bed bug control
Bed Bug Control Options
Pest Controllers & DIY Treatment Techniques
Bed bugs are a true pest, invading what’s meant to be the most comfortable parts of our homes and leaving us with uncomfortable, itchy bites. If suffering from a bed bug infestation in your home, it may seem like a professional bed bug extermination is your only option. Still, there are many effective ways to deal with the problem yourself.
We’ve put together this blog to break down the basics of bed bugs and cover some simple DIY bed bug treatment options.
Bed Bug Control Basics
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are a relatively common pest in Australia, named for their preferred hiding/feeding spot, although they’ve been known to house themselves in sofas and other pieces of furniture as well. These tiny wingless insects generally complete all their work at night, coming out of hiding in the evening to feed on their meal ticket, namely you.
They’re known for populating quickly when they have a steady supply of food, spreading countless bed bug eggs across their habitats in no time at all. Most bed bugs are a flattish-oval shape, coloured a light brown, while they’re known for becoming red and engorged directly after feeding.
Detecting Bed Bugs
Sadly, it’s hard to detect bed bugs prior to them becoming a real problem, but there are definitely some telltale signs that you can look out for to start doing away with an infestation as soon as possible. You’ll generally find the bed bugs themselves around the seams of your mattresses or on the bed frame in the early days of an infestation; however, once they’ve spread, bed bugs will make their way into as many nooks and crannies as they can. They may also leave the bed and set up nests in areas such as the carpet or powerpoints.
While bed bugs larvae and eggs are almost invisible to the naked eye, adult bed bugs themselves are around the size of an apple seed (1-5mm), meaning spotting them isn’t impossible. Still, as stated before, they’re basically nocturnal. A sign to look out for includes brown or reddish marks on your sheets, duvets, and upholstery – these can be either squashed bed bugs full of blood or spots where they’ve chosen to excrete. If an infestation is particularly bad, there may be an offensive, sweet, and sticky odour given off by the nest.
Leading Causes of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are usually picked up from somewhere outside the home and brought in through luggage, purses, and backpacks. Another common way that bed bugs find new homes is by travelling in on used furniture and upholstered items or from adjoining apartments through the powerpoints.
Unlike many other pests, bed bugs aren’t attracted to spaces with decay or filthy organic matter build-ups. Instead, they will stay where they can source food, meaning once they get in your home and on your bed, your body is all they’ll need to be convinced to stay.
Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs feed on human and animal blood, meaning, of course, that they bite. Reactions to bed bug bites will vary from person to person, with some feeling little to nothing from a bite, even in its aftermath, while others may suffer from uncomfortable, irritating, and itchy spots across their bodies. The bites themselves will often be found in uniform rows rather than randomly distributed in patches. If a bite is allergic, the bites can cause larger red welts and even anaphylactic shock in very severe cases.
Because the bites of a bed bug contain a natural anesthetic, it’s uncommon for someone to feel a bed bug bite in the moment; however, the after-effects are genuinely distressing. Bed bug bites are shown to cause severe anxiety and stress issues when it comes to sleep, making it very difficult for people to relax in bed properly. Getting rid of bed bugs is equally essential to your mind as it is for your body.
Now that we know bed bugs better, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can get rid of bed bugs, ideally in a DIY context, without having to incur the cost and inconvenience of an exterminator or fumigator.
Bed Bug Control
If you’re looking to complete a DIY Bed Bug Eradication, you’re unlikely to achieve it comprehensively with just one method. You can take multiple steps to deal with a bed bug infestation and prevent another one, and they generally work better in combinations than they might in isolation. The methods include the use of chemicals, temperature control, and hygiene practices.
It’s important to note that while the chemical sprays used by most exterminators do a good job of killing adult bed bugs, they do little to stem the lives of unborn eggs, which can still come to fruition after incubation periods of up to 2 weeks. If you’re dealing with an infestation, you need to get the eggs as well.
What Kills Bed Bugs Instantly?
A few things will kill bed bugs, including bed bug sprays, powder, and even alcohol, but if you want to kill them in a flash, then your best bet is using steam. Bed bugs and their eggs can’t withstand temperatures higher than 122°F (50°C), which is why a good steaming is a near surefire way to deal with an infestation.
Steam naturally appears at 212°F (100°C), meaning that a thorough application of steam to your bed and furniture’s folds and crevices, perhaps after employing some other methods, could easily kill the bed bugs and eggs instantly. Steam is also a preferable option when compared to bed bug poison, as it leaves behind no chemical remnants.
Non-Chemical and Non-Temperature Based Methods
Now you may be wondering, “how do you kill bed bugs without steam or chemicals?” which is what we’re going to expand on now. Methods for dealing with bed bugs that have been growing in popularity are the use of furniture accessories and tools that make it harder for bed bugs to access the beds themselves and/or survive the conditions of the bed. Things like barriers that block access to the bed via the legs are becoming increasingly common. Similarly, mattress encasements that trap bed bugs inside, starving them and keeping them from spreading, are also available in the modern market.
Now, these may not come across as solutions that kill and eradicate bed bugs comprehensively, but they are options that can provide your bed with a sense of security so you can, at the very least, rest easy at night. Used in conjuncture with one another, an encasement and a barrier might be everything you need to regain a comfortable night of sleep.
Permanent Treatment – Adults and Eggs
When it comes to permanently dealing with bed bugs and their eggs, your best course of action is hitting your compromised furniture and spaces with a variety of different home techniques. Begin with a thorough search of your bed, mattress, and bed frame, along with any other potential hiding spots for the critter collective. Once you’ve identified their habitats with some certainty, it’s time to start getting rid of them.
Once you feel you’ve expended all potential hiding spots, going through each of them meticulously with a vacuum cleaner is a solid way of removing both the bugs and their eggs; however, it’s vital to remember to throw the bag away outside as to avoid suffering another infestation. Alongside, or in place of a vacuum cleaning, you can use an organic powder or spray to kill off any straggling bugs. Once each of these processes is complete, a good steaming will never go amiss, being one of the most reliable ways to kill the bugs and their eggs.
In particularly severe cases, it might be appropriate to completely dispose of compromised furniture. Removing the bed frame, mattress, or sofa from which the problem started might be one of the key steps in getting the fresh start you need. Remember to label the furniture clearly, so as not to spread the infestation to an unassuming furniture enthusiast who thinks they’ve stumbled upon a great street find.
But if you don’t want to throw out furniture, then you can use the Bed Bug Barrier system that treats the bed only, with killer bed leg barriers that kill all the bed bugs in your room at night when the bed bugs leave your furniture to access your bed.
The Bed Bug Barrier system provides bed bug control methods to prevent, restrict and exterminate.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs
At Bed Bug Barrier, you can purchase our Luggage Encasements to effectively encase your bags, clothing and belongings whilst travelling, preventing bed bugs from hitching a ride inside your luggage and into your home or hotel.
Restrict Bed Bugs
Bed Bug Barrier also provides barrier solutions to restrict the spread of bed bugs within your home or between neighbouring dwellings. Stop the movement of bed bugs between rooms using our eco-friendly Bed Bug Killer powder in powerpoints. Block bed bugs from crawling into your bed using our Floor Bed Bug Barrier and Screw-in Bed Bug Barrier.
Exterminate the Bed Bugs
Finally, the most critical part of a successful bed bug control system is an effective, safe, and long term bed bug killing treatment. Don’t waste thousands of dollars on pest controllers that can use harmful chemicals that don’t provide long term solutions. Bed Bug Killer Powder is a natural, non-toxic treatment that provides years of ongoing protection. For the instant killing of bed bugs and their eggs, look no further than the Bed Bug Steamer. With the domestic Bed Bug Steamer, you will see instant results using no toxic chemicals, providing a treatment solution at a fraction of the cost of commercial steam cleaning approaches.
Final Thoughts
Bed bugs are a truly disgusting and frustrating pest to find yourself dealing with, but with a better knowledge of what you’re looking for, some easy DIY techniques, and even some great value products to look out for, you should be better equipped to cope with them than ever before.
Of course, professional exterminations might do the job, but they’re expensive, powered by harsh chemicals, and often leave your home uninhabitable for days on end. Before you reach in your pocket, use your head and follow some of these home guidelines. Sleep well guys.
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