Natural remedies for bed bugs are becoming more and more popular as safety concerns over conventional methods of exterminations arise. When done right, a natural bed bug extermination can eliminate bed bugs safely and effectively.
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are usually small, rust-colored pests that feed on human blood. Though on average a bed bug is about the size of an appleseed, they can grow to be much larger if left unchecked with a steady supply of blood meals. Once a bed bug infestation has infiltrated your home, it can be very tough to get rid of
Common Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
- Bed bug bites. One of the most common signs of a bed bug infestation is waking up with red bumps after a long night of itching. Bites generally appear as welts lined up in a row wherever your skin has been exposed for easy access to bed bugs.
- Blood stains. If your linens appear to be covered in little droplets of blood, it’s probable that these stains are leftover from the bed bugs’ last visit to the buffet – you.
- Bed bug droppings. After a blood meal, bed bugs will excrete the leftovers. These appear as small, rust-colored stains on whichever surface the bloodsuckers decided to relieve themselves.
- Shells. As bed bugs grow in size, they shed their outer layer much like a snake. In larger infestations, these shells can be found all over your home near the creepy crawlers’ favorite hiding places.
- Offensive odor. Bed bugs’ scent glands release an unpleasant, musty odor. Picking up on this scent could indicate a strong possibility of an infestation in your home.
10 Ways To Get Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally
- Non-Toxic Spray. Bed bug extermination sprays have changed a lot since the days of old. There are now many non-toxic, natural bed bug treatment options that are just as effective, if not more, than their chemical counterparts. We highly recommend this option for natural bed bug remedies.
- Clutter cleaning. Placing all of your personal belongings in clear plastic bags, and properly disposing of the rest, can drastically reduce the amount of bed bugs in your home. This is also a great method for tracking and controlling infestation.
- Natural laundry additives. Bed bugs love to hide in linens and clothes. Using a natural bed bug laundry detergent in the wash will exterminate bed bugs right in the machine!
- Bed bug proof covers. Putting a bed bug mattress cover on your bed will trap any bed bugs that might be inside and prevent them from being able to get to you. Eventually, they would starve to death – exterminating some of the pests without the use of harmful chemicals.
- Get rid of it. Sometimes furniture is infested beyond recovery. In these chases, there is no use in dousing them in bed bug treatment products. The best natural remedy is simply to wrap them up to prevent re-infestation and discard them.
- Extreme heat. Bed bugs cannot handle high temperatures. Finding a safe way to blast them with heat above 113℉ can help to eliminate some of the infestation on contact.
- Hot water. One way to safely use heat to eliminate bed bugs is to expose them to hot water. Best practice would be to use hot water on machine safe items in combination with a bed bug exterminating laundry detergent.
- Steam. Only steam from an industrial grade steamer can reach temperatures high enough to exterminate bed bugs. This powerful steam treatment can penetrate deep underneath surfaces to eliminate bed bugs in hard reach places such as inside the mattress or behind cracks in the wall.
- Vacuum. Using a vacuum to regularly clean an infested area can suck up the bed bugs, removing them without the use of chemicals. But only a vacuum with a HEPA filter is guaranteed to prevent bed bugs from escaping back into your home.
- Preparation. Before any treatment can be applied, you must prepare for extermination. A proper preparation can eliminate a lot of the infestation without any extra products, and helps ensure the success of whichever bed bug remedy you decide to use.
Pros and Cons of DIY Natural Bed Bug Remedies
- Stay at home. When using harsh chemicals for bed bug extermination, often you will have to evacuate your home of family and pets. Natural, non-toxic bed bug remedies allow you to stay safely at home while you get rid of bed bugs.
- Safe and effective. The right natural bed bug treatment can get rid of bed bugs fast while still being safe to use around children or pets. Natural bed bug remedies also tend not to irritate people who have respiratory issues.
- Not all treatments are created equal. Natural bed bug repellent remedies like eucalyptus, lavender, and other essential oils might seem appealing but they will never be as effective as a natural product specifically designed to eradicate bed bugs.
- Reinfestation. Bed bugs are smart, and they can communicate with each other in order to outlast your bed bug treatment. Natural bed bug remedies often do not provide you with the necessary repellent capabilities to prevent the infestation from returning.
- Fire hazard. Using DIY bed bug treatments such as alcohol – a flammable liquid – can lead to big trouble. This is especially the case when using it in combination with a DIY heat treatment.
The Bed Bug 911 Way
BedBug911 uses the safest, most powerful natural bed bug remedies available. Our extermination professionals handle everything from top to bottom, from preparation to prevention and everything in between. Using top of the line non-toxic sprays, industrial steam treatments, HEPA vacuums, and more, our team will rid your home of bed bugs safely and naturally in no time.
Conclusion
Natural extermination methods are a great way to get rid of bed bugs without putting your health on the line, but it’s important to do them right. BedBug911 has the top natural bed bug treatment options in NYC.
