Having bed bugs in your place must be really frustrating. You can get bed bug bites and your place will appear to be dirty. When there are bed bugs in your place, all that you want must be to get rid of them as soon as possible. Before contacting the experts, you can try these following 15 home remedies for bed bugs:
- Washing all clothes and bedding
When the first time you realize that your place is full of bed bugs, the very first thing that you have to do is to wash every single thing that has come into contact with the areas affected by these animals. Make sure to do it as it is really important.
The items that you have to wash include your bedsheets, blankets, pillow covers, and clothes that have been lying around. Remember to also throw the likes of dolls that you have on your bed as there is a high chance of these animals to crawl into these dolls.
Since bed bugs are killed in high temperatures, instead of using cold water, you are suggested to use hot water with a high temperature to wash all these items. Aside from that, you can also use a scented detergent while washing them as the bed bugs get declined by solid fragrances.
- Vacuum
One of the easiest ways to get rid of bed bugs is to vacuum clean every surface of your place. Try your best to vacuum as many surfaces as possible from your bedding and mattresses to the chairs to the sofas and couches. A powerful hose attachment can be used to suck these annoying things out from your place. Once you are done with the process of vacuuming, do not forget to throw the vacuum bag far away from your place so that there will be no way for them to come back to your place.
- Heat treatment
Apparently, heat of 120 F for two hours is guaranteed to get rid of bugs. If the bed bugs are all over your places, including hiding behind some of the items in your house, you can try to wash these items in the water with 120 F or above. If it is not enough, you can also place them in a clothes dryer on hot heat for at least a half hour. If the climate is currently hot, you can put these items in a black plastic bag and leave them in direct sunlight for a day. Besides, you may also want to use the portable heating units. Not only that, you can also use a garment steamer for some items such as luggage.
- Silica gel
A sachet of silica gel can be found easily at home. Go check shoe boxes and food products to find them. After getting one, grind these beads up and sprinkle the powder around the areas they are infested.
- Rubbing alcohol
Alcohol is strong and has the ability to kill pests, including bed bugs. To use it, spritz it across all affected surfaces.
- Baking soda
One of the most popular ways to fix the issue is baking soda. Besides, it is also usually used as a remedy for the other insect bites such as mosquito bites or flea bites as they share the same effect as bed bug bites. If you want to get rid of bed bugs, all that you have to do is to spread it in all infested areas. Not only that, you should also sprinkle some in any cracks and crevices. To make sure all of them are gotten rid of, please vacuum your place every single day.
- Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is really effective to kick the bed bugs out of your place. You can just sprinkle it across all surfaces. It may take up to a week or 10 days to completely erase these annoying things, so please be patient.
- Essential oils
Some essential oils that you can use to get rid of bed bugs are tea tree, lavender, and peppermint. They can make them feel nauseous and suffocate them to death. While using any of them, you have to exercise caution as they can be harmful to you and people around you.
- Lemongrass
Lemongrass has an acid that kills both bed bugs and their eggs. To use this method, sprinkle some lemongrass in the areas infested by them.
- Borax
Borax is known as a natural household cleaning agent. With it, you will be able to get rid of bed bugs by suffocating them. All that you have to do is to sprinkle the borax powder around your mattresses and bed. Please leave the areas with borax for about 24 hours. When the time is up, vacuum thoroughly to make sure there is no bed bug left behind.
- Vinegar
The bed bugs should be killed by spraying a vinegar solution around the infested area. After that, vacuum it. Unfortunately, it has no ability to get rid of egg bed bugs.
- Tea bags
Tea bags have astringent, tannins and mild anesthetic properties that are not only helpful to kick the bed bugs but also can help to relieve the discomfort caused by bed bug bites. If you want, you can also repeat the application.
- The bed bug tape trap
Not everyone knows that a double sided tape can be used to fight against bed bugs. By placing it as a perimeter, you can keep bed bugs out of the enclosed area and trap the ones that try to cross over.
- Black walnut tea
Black walnut tea contains antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties that are good at getting rid of infestation in your place. Place it in the areas where bed bugs hide, including cracks, crevices, and baseboards. Besides, you can also sprinkle it on your mattress and bedding.
- Cayenne pepper
The combination of ginger, cayenne, and oregano essential oil can repel bed bugs. Please mix it together with water and boil it in a pan. Then, pour it into a spray bottle and spray it on every surface.
