{"id":419,"date":"2019-10-16T16:14:20","date_gmt":"2019-10-16T16:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pestdefenseguide.com\/?p=419"},"modified":"2021-09-27T20:45:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T20:45:46","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs-and-what-do-professionals-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pestdefenseguide.com\/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs-and-what-do-professionals-do\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get rid of bed bugs and what do professionals do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Bed bugs like to hide in our furniture, and even though they’re relatively harmless, they cause itchy, painful sores. Not to mention, the thought of something biting us while we sleep is a horrible thought. Most people do not know that bed bugs are very common, and it’s likely you’ve come in contact with them at some point in your life.
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If you suspect a bed bug invasion or would like to know more about bed bugs to protect your home, this article is for you. We cover everything from identifying bed bugs in your home, to home remedies that can treat minor bed bug infestations, and what professionals can do if you have a full-blown infestation.
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Getting rid of bed bugs is potentially difficult. They’re resilient little creatures, hard to find, and can reproduce quickly. However, there are a few natural and home remedies you might want to try before you call in an exterminator.
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First, you need to be sure you have bed bugs before you start treating for them. You may have bed bugs if you wake up with small, red, itchy spots all over your body, there are small blood stains on your sheets, or you see little, round brown or back specs (bugs) in the crevices of your mattress or bed frame.
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Bed bugs are difficult to find because they are so small and like to hide in dark spaces. They may be between your mattress and box spring, under the bottom of your bed frame, or in the corners of your bed frame in the tight cracks were the corners of wood or metal meet.
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Bed bugs are a pest, their bites are minimally painful and itch, but they do not usually cause other major health issues. That said, no one welcomes the idea of sharing their bed or home with a bug that feeds on their blood. Whether it’s home treatments, natural bug repellents, store-bought pesticides, or an exterminator, below you’ll find everything you need to know about getting rid of bed bugs.
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The first step you should take to get rid of bed bugs is thoroughly cleaning your house. This means vacuuming everywhere, such as under beds and sofas. You also need to vacuum the corners of the bed frames and other wooden furniture. Vacuum anywhere that looks like a dark, tight place that a bed bug could hide. Take all of the debris you vacuum away from the house and throw it in the dump that way the bed bugs do not climb out your trash and back into your home.
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Next, shampoo your carpets and make sure to dump the dirty water away from your home. Finally, wash all of your linen and dry it on the highest heat setting in your dryer. You may have to wash your linen multiple times to ensure the all of the bed bugs and larva are dead.
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A homemade vinegar spray can kill bed bugs. Use distilled vinegar, preferably a quality name brand vinegar and an equal ratio of vinegar and water; for every one cup of vinegar put one cup of water. Then spray all the areas you’ve seen bed bugs, including under your bed, in the cracks of your bed frame, the carpet below your bed and other furniture. Your home will smell like vinegar for a while, but this is one of the safest ways to get rid of bed bugs.
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Baking soda absorbs moisture, which is why you use it in your shoes, fridge, and other areas that you want to keep dry. Since bed bugs feed on blood, putting baking soda on them dries them out. It’s a particularly safe remedy if you have children or pets. Just sprinkle baking soda on your furniture and under your furniture. Make sure to get into the cracks of your bedframes and other furniture where bed bugs like to hide.
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If you have an infestation, baking soda and vinegar my not work. It’s extremely difficult to kill every single bed bug as well as their larva. Your next step could be to use a pesticide from your local hardware or one of the products I’ve recommended below. Several quality brands sell pesticide for bed bugs and many pests. Like the vinegar and baking soda, you want to spray the pesticide wherever you’ve seen bed bugs, but do not spray it on your mattresses unless the brand says it’s safe for your bed or sofas.
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Being in real estate and property management for over a decade I have unfortunately encountered bed bugs more than a few times at rental properties. Below are my favorite solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n