How to get rid of bed bugs quickly and efficiently – Real Homes

It's time to say ciao to those little critters. Yep, it is time you knew how to get rid of bed bugs! To be brutally honest, there's absolutely nothing nice about bed bugs. Not only is the prospect of these household pests crawling all over you as you sleep pretty disturbing, but the bites that you may experience as a result of them are very unpleasant, too. Do not cry yourself to sleep tonight, we can help you get rid of them.

Whether you've recently been backpacking and suspect you may have brought some unexpected guests home with you, you've moved into a rental property only to discover your second hand mattress is riddled with the critters, or you're concerned about what could be living in your child's uni accommodation, follow our tips to get rid of them... fast. Find more tips on how to clean a mattress in our guide.

Before you can start tackling bed bugs, you'll need to know, once and for all, whether you have an infestation. As it's highly unlikely that you'll ever see your bed bugs, here are some surefire signs that you could be dealing with the little critters:

How do bed bugs get into your home? It might be that they have come in with luggage (stayed somewhere infested?), clothing or in already-used beds or furniture. They like to hide in groups and if they've infested your mattress you can be pretty sure they're living in the bed frame and headboard, too.

The best solution for getting rid of bed bugs might be to replace your mattress entirely. This is a big investment, though, so first:

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The Casper Essential Mattress

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Nectar Mattress Small Double

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Nectar Mattress Super King

From there, we'd recommend taking the following tips into account:

One of the first steps in eliminating bed bugs, is to try and kill them in situ before they get spread around the house. You will need to wash all bedlinen or soft furnishings that they have been on but before doing so, you will want to get rid of them where they live. A spray is also good for items you can't wash like some furniture and mattresses.

If you have only spotted a few bed bugs, you can try less toxic methods like a distilled vinegar spray. It will kill those it comes into contact with and can be sprayed quite liberally as long as you can allow it to dry, but note it will not get rid of the eggs.

It also won't work on a proper infestation for this you will need chemical pesticides such as the range of bed bug killers available on Amazon. Use these in a well ventilated area and keep away from children and pets. You will need to sleep elsewhere for a few nights after treatment.

Bed Bug Killer Spray, 500ml | 5.99 on Amazon

This long-lasting bed bug spray is solvent free and odourless. It can be used on bedding, mattresses and furniture so is perfect for items you can't put in a washing machine.View Deal

A safe, clean and toxin-free way to kill bed bugs is with steam. Use a portable steam cleaner to kill them (it should also make the eggs unviable), then once dry, vacuum the remnants away. You could use an iron, but the steam is hard to direct and will take lots of refills you also risk burning items that should not be ironed. A steam cleaner is much more effective and you can see our top rated steam cleaners here or shop a selection below.

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Even if you kill all the bed bugs where you found them, you will still need to wash all bedding and clothing that may have come into contact with them. We recommend putting everything on the hottest wash the fabric can take (although the water itself will do the main job by drowning them), then follow up with a tumble dry to be extra certain they do not survive.

Don't trust your current laundry room setup to kill them while caring for your clothes? See our guides below to consider an upgrade.

Once the bed bugs are killed you need to be sure you have got rid of their eggs too. Use the firm brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean away dead bugs and eggs, making sure you get into every corner or furnishings and the trim of your mattress. We have rated the best vacuum cleaners if you need a new model that is up to the job, or shop todays vacuum cleaner deals below.

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It is believed a number of essential oils will get rid of bed bugs and some can also be applied to the skin to discourage them from taking a bite. Peppermint oil is often heralded as the one they like the least. You can apply small drops around your bed, but some people have a reaction to it on their skin so take care and consider other oils with a citrus base for use on skin. Lavender oil is also a good repellent and if used around your bed, will help whisk you away to the land of nod.

Bed bug repellent essential oils

Ellia Grapefruit Essential Oil

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How to get rid of bed bugs quickly and efficiently - Real Homes