3 DIY Methods For Repelling And Removing Bed Bugs
Posted on: 23 February 2017
A bed bug infestation can easily get out of hand if you don't take action quickly to get rid of these pests. While the creases and corners of beds are the most popular hiding places for bed bugs, they can easily transfer to clothing, carpet, and other pieces of furniture in your home. Here are three DIY methods that you can use to prevent bed bugs from overrunning your home.
Lavender Oil
As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The best way to prevent your home from being infested with bed bugs is to make your bed as unwelcoming to them as possible.
Bed bugs can't stand the smell and taste of lavender oil, so it works as an excellent repellant. Brushing or spraying lavender oil onto your bed frame could prevent the pests from ever taking up residence in the first place while also giving your bedroom a pleasant fragrance.
Laundry Detergent
Virtually every homeowner has a secret weapon against bed bugs already in their home without realizing it: laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is viscous enough to prevent bed bugs from escaping when they are covered in it. Scrub your mattress with a brush dipped in laundry detergent, and be extra thorough in the areas where signs of bed bugs are visible. Allow your mattress a few hours to dry, and then inspect it for bed bugs. Repeating this process over the course of a week or two will often eliminate all bed bugs in your mattress.
Heat Treatment
When all else fails, heat is usually the most effective method for killing bed bugs. To remove bed bugs from clothing, sheets, and other small items, seal them in a plastic bag until you transfer them to your dryer. Dump the items into the dryer and immediately dispose of the bag outdoors so that any bed bugs that fell into the bag cannot escape into your home. Run your dryer on the highest heat the fabrics can stand, and then use a vacuum hose attachment to remove any bed bug carcasses that are clinging to the items.
Your mattress and other furniture can be heat treated by using a blow dryer to apply heat directly to areas where bed bugs appear. If you live in a warm climate, wrapping your mattress or furniture in plastic and leaving it out in the sun for a few days will kill off the entire colony.
With these tips, virtually any homeowner can eliminate all but the most severe bed bug infestations in their home. Contact a pest control company for more tips.
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