How to get rid of bed bugs

What is a bed bug?

Bed bugs are small insects that come from the genus cimex and they feed on blood, this happens during the night usually. The bite of a bed bug can cause several health effects such as skin rashes and psychological impacts as well as allergic symptoms. Bed bug bites could potentially cause skin changes varying from small areas of redness to more severe noticeable blisters.   

How to identify a bed bug?

If you are waking up with itchy areas on your skin that weren’t there when you went to sleep, you might have bed bugs, especially if you have a used bed or any other pre owned furniture around the period where the bites began. There are other signs that may indicate you have bed bugs, and these are:

If you think you have a bed bug invasion, you should remove all bedding and give it a thorough examination to check for any signs of the bed bugs excrement. You should also detach the dust cover that is over the bottom of the box springs, so you are able to assess the seams in the wood framing. Also, you should check the area around the bed, as well as inside of book, telephones or radios, the edge of the carpet, and in electrical outlets. Its important to check inside your wardrobes as well this is because bed bugs can also stick to clothing. If you are unsure about the signs of bed bugs you can call in an exterminator, who knows what to keep an eye out for.

How to get rid of bed bugs?

The first step in getting rid of bed bugs starts with cleaning up the areas where the bed bugs are living. This should include the following:

• Clean beddings, linens, curtains, and clothes in hot water and then dry them on the highest dryer setting. Any stuffed animals, shoes or other items that can’t be washed in to the dryer and run it on the highest temperature for around 30 minutes. 
• You should use a stiff brush to clean the mattress seams to get rid of bed bugs and their eggs before you start vacuuming. 
• You should vacuum your bed and surround areas on a regular basis. After you have finished vacuuming put the vacuum cleaner in a plastic bag and put it in the garbage outside.
• Enclose the mattress and box springs with a tightly woven, zippered cover to stop the bed bugs from entering or escaping.  Bed bugs can live up to a year without feeding, so you should keep the cover on for at least a year to ensure all the bed bugs are dead.
• Fix cracks in plaster and glue down any wallpaper that is peeling to get rid of places for where bed bugs can hide.
• Get rid of clutter around the bed

If the mattress is swarmed, you may want to consider getting a new mattress. However, you should take care and get rid of the bed bugs or they will infect your new mattress too.