Introduction: How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Efficiently
Bed bugs are a disgusting pest that plague untold millions each year, but many people are completely unfamiliar with the techniques and products you’ll need to get rid of these nasty creatures once they’ve established themselves. While getting infested with and slowly working to get rid of bed bugs is never easy nor fun, it’s not an impossible hassle if you follow the right steps.
If you’ve found an infestation, follow these steps to eliminate your bed bug problem once and for all.
Step 1: 1. Know How to Prevent Infestations
Out of all of the tools you can rely upon when it comes to killing bed bugs, prevention is the best. If you take many steps from the get-go to avoid getting infested with nasty bed bugs, you could avoid a future infestation altogether. So, how can you make sure you avoid this problem in the first place?
First and foremost, regular inspections are a must – especially if you’re the owner or maintainer of a guest room. Furniture that “goes dormant” for a while and has nobody regularly using it could very well become infested with bed bugs if you let your guard down. You should clearly evaluation any second-hand furniture you purchase before bringing it home, too, as sofas or beds that you get elsewhere may actually end up transferring these creatures into your home without you realizing it.
Step 2: 2. Invest in Furniture Covers
You may want to consider investing in protective covers for some of your furniture, particularly if you’re going to go away for a little while. Plastic covers can help prevent bed bugs from transferring from one piece of furniture to the next. If you’re not sure what to be looking for, check out a guide that contains some of the signs of a bed bug infestation. If you know what to be on the lookout for, you’ll be all the more prepared when it comes to actually getting rid of these bugs.
Once you’ve found out where these filthy bugs are hiding, you can get down to the brass-tax work of finishing them off for good.
Step 3: 3. Brush, Vacuum, and Thoroughly Wash
Getting rid of your bed bug infestation could be costly – you could hire an exterminator, for instance, and set yourself back a pretty penny. You don’t need to hire someone else to take care of this problem, however; with the right level of preparation, you can actually get rid of these pests yourself.
The most important step to killing bed bugs is using a stiff wire or metal brush to thoroughly beat down the furniture in question – you need to get rid of the bedbugs clinging to the furniture’s surface, and eliminate any eggs that may be hanging on, too. You’ll want to very thoroughly clean the sheets and linens in question in hot water, and completely vacuum the surrounding area of the bed bugs. Everything you use to clean the surrounded, infested area should be thrown out or thoroughly washed itself immediately. Don’t let the bed bugs get away thanks to sloppy cleanup and waste standards!
Step 4: 4. Consider Bringing in a Pro
If you want a true fumigation, you may need to check out a cost-guide to bringing in a real professional. These are costly, invasive, and time-consuming, but are nonetheless the most efficient means of killing any bed bug infestation you may run into. Heat treatments are an option, but are seldom effective – stick to fumigation and thorough cleaning, instead. Don’t give the bed bugs any respite – treatment options should be thorough. Keep your guard up, and get to work eliminating these nasty pests, and you’ll be rid of your bed bug problem in no time.