4 Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs | News Break
Click Free Pest Control Quote
to fill in a form to obtain a free pest control quote today.
And prevent their return
Maybe I was an entomologist or insect in a past life. Ants, spiders, and bees, and more, fascinate me. I release spiders to their outdoor space or leave them alone when theyre inside my house. Though I love most of them, there are a few exceptions. Im not a fan of roaches in my home. They're common in the New Mexico desert, where we used to live. I'd sweep them out to live the rest of their days in my yard instead of the kitchen.
And then there were bedbugs.
Theyve altered my relationship with insects forever. Im itching just thinking about them. For those who are allergic (Im one of them), they leave rows or clusters of itchy bites overnight.
If you suspect you have bedbugs anywhere in your home, youll have to be relentless in eliminating them.
Heres how you can (hopefully) get rid of bedbugs:
Bedbugs are round, brownish-red, and somewhat flat before they feed. Theyre about the size of a flea. Like me, you might not see them often or at all. The first one I found was as filled with my blood. It didnt even look like a bug at first. They look like the tip of a candlewick when full.
Midway through my professional treatment, I didnt expect bites after he sprayed. They bit me eleven times in one night. Seriously, these bugs are no joke. It mightve taken only one of them to dine on my forearm, neck, and thighs.
Theyre more likely if you live in a rental. Ive always rented apartments as an adult. Even with flea-carrying cats, Ive never been subject to this many bites from an insect. They got my attention.
If you live in an apartment, check with your neighbors. My next-door neighbor had more bedbugs than I do, and we share a common wall. Theyre likely hiding there, then sneak in to suck my blood in my sleep. Ive never been so motivated to rid my room of bugs.
I had bedbugs in my room for months. I noticed several tiny bites on my knee and wrist once or twice in late June. I recalled a similar pattern on my youngest daughter last year, so I had a feeling they were here. We went to visit my parents for a month, and they returned with a vengeance. I suddenly had up to a dozen bites every night.
We probably had an infestation when we lived in Oregon, but never pursued treatment because we were about to move. A variety of insects thrive in New Mexico, and we get plenty coming inside. Bedbugs take it to a new level. They can survive without a host for up to 18 months, even in a sealed trash bag.
There are several steps. First, wash and dry all clothing, pillows, and bedding on hot. Put everything else in sealed plastic bags. Include books and picture frames. Discard whatever might be a good hiding place, as finances allow.
Vacuum throughly, then empty out the canister or dispose of the bag in the outside trash bin. Continue to vacuum before, during, and after treatment.
Heres the deal with bagging your things. You have to look through every item since they dont all die in there. I suggest going outside, far from your door. Inspect for holes, rips, or tears. Flip through books and notebooks. Shake out baskets. I found a few in a wicker basket Id kept by my bed. No wonder they were after me so often. I threw it in the garbage.
Having a bedbug invasion isnt about overall cleanliness. Anyone can bring them in. But knowing youve cleared what you can of any chance meeting is the best way to keep them at bay. Contrary to what some people believe, you won't only find bedbugs in dirty dwellings. They're parasites, which means they search for humans to feed on. If you're warm-blooded, bedbugs will try to find you. But cleaning your space will help you find and eliminate them.
3.Use essential oils
I dropped and rolled all the essential oils before going to bed. I used a combo of lavender, cedarwood on my neck, wrists, and chest. I tried a homemade concoction of peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, and cedarwood to spray around the perimeter and on my sheets.
I used bug repellent with catnip, lemongrass, rosemary, and geranium oil. Badger Bug Balm works well and smells delicious. The catnip spray is called Life Stings. Theyre both organic and dont contain DEET.
I have to get honest about my use of essential oils. They do help, dont get me wrong. Theyre effective to an extent. But theyre not reliable to completely repel these bedbugs. They deter them for a time until you have to reapply. They dont like the scent, but they want you more.
Thats why oils are only a part of the picture. The most important thing to do is to call an exterminator.
Brian, my bedbug guy, as I affectionately call him, has the poison to kill bedbugs in every life stage. He sprays the carpet, mattress, and baseboards. Then he shakes dust thats similar to diatomaceous earth around the perimeter. It cuts the bedbugs, and they die from their injuries.
After the first treatment, we checked in about sightings and bites. When I reported seeing them and getting bites, he applied a second dose a week later. They remained until after we left that apartment. Bedbugs dont give up that easily.
I recommend you maintain a working relationship with your bedbug exterminator. Stay in contact with them to report your observations. We rent, so all I have to do is text or call him. Youll have to research costs, but it seems he has a flat rate, regardless of how many visits.
As a nature lover, I initially wanted to live harmoniously with bedbugs. When I realized no harmony comes from bugs biting me every night, I had to do something about it.
Since humans have interfered with the cycle of nature too many times, we need to take measures we might not have had to worry about in the past. Im sure bedbugs are on the rise due to our imbalanced ecosystem. Unfortunately, it came down to Us vs.Them. If you have bedbugs, youll need to take action right away. They want to survive, and theyll do anything they can to stay in your home.
Clear out your belongings, clean thoroughly, apply essential oils, and call a professional exterminator. Communicate with neighbors if you live in an apartment, condo, or duplex. Theyll likely need treatment, too. Dont give up until theyre gone. Keep the faith, even if it takes years. I hope my experience and newfound expertise will help someone else stay out of bedbug hell.
See the original post:
4 Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs | News Break
- New York is not the most rat-infested place on earth after all according to Yelp, anyway - New York Post - July 19th, 2024
- What is the most rat-infested place in the US? Hint: Its not New York - The Independent - July 19th, 2024
- What is the most rat-infested place in the US? Hint: Its not New York - Inkl - July 19th, 2024
- Shocking: Is This Really The Most Difficult Town In New York To Pronounce? - Hudson Valley Post - July 19th, 2024
- 3 of Idahos Favorite Vacation Destinations Are Crawling with Bed Bugs - 107.9 LITE FM - July 10th, 2024
- COVID Hospitalizations Increase By Over 100% In New York State - Hudson Valley Post - July 10th, 2024
- Summer bugs are worse than ever: How to keep bed bugs, ticks and mosquitoes from making you sick - South Florida Sun Sentinel - June 21st, 2024
- 6 Ohio Cities Are Infested with Bed Bugs in 2024 - wkfr.com - June 11th, 2024
- Eight Indiana Cities Included on 2024's Worst Cities for Bed Bugs - wkdq.com - June 11th, 2024
- Bedbugs in Florida: FL cities worst for invasive bug, what to know - Palm Beach Post - June 3rd, 2024
- Texas City Ranked 3rd In The Country For Bed Bug Infestations - Gator 99.5 - June 3rd, 2024
- Bed bugs turned their NYC apartments into nightmares. So why do their landlords say these properties are bed bug-free? - Brick Underground - June 3rd, 2024
- What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like? Pictures, Treatment and Tips - TODAY - May 26th, 2024
- Worst MD Cities For Bed Bug Infestations: Report - Baltimore, MD Patch - May 26th, 2024
- Popular Destination In New York State Is Crawling With Bed Bugs - Hudson Valley Post - May 26th, 2024
- Pest Gnome Reports 2024's Worst Cities for Bed Bug Infestations - PCT Online - May 26th, 2024
- This Texas City Is Crawling with Bed Bugs - News/Talk 790 KFYO - May 26th, 2024
- Will Massive Influx Of Cicadas Hit Western New York? - wyrk.com - May 15th, 2024
- New York Mailboxes Are Being Invaded By Ants! Why? - Q105.7 - May 15th, 2024
- 10 Best Mattress Protectors of 2024 | The Strategist - New York Magazine - May 15th, 2024
- Itching for a new venture? Here are the 20 best US metro areas to start a pest control business in 2024 - Longview News-Journal - April 27th, 2024
- Bed bugs in NYC: 500+ buildings reported pests so far this year; which borough has the most? - SILive.com - April 19th, 2024
- Claims of bed bugs, putrid odors at Rotterdam Super 8 where asylum seekers are staying - WRGB - March 25th, 2024
- One in Seven U.S. Travelers Have Encountered Mattresses Infested With Bed Bugs in the Past Year - PCT Online - March 17th, 2024
- Why have bed bugs become so difficult to control? We can only blame ourselves - Salon - March 17th, 2024
- Bed Bug Sighting Prompts MSNBC to Clear Entire NYC Studio Floor Ahead of Super Tuesday Coverage - Mediaite - March 9th, 2024
- Does my landlord have to disclose bedbug infestations in a building's common areas? - Brick Underground - March 1st, 2024
- TikTok Confronts New Threat: Bed Bugs The Information - The Information - March 1st, 2024
- Getting Rid of Bed Bugs: Trickier Than Ever - The Good Men Project - March 1st, 2024
- NORTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA TOWNS CRAWLING WITH BED BUGS - SuperTalk 1270 - February 22nd, 2024
- Tennessee Is Home To Two Of The Most Bed Bug Infested Cities - 97X - February 10th, 2024
- Chicago Listed as Americas Worst Bed Bug City - CMM - February 10th, 2024
- The 20 Worst Cities for Bedbugs in the U.S., New Data Shows - Best Life - February 10th, 2024
- Bed bugs are increasing. Where does your city rank? - ConsumerAffairs - February 2nd, 2024
- Oh No You Have Bed Bugs? As a Tenant You Have Rights in Or and Wa - newstalkkit.com - February 2nd, 2024
- Upstate NY city ranked as one of the worst bed bug cities in America - newyorkupstate.com - February 2nd, 2024
- Bed bugs are crawling all over three Michigan cities more so than most - MLive.com - February 2nd, 2024
- America's most bed bug infested cities may surprise you - Fox Weather - February 2nd, 2024
- Here's the one thing you should do immediately when you enter a hotel room - New York Post - February 2nd, 2024
- Gross! Upstate NY City Included in List of 2024's 'Worst Bed Bug Cities' in U.S. - WTMM 104.5 The Team - ESPN Radio - February 2nd, 2024
- Top 50 U.S. bed bug cities: Is NYC high on the list again this year? - SILive.com - February 2nd, 2024
- NYC nears top of the list for worst bed bug cities but once city was worse (again) - NBC New York - February 2nd, 2024
- Bed bugs in Milwaukee among worst in the nation, Orkin study finds - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - February 1st, 2024
- Champaign Emerges as a Top 10 City for Bed Bug Infestations - Mahomet Daily - February 1st, 2024
- Chicago Retains Top Spot on Orkin's List of Top 50 Bed Bug Cities - PCT Online - February 1st, 2024
- Minneapolis makes Top 50 ranking... of worst cities for bed bugs - Bring Me The News - February 1st, 2024
- Oklahoma City named one of America's 50 top cities for bed bugs. How to get rid of them - Oklahoman.com - February 1st, 2024
- Walt Disney World's Hometown Ranks as One of the 50 Worst Cities for Bed Bugs - Disney Dining - February 1st, 2024
- Popular Colorado City Ranked Among The Worst Cities For Bed Bugs - iHeartRadio - February 1st, 2024
- These Major US Cities Are Dealing With Bed Bug Infestation (Again) - Billings Gazette - February 1st, 2024
- 3 Popular Florida Cities Ranked Among The Worst Cities For Bed Bugs - iHeartRadio - February 1st, 2024
- These Major US Cities Are Dealing With Bed Bug Infestation (Again) - Omaha World-Herald - February 1st, 2024
- 50 Worst Bed Bug Cities from 2023 Revealed - CleanLink - February 1st, 2024
- Popular Washington City Ranked Among The Worst Cities For Bed Bugs | 102.5 KZOK - iHeart - February 1st, 2024
- This Is The Very First Thing You Should Do When You Walk Into A Hotel Room - HuffPost UK - February 1st, 2024
- 3 North Carolina Cities Among The 'Worst Cities For Bed Bugs' In The U.S. | News Radio 570 WWNC - iHeart - February 1st, 2024
- Nevada City Lands On List Of Cities With The Most Bed Bugs In The U.S. - iHeartRadio - February 1st, 2024
- The 10 Cities With The Worst Bed Bugs Problem - Rock 92.9 - February 1st, 2024
- Here's where Cbus + two other Ohio cities ranked among the top 15 most bed-bug infested cities - 614NOW - February 1st, 2024
- South Carolina City Named Among The 'Worst Cities For Bed Bugs' In The U.S. | WVOC - iHeart - February 1st, 2024
- Nevada City Lands On List Of Cities With The Most Bed Bugs In The U.S. | Sunny 106.5 - iHeart - February 1st, 2024
- Tampa Has the Biggest Bed Bugs Problem in Florida - Tampa Bay's Q105 - February 1st, 2024
- Orkin: Bed bugs are a problem in Indianapolis; How to get rid of them - IndyStar - January 24th, 2024
- The worst US cities for bedbugs include popular locations, Orkin says - USA TODAY - January 24th, 2024
- Top 15 New York Cities Most Concerned With Bed Bugs - WIBX AM 950 - January 24th, 2024
- Pittsburgh Bed Bug Problems: See Where Orkin Ranks City - Patch - January 24th, 2024
- Las Vegas Makes A Very Bad List For The First Time: Bed Bugs - 96.3 KKLZ - January 24th, 2024
- What U.S. City Is #1 For Bed Bugs & Where Does Minneapolis Rank - K102 - January 24th, 2024
- This Is The Very First Thing You Should Do When You Walk Into A Hotel Room - HuffPost - January 24th, 2024
- Orkin: Denver among cities with the most bedbugs - FOX 31 Denver - January 24th, 2024
- Chicago Joins Paris in Global Bed Bug Spotlight, Ranking As the Worst City on Orkin's U.S. Bed Bug Cities List - PR Newswire - January 24th, 2024
- Is your city on the list of US cities with the worst bedbug problems? - Scripps News - January 24th, 2024
- Denver ranked among top cities for bed bug infestations - The Denver Gazette - January 24th, 2024
- Chicago named worst bed bug city in the US, Orkin says - WGN TV Chicago - January 24th, 2024
- These dirty cities have the worst bed bug infestations see where NYC ranks on the list of shame - New York Post - January 24th, 2024
- NYC is the 2nd worst city in the US for bed bugs, Orkin says - PIX11 New York News - January 24th, 2024
- 'Generational Spectacle' In The Sky Coming Soon To New York State - Hudson Valley Post - January 16th, 2024
- Year In Review #1: New York Is Crawling With Bed Bugs, 2 Cities Among Most Infested - Hudson Valley Post - January 5th, 2024
- How Many Of The 40 New Hallmark Movies Are Based In Minnesota? - Minnesota's New Country - December 25th, 2023
- Chicago Tops Bed Bugs Cities List for Third Consecutive Year - CMM - December 17th, 2023
Click Free Exterminator Quote
to fill in a form to obtain a free exterminator quote today.