How to Clean & Kill Bedbugs
Bedbugs are tiny parasitic insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They can infest nearly every part of a room but usually prefer the box spring, mattress and linen of a bed. They are mainly nocturnal and are difficult to detect because of their tiny size. Usually you will only discover an infestation because of the welts on your skin caused by the bedbug's bites. Once you discover that you have an infestation, you can take steps to eliminate the bugs. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Household cleaner
- Hard bristle brush
- Insecticide
- Commercial steam cleaner
Instructions
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1
Remove infested items from the room. Take out all mattresses, furniture, toys, stuffed animals and clothes that may contain bed bugs.
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2
Place infested items outside if it is colder than 25 degrees F. Bedbugs cannot survive in temperatures below 25 degrees F, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
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3
Wash all linen in hot water regularly. Hot water will kill the bedbugs, and heat from a clothes dryer will ensure that all bugs are eliminated.
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4
Scrub the entire infested room with a household cleaner and a hard-bristle brush. The hard-bristle brush along with the cleaner will help to kill both the bedbugs and their eggs. If you have carpet installed, vacuum the room thoroughly.
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5
Spray or dust areas of infection with an insecticide that is formulated to kill bed bugs. An example of an insecticide for bed bugs is PyGanic Dust. This insecticide will protect the treated area for over a year.
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Rent a commercial steam cleaner and steam all of the furniture, fabric and carpet in the rooms. The bedbugs and eggs will die from the heat.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep up with a cleaning routine to ensure the bedbugs do not return.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit colorful bed linen on a wooden bed image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
