How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs at Home

Bed bugs are one of the most troublesome pests to deal with in your home. These tiny, reddish-brown insects thrive in dark, hidden spaces like cracks in furniture, behind baseboards, and even inside electrical outlets. If you suspect a bed bug infestation in your home, it’s important to act quickly.

Not only can they disrupt your sleep, but bed bugs can also cause allergic reactions and other health issues.

Understanding Bed Bug Infestations

Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in the smallest crevices around your home, making it hard to spot them. These insects are most active at night when they feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are commonly found in areas where people sleep, such as on the bed frame, mattress, box spring, and headboard, but they can also spread to other areas of your home.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide in Your Home?

Bed bugs are experts at hiding. They can live in almost any nook or cranny, making it essential to check various hiding places around your home if you suspect an infestation. Common areas where bed bugs hide include:

• Bed frame, headboard, and box spring: These are the most common hiding spots. Bed bugs often hide in seams, cracks, and joints of the mattress and furniture.
• Baseboards and walls: Bed bugs may hide in crevices along baseboards, behind picture frames, or inside electrical outlets.
• Upholstered furniture: Sofas and chairs can provide a perfect hiding place for bedbugs, especially in cracks and folds of fabric.
• Other hidden spots: These pests can also be found in furniture, floorboards, and even behind loose wallpaper.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that may be hard to spot during the day. However, there are several signs that can help you detect a bed bug infestation:

• Bite marks: Bed bug bites often appear in a linear pattern on your skin. They are typically red and itchy, and some people may have allergic reactions to the bites.
• Blood stains: You may notice small, reddish stains on your bedding, often from crushed bed bugs during the night.
• Dark spots: These spots are bed bug excrement stains, often seen on mattresses, box springs, or around infested areas.
• Musty odor: Bed bugs emit a musty odor, which can signify a larger infestation.

Effective Methods to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, there are several methods you can use to try to eliminate them. While DIY bed bug treatments may help, it’s important to remember that severe infestations likely require professional help from a pest control company or a professional exterminator.

Wash and Dry Bedding and Clothes

Start by washing all your bedding, linens, and clothing in hot water. Bed bugs can’t survive high temperatures, so washing these items in water over 120 degrees Fahrenheit is an effective way to kill them. After washing, dry everything on the highest heat setting. Don’t forget to vacuum the mattress and box spring to remove any eggs or bugs that may be hiding.

Freeze Items

If you have smaller items, such as stuffed animals, books, or shoes, that may be infested with bed bugs, you can freeze them. Place them in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for at least four days. Bed bugs cannot survive freezing temperatures.

Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuuming is an essential step in getting rid of bed bugs. Use a vacuum with a crevice tool to get into the cracks of your bed frame, baseboard, and upholstered furniture. Be sure to vacuum your entire bedroom, including furniture, carpets, and along the edges of the floor. After vacuuming, empty the vacuum bag or canister into a plastic bag, seal it, and dispose of it outside to prevent bed bugs from returning.

Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural, non-toxic powder that can help to get rid of bed bugs without the use of pesticides. It works by dehydrating and killing the insects when they come into contact with it. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your bed frame, baseboard, and other infested areas. Leave it for several days before vacuuming it up.

Try Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common home remedy for bed bugs. It can absorb moisture and help kill the bugs by drying them out. Sprinkle baking soda along cracks in furniture, bed frames, and baseboards. Be sure to vacuum it up after a few days.

Use Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a natural bed bug repellent. While it may not kill bed bugs, it can help drive them away temporarily. Mix a few drops of lavender oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it around your bed, mattress, and baseboards. 

Reduce Clutter

Bed bugs thrive in cluttered environments. Reducing the clutter in your bedroom and other infested areas can make it easier to spot and eliminate them. Declutter your space by removing unnecessary items and reducing hiding places for bed bugs.

Alternative Treatments to Consider

While DIY treatment methods can help manage a bed bug problem, severe infestations may require more advanced treatment methods like the following:

Bed Bug Steam Treatments

A steam treatment is similar to a heat treatment in that it delivers a lethal temperature to the bed bugs. Steam can access inaccessible areas where bed bugs may be hiding and is known to be an effective and chemical-free option.

Professional Heat and Fumigation Treatments

If DIY bed bug remedies don’t work, you need to consider professional treatments. Professional bed bug exterminators like Florida Pest Control will use a treatment proven to remove the entire bed bug population from your property. These treatments are usually:

• Bed bug fumigation
• Bed bug insecticides
• Bed bug steam treatment
• Bed bug heat treatment

Contrary to what one may think, a heat treatment (or thermal remediation) is considered to be the most effective bed bug removal solution. In addition to being effective, it is also a non-toxic, low-risk, and chemical-free option. Further, it leaves homeowners with little disruption to everyday life and also protects the home from needing to replace ruined items from another more invasive method. Some of the benefits of heat treatment include:

• Heat above 120ºF is proven to kill all stages of the bed bug life cycle from eggs to adults.
• Even infested furniture and mattresses can still be used after the heat treatment is done.
• The treatment, which lasts approximately up to three hours, will be completely effective and not warrant another treatment.

Conventional insecticides are a common approach for bed bug removal. From liquids to dust, insecticides allow for spot treatments of bed bugs. After focusing on hotspots, several areas can be treated, including baseboards, floor and wall junctions, behind electrical outlets and switches, cracks in the walls and floors, and more. The intent is to treat every possible hiding place to ensure bed bugs are 100% eliminated. Of course, this treatment is more invasive than heat treatment and may necessitate follow-up treatments.

Fumigation, on the other hand, is a chemical-laden way to get rid of an infestation. The process of fumigation includes taping off the entire property to release a fumigant into the structure. This method is disruptive to day-to-day life as you would have to leave your home for several days while this took place. Fumigation is highly effective but considered as a last resort for bed bug treatment.

Preventing Future Bed Bug Infestations

Once you’ve successfully dealt with a bed bug infestation, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent future problems.

Use Mattress and Box Spring Encasements

Investing in a mattress and box spring encasement is an excellent way to prevent bed bugs from taking up residence in your bed. These encasements trap any existing bed bugs inside and prevent new ones from getting in. Make sure the encasements are bedbug-proof and tightly sealed.

Regular Inspections of Furniture and Luggage

Regularly inspect your furniture, luggage, and clothing for signs of bed bugs, especially after traveling. If you’ve stayed in a hotel, check your suitcase for any signs of bed bugs before bringing it into your home. If you find any bugs, immediately treat the affected items.

Sealing Cracks and Gaps in Walls and Floors

Bed bugs can hide in the smallest crevices, so seal any cracks or gaps in your walls, floors, and furniture. Pay special attention to electrical outlets, baseboards, and any other areas where bugs could hide. Sealing these entry points will make it harder for bed bugs to infiltrate your home.

Need Help with Bed Bug Extermination? We Can Help

If you’ve tried the above methods and are still struggling with a bed bug infestation, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional bed bug control company. Whether you need chemical treatment, high heat treatments, or fumigation, Florida Pest Control has the tools and expertise to eradicate bed bugs from your home.

Don’t let a bed bug infestation disrupt your peace of mind. Get the help you need today.

For more guidance, check out our bed bug treatment guides and learn how to treat bed bug bites or DIY bed bug remedies for additional advice.