effects of a bed bud infestation.
Bed bugs are found in beds, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and even in curtains, wallpaper cracks, or in corners of dressers. Once you've confirmed an infestation, it's time to get cracking!
1. Purchase a new mattress and box spring. While it isn't always in the budget to purchase a new mattress and box spring, it may be the easiest way to rid you of this troublesome infestation. For starters, it saves you multiple sanitizing treatments as you attack the bugs.
2. Vacuum your mattress and box spring. Using a quality vacuum, get up on the mattress and start vacuuming. This is a starting point to suck up the bugs.
3. Put a sealable cover over your vacuumed mattress. A sealable cover around your mattress will prevent remaining bed bugs from getting out and causing further misery. These are easily obtained at most home and bath stores.
4. Wash all bed linens and clothes in the immediate area in hot water. Bed bugs do not live only in the mattress, so be sure that all items in the immediate area that could house the pests are thoroughly cleansed in hot water.
5. Rent a steam cleaner to clean your carpets, rugs, and drapes. Not only will a once-over with the steam cleaner kill any vestiges of the bed bug infestation, it will leave your home feeling fresh and clean.
6. For extra insurance, use "sticky traps" for rogue bugs that escape your other cleaning efforts. Sticky traps used for catching mice, flies, and other household pests are useful for catching rogue bed bugs. Common insecticides are not recommended for use in areas where people sleep, so turning to these sticky traps are a perfect way to catch the stragglers.
7. If all else fails, call in the professionals. While there are insecticides available online to root out bed bugs, hiring a professional is best if your efforts fail. Professionals bank their reputations on effectively solving pest issues, so they generally use sprays and insecticides that are safe and effective. Check the Better Business Bureau for reputable pest experts in your area.
Bed bugs are a nuisance that is not always easy to eradicate. However, if you follow these tips, you should be able to successfully banish these nasty bugs from your bedroom!
