Table of Contents
Unlike their other pest counterparts, bed bugs do not carry any diseases or illnesses. However, bed bug infestation can lead to many sleepless nights which could lead to anxiety.
Many people are under the impression that bed bug infestations only occur in a household which is unsanitary, however, that is not the case. Bed bugs do not discriminate between a tidy or untidy house. Wherever there are humans, they thrive. However, with that being said, it is hard to control a bed bug infestation in an unsanitary environment.
Symptoms of Bed Bug Infestations
The first step before you move on to a bed bug treatment is to confirm whether there is a bed bug infestation or not.
- One of the common signs of a bed bug infestation is to look out for bloodstains on your sheets. These blood stains are caused due to two reasons, your excess blood that spurts out when the bed bug feeds, or when you lay on a bed bug that had just recently drunk your blood, thus, leaving a stain on your sheets.
- Dark or rusty spots around your bedroom walls, mattresses, and other bedroom linen. This is caused due to the excretion which bed bugs leave behind.
- If there is an active infestation you are also likely to find dead skins or egg shells which bed bugs have left behind.
- Another sign of a bed bug infestation is the odor around your room. A musty odor means that there are bed bugs around. This odor forms due to the bug’s scent glands.
Ways to Control Your Bed Bug Infestation
Fill Cracks and Crevices
Bed bugs are small pests that love to hide in the tiniest of spaces. The more cracks and crevices you have, the more hiding spots. The first step is to thoroughly note down all the small cracks and spaces around your home which could be occupied by bed bugs. After you’ve got your list of cracks and spaces which need to be filled, cover them using Plaster of Paris. This is because once dried, the Plaster of Paris is hard to be compromised by bed bugs.
Washing Your Bedding’s
Bed bugs mostly occupy the space around your bedroom. They love our blood, however, they cannot handle our body heat directly. Therefore, they tend to latch onto our bedding instead.
In order to remove bed bugs from our bedding, we should wash them in hot water. This will kill bed bugs and their eggs. If you do not want to wash your bedding and plan on disposing of them, you should wrap them in an airtight bag and dispose of them. Otherwise, the bed bugs will move on to other objects around your home.
Declutter Your Bedroom
The clutter around your bedroom serves as places for bed bugs to hide. Piled up laundry clothes, towels, and bedding make it the perfect place for bed bugs to hide in. Having a cluttered bedroom could also reduce the effectiveness of your bed bug treatment. Bed bugs hate moving around in open, so cleaning your bedroom will limit the movement of bed bugs.
Diatomaceous Earth Powder
Diatomaceous powder is derived from the fossils of the algae diatoms. This bed bug powder, when sprinkled around your home, deters bed bugs. Diatomaceous earth is also known as a bed bug killer. This is because when this bed bug powder makes direct contact with the bed bug, it penetrates their skeleton and absorbs all the body oils, which causes dehydration in the bed bug and it dies.
This is natural bed bug treatment, therefore, we do not need to be worried about any toxic fumes that could be caused by synthetic bed bug treatments. Diatomaceous powder is also sprinkled into bags that contain rice and other lentils to prevent pests from contaminating the food.
Natural Bed Bug Spray
Natural bed bug sprays are made using essential oils. These essential oils are derived from plants and trees which are considered to have bed-bug killing properties. Having a natural bed bug spray makes life easier as it can reach places that would be hard with other bed bug treatments such as bed bug powders.
Gypsum Bed Bug Spray
The Gypsum Bed Bug spray by MDX Concept is a natural bed bug spray. This natural bed bug spray is non-toxic, it does not produce any harmful fumes, therefore, it is safe to sleep in a room which has been sprayed with Gypsum. Due to its non-toxic nature, it is both kid and pet safe.
Most natural bed bug sprays are known to leave stains, however, Gypsum is a natural bed bug spray that does not leave behind any stains. Therefore, you can freely spray it on your mattress and other places without any worries.
Travel Tips
The main mode of travel for bed bugs is hitchhiking. When you travel and stay at hotels or motels and other places, bed bugs travel back with you. Here are a few ways you can limit the chances of letting bed bugs hitchhike to your home.
Luggage Management
When you’re staying at a hotel be sure to not keep your luggage directly on the bed. If the bed happens to have bed bugs, then they will crawl into your luggage. Also, avoid keeping your luggage on the carpet as they could also contain bed bugs. Lock them in shelves and lockers after cleaning them. Keep your luggage on the chair or table. This is because bed bugs are neither able to fly or jump, therefore, they will not be able to reach your luggage easily.
Metal Racks
Avoid using plastic racks that are present in hotels. However, if they have metal racks be sure to store anything you take out of your luggage onto those metal racks. This is because the surface of the metal is harder to scale for bed bugs due to their slippery nature.
Packing Your Clothing
When you’re packing your laundry, be sure to pack them in secure zip-locked bags. This is because it will contain the odor of those clothes. Bed bugs are attracted to body odor and your clothes contain a strong smell of your body.
