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5 Bed Bug Remedies to the Rescue…


Posted on November 15, 2012

Sleep Tight, Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite… But What If They Do, Anyway?

How can you settle down for a good night’s zzzs, knowing full well that you might be zapped awake in the middle of deep R.E.M. by a piercing/itching bed bug attack?

Whether you live in a communal apartment in the Bay Area or a new condominium in downtown San Francisco, you want to ensure your health, sanitation and slumber.

By Content Providers(s): CDC/ Harvard University, Dr. Gary Alpert; Dr. Harold Harlan; Richard Pollack. Photo Credit: Piotr Naskrecki [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Here are 5 ideas to manage your bed bug infestation:

1. First of all, strip all bedding and look for signs of bed bugs or bed bug droppings.

Look in the seams of your bed frame as well as other nooks and crannies of your bedroom, such as electrical outlets, carpet edges, even the insides of alarm clocks and books and clothes. If you’re having trouble identifying the source of the bed bugs – or if you just want to be extra careful – consider getting in touch with an exterminator.

2. Once you ID the source of the varmints, eliminate their homes and hiding spots.

Submit your sheets and linens – and any clothes or fabrics that may have been affected – in very hot water, and then run the dryer at a very high setting. Do the same for shoes, stuffed animals, toys, or anything else that could attract the bed bugs.

You also want to vacuum your mattress and the surrounding areas. Prior to doing this, loosen up bed bug eggs and detritus with a stiff brush. Vacuum the bed and all areas around it, and then immediately dump the vacuum extraction bag outside in an outdoor trash. Repair cracks in the floor and wall, and eliminate the other potential “entrance ways” for bed bugs – such as plaster cracks in a windowsill, for instance.

3. When in doubt, throw it out!

If you suspect that your mattress is at all infested, toss/recycle the mattress and get a new one. Just be sure to deal with other potential sources of infestation before you purchase a new mattress, or you might find yourself having to throw away a second mattress!

4. Deploy insecticides, if necessary, safely.

Despite all the brushing and vacuuming and other “clean up” activities you do, you may need to use chemical insecticides. This can be a double-edged sword. Insecticides may destroy the bed bugs, but they can also make the place where you sleep smell terrible and become dangerous. Even some so called “green” insecticides – that are relatively safe for use – can have toxic effects, depending on their use and the individual’s tolerance.

5. Get professional help!

Successfully eliminating these pests is not an easy feet.  An informal survey of pest control operations conducted by an entomologist at the University of Massachusetts found that 68% of all bedbug infestations require three or treatments.  26% require three or more treatments, 26% require two treatments, and 6% require just one.

In the end you’ll save time, money, and frustration by getting in touch with a pest control agency to develop a strategy to ensure you and your family’s safety and comfort.

If you’ve got questions about how to deal with Bay Area bed bugs, and get in touch with the experienced, friendly, and thorough team here at Matrix PE for help now.

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