Getting Rid of Bed Bugs: Home Remedies

Bed bugs are tiny, nocturnal, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Bed bugs, like other insects such as dust mites, fleas and ticks, infest homes, offices and other human living areas. Their tiny size makes it extremely difficult to spot them, and they are popular at spoiling a goo night's sleep with their bites. They hide in furniture, mattresses and travel bags or luggage and can easily be transported from one living space to another. Bed bug bites can easily cause a skin allergy and can result in inflamed, red and itchy skin. Once infested, is can get extremely difficult to get rid of bed bugs from the area, and it may also require a lot of time and effort before they are thoroughly eliminated. A few home remedies can help eliminate bed bugs as well as prevent infestation.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bug infestation, if identified early on, will be easy to eliminate than an infestation that has become severe. The infestation can be recognized only by the bed bug bites after which you will need to find out the exact place of infestation. Check all your furniture including beds, sofas, mattresses and cushions for any signs of bed bug infestation. You may also see traces of blood left on the mattresses and cushions. Then, follow the home remedies mentioned below.

• One of the best home remedies for clothing and furniture, is to remove all the bed coverings, cushion covers, pillow covers, rugs and comforters and put them to wash under high heat or in very hot water. This will help kill the bed bugs on them and the eggs that cling to them. Thoroughly vacuum the furniture, under the beds, the mattresses and the carpets.
• If you spot any bed bugs or eggs or nests on your furniture, use a piece of duct tape to lift and eliminate these.
• You can also make use of scented dryer sheets to cover your mattresses and sofas. The scent will help keep away or repel the bed bugs from the furniture.
• Washing the floors and walls of your infested home with a bleaching agent will help kill bed bugs.
• Wipe your furniture, walls and floors with sprayed alcohol to kill the bed bugs and eliminate their nests.
• You can make use of products that contain diatomaceous earth, which is an abrasive and kills bed bugs by dehydrating them.
• Cover the legs and poles of your furniture with duct tape, with the sticky surface facing outward to kill and repel bed bugs.
• For getting rid of beds in luggage, place the luggage in the hot sun for a couple of hours or use steamer to expose it to high temperature steam.
• Place lavender sachets all around your home to repel bed bugs and prevent infestation by them.

As mentioned before, bed bug bites can cause a lot of itching, skin rashes, blisters and discomfort. If you identify the bed bug infestation in your home, there are ways you can prevent the bites and treat it in case you get bitten.

• Rub some alcohol all over your body, especially the exposed areas, after bathing. The alcohol acts as a good bed bug repellent.
• Clean the bed bug bite with an antibacterial soap and warm water to prevent an infection.
• For bed bug bites treatment, apply a generous amount of calamine lotion to the bite affected area to soothe the area and reduce the inflammation and itching.
• Apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly to your exposed body parts before going to bed to prevent bed bug bites.
• To relieve the discomfort and itching caused by bed bug bites, soak the affected area in a mixture of equal amounts if baking soda, salt and water.
• To reduce the inflammation of the bite affected area, place a slice of potato on the area.

In case of severe infestation by bed bugs, you will need to seek assistance from professional pest control service providers for bed bug extermination. Preventing bed bug infestation is as essential as getting rid of them. Make use of the above mentioned home remedies and make sure you keep your home, furniture and upholstery clean and hygienic to avoid any further bed bug problems.