The Best Way to Kill Bedbugs

Protect yourself and your children from bedbugs.

Bedbugs are a pest that live off blood from a host. If you have a bedbug infestation in your room or house, you will wake up to find small red bites along your body. Small swollen welts, irritation and inflammation are common symptoms of bedbug bites. Protect yourself from bedbugs by getting rid of the unwanted visitors.

Remove All Unaffected Material

Clear the area from any clutter to prevent the spread of bedbugs in your household. This means removing all personal items such as stuffed animals, toys and blankets. If the items are washable, put them through the washing machine and dryer on high heat. If not, cleaning them with a vacuum cleaner and storing them in plastic bags for a few days. You can also place an insecticidal strip in the sealed bags, but make sure it's safe for contact with the skin.

Inspect For Bedbugs

Inspect all areas of the room for signs of bedbugs. The most common bedbug will be visible to the naked eye, oval-shaped, flat, reddish brown, and anywhere from 1/4 to 5/8 of an inch long. Dark spots of bedbug excrement will also give away their presence. Don't limit your search to just the mattress. Look for any cracks or crevices in the headboards and walls, seams of electric switch plates, and the edges of the carpeting. Make sure to inspect the bottom and sides of your mattress as well as the top.

Treat the Mattress

If the bedbug infestation is very severe, you may need to throw away the mattress. The infestation is severe if the mattress is covered in bugs and excrement. If the infestation is mild enough to treat, begin by vacuuming all surfaces of the mattress. Make sure to vacuum any creases and seams.

Treat the mattress with a bedbug insecticide that is specifically designed for mattresses and is safe for contact with the skin. For best results, use a bedbug dust insecticide on your entire mattress. If you can't find safe insecticides, or feel unsafe using them, seal your mattress and pillows in a hypoallergenic cover. This cover will trap the bugs inside to prevent them from spreading and will eventually kill them.

Treat the Surrounding Area

Vacuum the area surrounding the bedbug infestation. Simply vacuuming will remove bedbugs and their eggs from the walls and carpeting. Use an attachment to carefully vacuum all cracks and crevices within the room. When you are finished vacuuming, make sure to properly dispose of the vacuum bag.

Purchase bedbug insecticide spray to use on surrounding areas such as the floor, headboard, walls and carpeting. Make sure to spray inside of any cracks in the room. Because of their small, flat bodies, bedbugs like to hide in small spaces. Place dust into a duster, and spread the dust along all exterior surfaces of the mattress. Use a paintbrush to paint the insecticidal dust into any mattress seams.

Clean Linens and Bedding

Wash all linens and bedding. Dry them in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes, or place them in the freezer for at least five days to kill the bed bugs.

References

• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture; Bed Bugs; Michael F. Potter; August 2008
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Managing Bed Bugs; Barb Ogg, Ph.D.; April 2010