Know How To Exterminate Bed Bugs

The problem with bed bugs is that the little beggars just don't go away! At least not without a fight. This can make exterminating bed bugs a long, and often difficult task. However, if you have a little knowledge of how to go about it, it is not an impossible one!

The most important aspect of exterminating bed bugs is taking swift action immediately you find an infestation. By doing this quite often it will be possible to carry out your own extermination process rather than employing professionals to do the work for you. So, how do you deal with a bed bug infestation? Simply follow the steps below.

1. Positively ID The Enemy.

Cast Bed Bug Skin

The best place to start is by making certain that bed bugs are the problem. The biggest tell tale sign are bites on the body when you wake. Check for blood stains on bedding, discarded skins from developing bugs and so on. Do not limit your search to your bed. Check the whole room including the more obscure places such as inside light switches, radios etc.

2. Let battle Commence!

Once you are confident that you do have a bed bug problem the process of exterminating can begin.

You must clear the affected room of all clutter. Place it all in sealed plastic bags and dispose of it. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the whole room. Vacuum EVERYTHING! this will not only remove live bugs but also eggs which are usually stuck to surfaces quite firmly as they are laid.

The next step is to use a steam cleaner, these are a a great weapon in the battle against bed bugs because the steam not only kills adult bugs and nymphs but it will also destroy any eggs missed by the vacuum cleaner. Follow the same systematic method as with the vacuum cleaner and again steam clean EVERYTHING!.

The last assault on the bed bugs should be applied in the form of a toxic bed bug spray. This step is optional however, it is an additional safe guard in exterminating bed bugs. There are a few options as regards bed bug sprays - the organic options are best especially where there a children and pets in the household.

So, there you have it how to exterminate bed bugs - in a few easy steps. However, do not be fooled one treatment may not be enough to get rid of these blood sucking pests. You may have to repeat the whole process twice or perhaps more before you can claim victory in this war.

What Is The Best Way To Kill Bed Bugs - Part 2

Okay, you should have carried out the first part of the extermination i.e. de-cluttered the room, laundered or heat treated garments and soft furnishings and used the vacuum to get rid of eggs, nymphs and bugs from EVERY area, including furniture.

Now have you to make a choice - which bed bug killer to use?

You may want to hire or buy a steam cleaning machine, bed bugs will not withstand heat so using steam is a brilliant bed bug killer! After you have used the vacuum cleaner on the whole room, methodically follow the same path using the steam cleaner, you will find more information on how to do this in my article How to Kill Bed Bugs Using Steam.

Another option to consider is a bed bug spray, this is not quite so straight forward as there are thousands of products available. Personally I have tried one called Bed Bug Patrol which is manufactured using only natural plant extracts like Euginia Carophylla, Mentha Piperita, and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate from Coconut Extract. These ingredients are totally harmless to humans and pets but lethal to bed bugs, killing them immediately and at all stages of development. Some alternative products do not kill bed bug eggs because they are unable to permeate the outer skin.

If I am honest, I would have to say that using both these methods as a combination is without doubt the most effective way to kill bed bugs. So the the best method would be Vacuum --> Steam --> Spray.

But, there are yet more things you can do.

Using of fossil shell dust can also be an excellent bed bug killer. As an alternative to a non toxic spray, once you have steam cleaned the room you might want to sprinkle a dusting of this around. It too is totally natural and is derived by crushing fossil shells and other marine life. It works quite simply by penetrating the waxy skin of the bed bugs causing them to dehydrate and die.

You might purchase bed bug traps! These are extremely easy to use and again totally natural. Stick one trap to each bed post, chair leg or whatever and as the bugs begin to climb to feed ( on your blood) they become totally stuck on the trap and die. Believe it or not these are actually really effective!

Finally, you could perhaps purchasing are mattress and box spring encasements. These can be used in two ways, to stop bed bugs ever infesting your mattress and box spring should you be unfortunate enough to have an infestation. Secondly you can use them to trap any remaining bed bugs which will eventually die.
However, be aware, these horrid little creatures can survive for up to a year without feeding so, don't be tempted to remove these encasements too soon.

As you can see there are many options for getting rid of bed bugs but finding the right bed bug killer is not always easy. Doing the job yourself will save you money but it will take a good deal of time and effort.

What Is The Best Way To Kill Bed Bugs - Part 1

So, you have just discovered that your house has a bed bug infestation, your face, arms, legs and other body parts are covered in itchy red welts and all you want to do is to get rid of these blasted bugs.

The big dilemma is which bed bug killer do you choose? There is a whole host of products on the market and making an informed choice about how to effectively tackle the problem is vital

Bring In Professionals

Your first choice may be to use a professional "bed bug killer" company, however this comes at a price! They will come and spray your home with chemicals which should eliminate the bed bugs however before engaging a company you should perhaps consider a couple of points. To begin with, you and your family will most probably have to vacate your home whilst the work is carried out and will be unable to return until the chemicals are dry.

Secondly, pesticides and insecticides can be very harmful to the health of both humans and that of any pets living in the affected property, it is possible that over time you or someone in your family could have health issues.

The third problem to consider if using bed bug killer chemicals such as pesticides and insecticides is that bed bugs can build up immunity - this has already happened with many types of chemicals in the past - so greatly reducing the effectiveness of the treatment, and perhaps leaving you with a much lighter wallet and a house still harbouring unwanted guests.

I should actually stress at this stage that this really is the worst case scenario and that most bed bug killing companies only use treatments which are safe - the last thing they want are law suites!

You could of course take things into your own hands and save yourself a fair amount of money - become a D.I.Y bed bug killer! So, where do you begin?

There are quite a few ways in which you can tackle a bed bug infestation, non of of them using hazardous chemicals.

No matter which treatment you intend to use the first job which is essential is to clear the room of clutter. Through magazines, books and anything else which can be disposed of into plastic bags, seal them tightly and remove them from the house! Remember, do all of this in the room which is infested, the last thing you want to do is allow bugs to spread to other areas of the property.

Next, remove bedding, gather up clothing and other items which can be machine washed. Place these also into plastic bags and remove them to your laundry area. Launder all these garments at as high a temperature as possible, garments which cannot be laundered could perhaps be placed in your tumble dryer on a high heat for 10 minutes. Alternatively go over them carefully with a steam cleaner, paying special attention to pockets and under collars. It is essential that you disinfect and clean your laundry area very carefully once you have done. Place all clean garments into CLEAN plastic bags and seal them to prevent re-infestation.

Once you have done this it is time to get the vacuum cleaner out. This is a fantastic tool because it allows you to get into all the cracks and crevices where these nocturnal creatures like to hide removing the bed bugs at all stages of development. Vacuum EVERYTHING, the mattress, box spring, curtains, inside drawers, closets, soft furnishings and so on. Don't forget the more obscure places - bed bugs do travel and will hide out behind pictures, in light switches and smoke alarms etc. This is also a great time to fix holes or cracks in walls or floors because bed bugs will use these to hide in as well.


Read part 2 and discover what your D.I.Y. bed bug killer options are.