How do you get rid of bed bugs that keep coming back?

If there’s anything worse than finding a bed bug infestation in your home, it’s realizing that they keep coming back even after you’ve tried multiple remedies. It’s a frustrating experience that can keep you up at night and make you feel like you’re constantly battling these tiny pests. But fear not – there are ways to get rid of bed bugs for good. In this article, I’ll take you through some proven methods for eliminating bed bugs, as well as some insights that I’ve gained from my own personal experience dealing with this pesky problem. Let’s dive in.

How do you get rid of bed bugs that keep coming back?

Take a look at this fascinating video on Bed Bugs, I guarantee you’ll find it interesting:

Controlling Bed Bugs that Keep Coming Back

Dealing with bed bug problems can be an extremely frustrating experience for homeowners, especially when these pests keep coming back. Bed bugs are nocturnal, parasitic insects that primarily feed on human blood, and they are notorious hitchhikers that can easily make their way into our homes from other infested areas. It is essential to take immediate action and implement effective control measures to get rid of bed bugs and prevent their resurgence.

Importance of Regularly Washing and Drying Bedding and Clothing

One of the most effective ways to control bed bugs is to eliminate hiding places and reduce their numbers in your home. Washing and drying bedding, sheets, blankets, and clothing that come into contact with the floor often is a necessary step to achieving this goal. Bed bugs and their eggs can be found in these fabrics, so it is essential to clean them regularly and thoroughly.

Regular washing and drying can dilute the pheromones produced by bed bugs, reducing their attraction to these fabrics. Here are some tips:

• Use hot water: Wash all bedding and clothing in hot water above 60°Celsius to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
• Dry in high heat: Dry all the washed items using high heat levels to further eliminate bed bugs and eggs hiding in the fabrics.
• Do not store laundry on the floor: Store clean laundry in containers or elevated storage areas to prevent bed bugs from infesting them.

Common Areas to Find Bed Bugs and Eggs

Bed bugs and their eggs can be found in many areas around the home. They are particularly fond of cracks and crevices, where they can easily hide and breed. Bed bugs also love to hang around fabrics and places where humans sleep or rest.

The following are some of the key areas where bed bugs are commonly found:

• Mattresses, box springs, headboards, and bed frames
• cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and ceilings
• Upholstered furniture, curtains, and blinds
• Electrical outlets, baseboards, and door frames
• Carpeting, area rugs, and floor mats
• Luggage, backpacks, bags, and purses

The Significance of Washing Hampers and Containers

Bed bugs can also hitchhike on clothes, bedding, and towels that are not directly in use. Dirty laundry that sits in containers or hampers could be infested with bed bugs, which could then crawl out and infest other areas of your home.

Here is how to deal with the hampers and containers:

• Launder hampers: Regularly wash and dry hampers to kill and eliminate bed bugs and their eggs.
• Segregate dirty laundry: Have a separate container for dirty laundry instead of mixing them with the clean ones.
• Use plastic bags: Use large plastic bags and knot them tightly to store dirty laundry instead of relying on open-air containers or hampers.

Using High Temperatures to Eliminate Bed Bugs

One of the most effective ways to eliminate bed bugs is by using heat. Bed bugs cannot tolerate high temperatures, so exposing them to temperatures above 45°Celsius for an extended period will kill them and their eggs.

Here are some ways you can incorporate heat to control bed bugs:

• Heat treatment: Use a specialized heating system to raise the temperature in your home for several hours, ensuring that bed bugs in all infested areas are eliminated.
• Steam cleaning: Use a steam cleaner to clean furniture, carpets, and other affected areas to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Vacuuming and Steam Cleaning Infested Areas

Vacuuming bed bugs is one of the most effective home control measures against bed bugs, especially during early infestation. A vacuum will easily suck up bed bugs and their eggs, reducing their populations and limiting their movement around your home. Remember to dispose of the vacuum bag properly or empty the canister outside.

Here are some tips for vacuuming bed bugs:

• Use a crevice tool: Use the crevice tool attachments of the vacuum cleaner to reach tight spaces around furniture, baseboards, and walls.
• Vacuum regularly: Vacuum high-traffic areas and potential hiding spots at least twice a week. Don’t forget to empty the vacuum bag or canister outdoors directly.
• Steam clean: Use steam cleaners to kill bed bugs and their eggs on carpets and upholstery, but make sure to use the highest heat setting to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Sealing Cracks and Crevices to Prevent Reinfestation

To prevent recurrent infestations, seal any cracks and crevices in walls, floors, ceilings, and other surfaces in your home. Bed bugs love to hide in these spaces, so make it difficult for them by sealing off all the areas.

Use these steps for sealing all cracks and crevices:

• Inspect your home: Check all potential areas around your home where bed bugs can hide and inspect for cracks and crevices.
• Use silicone: Use silicone sealants to fill all cracks and crevices so that bed bugs can’t hide or breed in them.
• Fix all leaks and holes: Seal all cracks, holes, and other entry points around plumbing and electrical outlets so that bed bugs can’t crawl through them.

Hiring a Professional Bed Bug Exterminator

If your bed bug infestation is severe or you have tried all the control measures, it is time to call in a professional bed bug exterminator. Experienced exterminators have specialized tools, equipment, and products that can eliminate bed bugs and their eggs effectively, saving you time and money.

Here is what a professional pest exterminator will do:

• Inspection: Thoroughly inspect your entire home to identify bed bug hiding spots and assess the level of infestation.
• Treatment: Use a combination of chemical treatments, heat treatments, and vacuuming to effectively eliminate bed bugs and their eggs.
• Monitoring: Provide follow-up visits and regular monitoring to ensure that the bed bugs are completely eliminated, and the problem doesn’t recur.

Maintaining a Clean and Clutter-Free Environment

Maintenance is crucial in preventing recurrent bed bug infestation. Adopting good hygiene practices and keeping your living space neat and tidy will minimize areas that bed bugs can breed in, take away their hiding places, and reduce their chance of survival.

Here is what you can do to maintain a clean environment:

• Declutter regularly: Remove all clutter from your home, including piles of newspaper and magazines, empty boxes, and unused items that bed bugs may hide in or use as breeding spots.
• Daily cleaning: Clean regularly and thoroughly, using disinfectants and mopping floors to eliminate any bed bugs that remain alive.
• Monitor your environment: Check your living spaces regularly for any signs of bed bug activity, such as fecal stains, or cast skin.

Conclusion

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that can quickly infest homes and cause significant economic as well as physical burdens to homeowners. While controlling bed bugs requires effort and patience, adopting the above-discussed control measures is crucial in getting rid of bed bugs and preventing their resurgence. Regular cleaning, sealing, decluttering, vacuuming, steaming, and even involving a professional exterminator, are all crucial steps that can lead to a bed-bug-free life.