While bed bugs are not the scourge of the earth that old wives’ tales make them out to be, they are certainly unpleasant visitors to have at times and probably one of the last creatures on earth that anybody would like to share their bed with, but how do you get rid of bed bugs?

Unfortunately, simple cleaning methods will not do the trick alone. While a clean home is certainly a happy home bed bugs do not care; either way, your home and bed (or couch) is heaven to them and they are having a feast at your expense. Luckily, there are some ways to get rid of bed bugs, so you can feel more at ease in your own home and stop itching so much. After all, don’t you deserve to be happy and comfortable in your humble abode? So let’s learn how to kill bed bugs.

How do you get rid of bed bugs? The most tried and true method is extreme heat. If you live in the high desert, you have a greater advantage to getting rid of bugs than many others but bed bugs do not tend to last long in such a climate anyway. As a species, they cannot survive temperatures over 113 degrees Fahrenheit so extreme heat is the only reliable method of getting rid of the bed bug problem. For this reason, steam cleaning is a method that you can use on your own or hire an exterminator to do so if you can afford it. Getting rid of bed bugs is a great deal harder to do than it is to actually pick the parasites up; in order for the cleaning to be thorough everything in the affected area (preferably the entire home) must be stripped down to its barest so that the bed bugs are exposed, as they tend to hide out in small cracks and crevices. This includes caulking small spaces, removing light plates, taking the cushions off of couches and stripping down mattresses; in essence everything must be as bare as it could possibly be to prevent bed bugs from having the opportunity to hide out and escape the mass killing that is soon to befall all of their little friends.

After the steam cleaning has been done, the problem is no longer how to get rid of bed bugs but how to keep them gone; look for the marks on the sheets that indicate actual ‘bed’ bed bugs when you travel, and request a room change if necessary. Keep yoru luggage away from furniture so that they have less of an opportunity to hitchhike a ride back to your home, and be wary of your accommodations at all times.

From the Motel 6 to the Ritz, from your mother-in-law’s house to your own home, bed bugs are a problem in all types of environments. It doesn’t take a filthy mess to make a good home for bed bugs; as a matter of fact the only thing that bed bugs need to survive in this world is YOU.

It is not an easy job to get rid of the bed bugs, but taking the steps outlined in this article should be a good starting ground to limiting their exposure. In part one of this article I outlined the obvious areas such as the mattress and sofas as problem areas, but you need to dig deeper to completely rid yourself of bed bugs. It’s now time to check the carpet area, especially the areas where there are crevices. Steam vacuuming such areas could help kill the bed bugs and limit their ability to spread.

Keep in mind that bed bugs hatch at a much accelerated rate, so it maybe an ongoing struggle to totally eliminate them. Therefore thorough steam vacuuming should be done regularly until you’ve noticed a reduction in any bites you maybe experiencing. Another area of infestation is wallpaper, paintings and any area that would allow them to hide behind. These items should be removed from the wall and a thorough inspection given. You may even find them hiding within the items themselves and using it as a breeding ground before eventually making their way to areas where they can attach themselves to flesh. It’s very important to note that they can live without attaching to a host for up to a year, so you may have bed bugs in your home without them actually affecting you as yet.

Another area of the home that you’ll need to review is actually your closet. It maybe infested with bed bugs, especially your clothes. To be totally safe, you should wash all the clothes within your closet, ensuring they are washed in hot water. Obviously the more delicate clothes that cannot be washed in hot water, should be left alone, so be sure to read your clothing labels.

Stay away from trying to spray bed bugs, as it won’t help. If possible and you can afford to purchase new furniture, sheets, mattress, then go ahead and do so. This is only in extreme cases. The first option would be to thoroughly clean as outlined above, but if after trying such options and it does not resolve your issue, then it maybe best to totally eliminate that piece of furniture or mattress from your home.

A way to avoid being infested in the first place is to thoroughly inspect anything you buy. Some of us like to buy used furniture or even mattresses. When purchasing these items you maybe getting more than you bargained for, so be sure to inspect all areas of the mattress and furniture. You maybe surprised what you find, so before you place it in your home, thoroughly inspect it.

If all else fails, you can call in a professional. They will be able to thoroughly inspect your home and address all the problems areas. From there they will provide the best options available to eliminating your bed bug issues. Be sure to ask many questions while they are there regarding future prevention, and for tips on keeping bed bugs a thing of the past with regards to them being in your home.

By Tim Gorman
howtopreventbedbugs.com