Bugs are the most resilient insects that we know. Even after countless chemical sprays, some bedbugs won’t budge. The eggs are very resistant to various treatments, and this is the reason why controlling the spread of this insect in your bed is a challenge. Besides the resistance to chemical sprays, bedbug infestation in your home depends on other factors as well. The extent of the infestation matters the most. If the outbreak is enormous, you may need to dismantle the bed to expose these parasites.
Another critical factor is your neighbor’s infestation. No matter how many ways you use to prevent this parasite from spreading, if your neighbor’s house is infested, they will come crawling back to your home. So in achieving the best control methods, you may need to involve your neighbor and other people who are in proximity to you.
Signs of infestation
I think it is essential for you to know some of the signs to look out for when checking if you have a bedbug infestation in your bed.
• Bedbug shells or excretion, which is dark spots
• Blood spots on the bedsheet
• You wake up feeling itchy on the skin
• Bedbug produces a musty odor from its glands
If you notice these signs of infestation, you should inspect the bed further by removing the bedding material and checking the wooden frame of the bed. Bedbugs like to hide in these crevices a lot. Confirm that it is indeed an infestation before proceeding to the next step.
1. Keep the infestation from spreading
Anything that is infested should be identified and sealed off in a plastic bag to prevent spread to other areas of your home. Bedbugs are known to hide and flee when noticed. Your beddings should be removed and sealed off.
2. Don’t panic
Don’t throw away anything yet, soon after discovering you have a bedbug infestation. It can be controlled. If you panic and start throwing away your beddings and furniture, you are only promoting the spread of the parasites to your neighbors. In this way, you will be further complicating the matter in your neighborhood.
3. Practice hygiene
Bedbugs thrive in poor hygiene. You should always wash your bedding materials, take them out to the sun to dry. Jordan Larson from CustomBedBug.com explains that bed bugs produce waste and egg particles, which mix with the air and cause respiratory problems. Bed bugs like to hide during the day, so taking them out will be a good preventive measure. Properly vacuum the area around your bed and also the crevices to completely suck up all the bedbugs that might be hiding in those crevices.
4. Tape the mattress
After discovering where they are hiding, you should seal the mattress with plastic tape or cover. This is important for two reasons. One, you will prevent them from escaping to other areas of your home. The seal will restrict their movement. The second reason is that by taping them, after some time, they will die of lack of air and food. Bedbugs are known to survive for almost a year without food. This means you should prepare alternative bedding for a year.
5. Repair cracks
Crevices in the wall are the reason why you have this infestation. Bedbugs hide in the wall cracks before launching their attack at night. You should plaster all the cracks and crevices in your bedroom wall. You will not only be killing them in the process but also limiting their number. Making it even easier to control.
6. Hot water treatment
This is also an effective method to control bedbugs. Put all the beddings, clothes, and anything you suspect it could harbor bedbugs inside a dryer or in hot water. The bedbugs will be killed instantly if the temperatures are too high for them. Leave the clothes for an extended period to make it more effective. Bedbugs die at temperatures of 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Try chemical treatments
If the numbers don’t improve in preventing, you should resort to chemical methods. There are brands out there in the market that can get the job done. Use products that are safe for you and harmful to the bedbugs. That’s why chemical treatments should always be the last resort in this process.
8. Seek the professionals
If you feel that the pressure is too much, delegate the duty to a professional who understands the trade very well. This way you will be increasing our chances of success in eliminating these parasites. Before hiring a professional, check the company reputation and choose accordingly.
Preventing and containing a bedbug infestation in your home is no mean feat. It requires extreme caution to details. The tips I have mentioned above should help you handle most infestations if the magnitude of the infestation is big. You should hire a professional to take care of it.