How to ‘instantly’ kill bed bugs without chemicals
Bed bugs can be a nightmare to get rid of, but there are some natural remedies that can help. An expert has shared a guide on how to spot an infection and how to remove the pests “effectively”
There are “two main ways” to spot bed bugs in a home – blood spots on a mattress and black bed bug traces
There’s an ‘easy’ way to ‘instantly’ get rid of bed bugs hiding in your home without using chemicals. Bed bugs go into a sleep-like state when it gets colder than 13 degrees Celsius.
They can stay asleep for up to one year. The bugs wake up when it gets warm and they know there are people close by.
Nigel Bearman, who runs the cleaning company Daily Poppins, tells us how to find bed bugs and how to make them go away “effectively”. Read on to find out how to find, and then get rid of these pesky critters.
How to find bed bugs
Nigel says there are “two main ways” to tell if you have bed bugs – blood spots on your mattress and black marks from the bugs, reports the Express.
If you see little red spots on your bed, it might mean you have bed bugs. Their bites usually don’t hurt but they can leave lines of blood because they feed in a straight line.
The black marks are tiny, about 0.5 to 1 mm, and they are bed bug poo after they eat blood. You can find these marks on mattresses, bed frames, and sometimes on duvet covers.
How to get rid of bedbugs
To get rid of bed bugs, you need to find them early. This stops them from spreading and making more bugs.
Once you’ve spotted the infestation, the next step is to contain it. The expert said that this can be done by vacuuming any infected areas including the bed, carpets, curtains, and dressers.
Before treating the bed bug infection, Nigel stated: “It is crucial to prepare the surrounding area to prevent damage and maximise the chances of destroying the bedbugs.”
This should involve moving or throwing out any bed bug hiding spots such as books and magazines that may be near the bed.
Also make sure to seal any areas, including electrical units and loose wallpaper, to stop the movement of the bed bugs to the exposed area. The final step is to kill the bed bugs.
The cleaning pro explained: “It is easy to kill bed bugs with high heat (46.11 degrees) or extreme cold temperatures (0 degrees).
“Insecticides can also be used to chemically kill bed bugs. We would suggest using the natural methods before introducing chemicals as strong odours can linger in the home on soft furnishings for long periods.”
What kills bed bugs immediately?
Nigel explained: “Steam kills bed bugs instantly at a temperature of 100 degrees. Be sure to steam tufts and folds of mattresses, as well as seams on sofas, bed frames, and corners where bed bugs might be hiding.
“Make sure the steam is kept away from electricity, since steam may damage some finishes.”
As well as using steam, freezing infested items is an effective home remedy for bed bugs. To get rid of bed bugs at home, you need to keep your items in the freezer for at least four days. The temperature should be zero degrees or below.
What can help get rid of bed bugs naturally?
Lavender oil is a great home remedy, says an expert. It has many uses, including getting rid of bed bugs. To use it, mix 10 to 15 drops of lavender oil with 50ml of water in a spray bottle.
Nigel said: “The solution should be sprayed directly into the areas where bed bugs are present.”
Baking soda is another “popular home remedy” for bed bugs. It’s one of the most versatile things you can find in your kitchen cupboard.
Baking soda absorbs surface fluids on the waxy shell of bed bugs, causing them to dehydrate. Nigel explained: “The small granules of baking soda can also cause internal bleeding due to the fact that they can cut into a bed bug’s shell.”
To use this DIY method, sprinkle baking soda around your mattress and the area around your bed, where bed bugs usually live. After a few days, vacuum it up and repeat the process.
