How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

If you need to get rid of and kill bed bugs you are not alone. Bed bugs are making a comeback these days. This pest of the past is now hitching a ride home from travelers and invading their homes. You can have the cleanest house in town but if these bugs are in a hotel room and they end up clinging to your suitcase when you travel home... they are now in your bedroom and giving your family bed bug bites, yikes!

It is not fair, I know, but it can happen to anyone.

How to get Rid of Bed Bugs

Most people have heard the bed time saying “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” but most don’t realize that there are still many people today who are actually getting bit by these little critters. It can be quite difficult to kill bed bugs by yourself but with a few simple tricks and tips, you can rid yourself of bed bugs, especially when traveling.

The best thing is prevention. You don’t want to bring them home with you after you have been away. However if they are in your home and your family is getting bed bug bites it is important to look at what habits a bed bug has so you will know how to get rid of them and kill them for good.

How they get around

This little critters catch rides is such things as luggage, sleeping bags and sleeping sacks. They love to use humans as their home so they run from hostel to hotel, so keep in mind they hitched a ride on someone or something.

They love traveling so you can expect to see them all over the world. They are located in all 50 states of the USA so no matter where you go, you run the risk of coming in contact with bed bugs.

The life of a bed bug

These nasty bugs are very resilient and can stand severe temperatures from freezing up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. They can even live for up to one year without eating so you can’t just clear the house out for a short period in hopes that they will go away. Once they settle in, they are hard to convince to move to a new location.

Keeping away from and getting rid of bed bugs

If you see signs of bed bugs then you will need to vacuum your home thoroughly. This includes curtains and furniture in addition to the floors and carpets. Be sure to change the vacuum bag outdoors so that they don’t escape and go right back into your home. Next you will need to wash all your items that are movable such as knick knacks, drapes, linens, throw rugs etc… in hot water that is over 113 degrees.

Hiring a professional exterminator

Sometimes you just can’t do it alone and you may need to call in an exterminator. The exterminator will tell you what you need to do in order to prepare for him to come. This may include moving some of your furniture and removing your light switches.

The exterminator will most likely use a hot steam to kill the critters. Keep in mind the water or steam that is used to kill these bedbugs needs to be hotter than 113 degrees Fahrenheit in order to really zap them. There may be a chemical spray used to flush out the bed bugs from their hiding places so that the exterminator can toast them with the steam.