Cheap and Effective Methods to Kill Bed Bugs

Imagine waking up with itchy red bites and discovering that your home has been invaded by bed bugs. These tiny pests are more than just a nuisance. While bed bug bites are not known to transmit diseases, they can cause discomfort, itching, and even allergic reactions in some individuals. Getting rid of bed bugs quickly is essential, but professional extermination of these pests can be expensive. Thankfully, there are affordable and effective bed bug treatment options to tackle infestations on your own.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you address the problem and explore affordable bed bug control solutions.

Inspect and Identify the Problem

The first step to dealing with a bed bug problem is by confirming their presence. Begin by examining your living space carefully, paying close attention to the areas where bed bugs hide. These include seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, and other furniture near the bed. Bed bugs also hide under wallpaper, inside outlets, and inside bags or clothes.

Look for the following signs of bed bug activity:

• Small, reddish-brown spots on sheets or mattresses (bed bug feces)
  
  
• Tiny, white eggs or eggshells.
  
  
• Live bed bugs, which are about the size of an apple seed.
  
  
• Shed skins, which bed bugs leave behind as they grow.

Steps to Take When You Discover Bed Bugs

Detection of bed bugs can be frightening, but the best response is to remain calm and act promptly. Bed bugs are hardy, and their population multiplies at a very fast pace if permitted to do so; hence, it is important to use an effective bed bug treatment. Acting promptly is key in preventing the spread of bed bugs. Here’s what you should do: 

• Isolate the Infestation:
  
  
  • Clean up clutter – it reduces their hiding places.  
    
    
  • Put items that are infested into sealed plastic bags.
    
    
  • Pull all furniture away from walls.
    
    
    
• Clean Thoroughly:
  
  
  • Vacuum all affected areas, especially cracks and crevices.
    
    
  • Dispose off vacuum bags in sealed plastic bags.
    
    
  • Wash bedding, curtains, and clothes in hot water.
    
    
    
• Monitor the Situation:
  
  
  • Use bed bug traps or interceptors to monitor their movement.
    
    
  • Keep track of any new signs of bed bugs.
    
    

Some Affordable and Effective Methods to Kill Bed Bugs

The good news is that you do not need to break the bank to eliminate them. There are several effective bed bug treatment methods that will help you kill these pests using things you likely have around the house. Combining these methods will give you the best chance of success. Here are some of the most effective and affordable options:

• Heat Treatment: Bed bugs have an extreme intolerance of temperatures; high temperatures provide an effective method for their extermination.
  
  
  • Use a Clothes Dryer:
    
    
    • Place infested items in a dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
      
      
  • Steam Cleaning:
    
    
    • Use a steam cleaner on mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and furniture.
      
      
    • Ensure the steamer reaches temperatures above 120°F to ensure it is lethal to bed bugs.
      
      
• Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Diatomaceous earth (DE) is natural, unscented, and inexpensive powder. Diatomaceous earth dehydrates bed bugs by absorbing the oils and fats from their exoskeletons when they make contact with it. This makes for an effective bed bug treatment
  
  
  • Natural and Non-Toxic:
    
    
    • DE is a powder that dehydrates and kills bed bugs.
      
      
  • Application:
    
    
    • Place some DE along baseboards, cracks, and legs of furniture.
      
      
    • Let it sit for a few days and then vacuum.
      
      
• Bed Bug Traps and Interceptors: Bed bug traps, also known as interceptors, are quite affordable tools that can be used to reduce the count of bed bugs and monitor your treatment progress.
  
  
  • Intercept and Monitor:
    
    
    • Place under bed and furniture legs to trap bed bugs.
      
      
    • Inexpensive and simple to use, available online or in-store.
      
      
  • Carbon Dioxide Traps:
    
    
    • Use CO2 to attract and trap bed bugs on sticky surfaces.
      
      
• Vacuum Sealing Infested Items:  Easy and inexpensive, vacuuming is one of the most straightforward and effective bed bug treatment.
  
  
  • Suffocate Bed Bugs:
    
    
    • Place clothing and bedding in sealed vacuum bags.
      
      
• Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Bed Bug Sprays: Several homemade sprays kill or repel bed bugs by direct contact.
  
  
  • Rubbing alcohol: 
    
    
    • Spray bed bugs and their hiding places directly with alcohol
      
      
    • It evaporates superfast, thus requiring reapplication.
      
      
  • Essential Oils:
    
    
    • Essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil applied on infested areas
      
      
  • Soap and Water:
    
    
    • Mist a mixture of soap and water which will kill/ repel bed bugs. Soaps break the outer layer of bed bugs and cause dehydration leading to death.
      

When to Seek Professional Help

While these DIY methods may be very effective, more serious infestations could require professional intervention. Professionals working in pest control use more powerful insecticides, specialized equipment that can detect the presence of bed bugs, and methods that are much more effective bed bug treatments than DIY approaches.

If you have already tried the above measures but still have bed bugs, or if there is a very large infestation, then maybe it’s time to call in the big guns. The sooner the better, as early intervention can help prevent the infestation from growing out of control.

Bring along with you persistence and attentive care, and you will get a bed bug-free home with a restful night’s sleep.