Bed bugs are parasitic bugs that feed on human flesh.  They are usually found inside beds and couches.  Bed bugs can be extremely annoying, but don’t stress, there is a way to get rid of them.  One of the best ways to get rid of infestation is an integrated pest management (IPM) approach.  Read on for more information on how to remove bed bugs from your house.

Extermination

Buy and apply bed bug spray to all infested areas.  Be sure to check in box springs, bed frames, mattresses, sheets and comforters for any infestations.  Make sure to remove furniture from the room during extermination.  For a double dose of extermination, use a steamer around the infected areas.  You can also apply grinded silica gel around the bedroom.  Bed bugs cannot get through silica gel and will dehydrate and die.

Sanitation

After the extermination process, make sure you wash and dry all clothes and bed sheets at a high temperature.  It needs to be at least 120 Fahrenheit to be effective in killing any eggs or bedbugs on the affected items.  The items can be bathed in sunlight by wrapping them in plastic and leaving them out for a few days.  The items can also be frozen for several weeks to remove bed bugs.  Then, vacuum all eggs and bed bugs in areas that were not treated by the spray or steamer.  Last, make sure to check your furniture for any remnants.  If there are still bed bug eggs in the furniture, it should be retreated.

Prevention

1. Do not buy secondhand furniture without checking it first.

2. Examine beds when traveling and be sure to stay in clean places.

Be sure not to:

– Set off a bug bomb. This is one of the worst things you can do in this situation.

– Move to another bed or couch. You want to keep the bugs isolated and you may carry them over to the new bed or couch if you move.

– Use chemicals you haven’t used before. Improper use of chemicals will make things worse.

If you are in need of a pest control professional, use TalkLocal.  Simply enter a brief description of your service needs along with your location and availability, and TalkLocal will do the rest.  Within minutes, you will be connected to multiple high quality exterminators in your area.

This entry was updated on Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 at 12:32 pm. This entry was originally posted on Friday, October 12th, 2012 at 6:00 pm and is filed under Pest Control. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.