Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Methods To Follow To Naturally Eliminate Bed Bugs Quickly

By Lynne Stoczko


Bed bugs seem to be a hot topic recently. The mere thought of them can cause you to think twice about traveling. The fact that they can be easily picked up and transported without your knowledge makes them especially dreaded. Once acquired, they can be very hard to get rid of. The battle against these insects however can be won. There are several natural alternatives that you can utilize to rid bed bugs fast.

These pests have been around for centuries. They were nearly eradicated during the 1940's. In recent years they have made somewhat of a resurgence. It is possible this is because of the increased concern, and therefore reduction, in pesticide use as well as the increase in world travel.

If you discover them within your home, you will want to act fast. Understanding a little bit about these tiny critters will help as you develop your plan of attack. The adult bed bug is typically brown in color and grows to be about a quarter of an inch in length. They commonly hide in mattresses and carpets as well as tiny crevices in walls and furniture.

They are typically more active at night when it is dark and quite. They typically congregate near where their host sleeps which is usually on the bed and within the mattress and box spring. They are attracted to a human host primarily by the carbon dioxide we give off when we breath, as well as by the heat we emanate. When they get ready to feed, they pierce the skin of the host with two hollow feeding tubes. They feed for about five minutes and then return to their hiding spot. It is believed that an adult insect can go as long as one year without eating which is one of the reasons they can be so hard to get rid of.

Fast action against them will increase your success of eliminating them. Washing and drying all of your bedding and curtains as well as clothing stored within the area where they are found is the first step toward their removal. They do not like heat. Temperatures above 120 degrees will be fatal. An important point to remember when drying your items is to make sure you keep the dryer operating for at least 20 minutes after the articles are completely dry.

A thorough cleaning of all carpeting, flooring and furniture is also necessary. When vacuuming, be sure to discard all vacuum cleaner bags immediately after use. Rubbing alcohol will effectively kill any live bugs when sprayed directly on them. Simply pour alcohol into a spray bottle to make cleaning easier.

Steam cleaners have also been known to be very effective at eliminating them. Utilize a large brush attachment and take care while spraying so as not to blow bugs and their eggs around furthering rather then eliminating their spread.

You may be tempted to completely throw out your mattress if you are worried about these pests still living inside. A very simple alternative however can save you a lot of money. There are special encasements that you can purchase that are made to fit snugly around your mattress that will effectively seal all new bugs out, and trap any existing ones inside. These covers are very effective at keeping old bugs that may still be trapped inside your mattress from escaping. Over time they will simply suffocate.

While pesticide use is still a widely used treatment method, many individuals are seeking a more natural solution for dealing with these pests. Successful natural elimination of these insects is possible with a little hard work and persistence. Rid bed bugs fast the natural way.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment