Please welcome Karen Barnes from bedbugs.org with some advice on how to keep your home safely bed-bug free!
Are you interested in learning how to rid your home of bed bugs without using chemicals? There are a number of ways that you can handle these nasty pests in your home that are non-toxic and eco-friendly.
1. Vacuum
The quickest way to get rid of bed bugs is to thoroughly vacuum those locations where they are likely to be found. Using your vacuum attachments, you will want to go over the mattress, the sheets and pillowcases, carpeting, and upholstered furniture. Carefully dispose of vacuum bags so that you do not re-infest your home.
2. Wash bed linens weekly
You will want to wash your bedding at least once a week in the hottest water that can be used. Dry your bedding on the hottest setting possible in the dryer, as bed bugs do not like heat.
3. Let in air
Bed bugs thrive on CO2. If you open the windows and let in the fresh air, it will dispel the CO2 that has built up in the room. Your home will not be such a welcoming environment to these insects if you dispense of CO2 in this way.
4. Steam bed bugs away
Since bed bugs hate heat, anything that uses heat will help to get rid of them. Use a steamer in your home where feasible, getting into areas where bed bugs congregate.
5. Eliminate clutter
You may not realize it, but clutter not only looks unappealing, it provides a place for bed bugs to hide. By removing clutter, you will be eliminating areas that bed bugs can convert into their homes.
6. Use dry ice
Put dry ice in a dog dish and cover the outside with pieces of cloth that bed bugs can climb. You will be able to catch the nasty critters in this way. They will go into the dog dish to get to the CO2 provided there, but they will not be able to get out again. Just make certain your dog will not want to investigate the dish and come into contact with the bed bugs that are located there.
7. Try diatomaceous earth
This type of earth is considered organic and is a deterrent to bed bugs and a number of other pests. It can be used in an organic garden and is also used inside as long as it is kept dry. Diatomaceous earth can be bought at a number of locations, including home improvement stores and gardening centers.
8. Use soapy water cans
By placing the legs of your bed into cans of soapy water, you can prevent bed bugs from climbing into the bed itself. You may also want to coat the legs of furniture with petroleum jelly, another way to prevent bed bugs from climbing.
Bed bugs are a nuisance that can cause itchy, nasty bites and can cause allergic reactions. You will want to do what you can to rid your home of these insects and keep them from returning. By using some of the tips listed above, you will have eco-friendly ways to get rid of these pests once and for all.
Please feel free to visit Karen Barnes at www.bedbugs.org for some useful photos of bed bugs and advice on how to get rid of these nasty pests. Karen uses some of these tips as preventative measures to keep bed bugs out of her home in the first place, and believes it’s possible to use eco-friendly methods to deal with them, without resorting to chemical treatments.
