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People who take housekeeping seriously and invest their energy into maintaining a clean home for their families can be stunned to find that bed bugs have invaded their house during the holiday festivities.
These miniature parasites can hitch a ride on the suitcases or clothing brought into the home by guests, or on gifts such as stuffed toys, clothes or purses. Bed bugs are not a reflection of poor housekeeping; instead, they are an incidence of bad luck.
Although there are strong chemicals that can banish an infestation of these pests, most parents would rather try more environmentally sound methods first, which dont post a risk to their familys health. The following ideas are all eco-friendly ways to deal with bed bugs:
Arm Yourself with Knowledge
Just knowing that the bed bug does not have wings and must find other transport can help you find practical ways to control their spread. The following information may be helpful as well:
Bed bugs can be killed with high heat, but it must be sustained for at least 30 minutes.
Bed bugs hide in darker places, the seams of mattresses or cushions, cracks in wood, the hems of drapes, and under the edges of wall paper.
Even after the living bed bugs have been exterminated, hatching eggs may result in a new infestation.
Bed bugs bites do not always show up immediately.
Try a Do-It-Yourself Method to Banish Bed Bugs
While it is probably a good idea to vacuum thoroughly, place the vacuum bag in the outside refuse container, scrub or steam the mattress and box springs, and wash all of the clothing in the house, completely exterminating bed bugs may require even more effort. If the idea of breathing poisonous fumes is repugnant, try the following eco-friendly methods before contacting an exterminator as a last resort.
Ask if the local pest control company will rent you a heat chamber.
Gather enough oscillating fans from the neighbors so that you have one in each room of your home.
Turn on the fans and the heat chamber until the temperature in the house is at least 118 degrees and maintain this for an hour and a half.
Vacuum floors and mattresses and slowly pass a steam cleaner over their surfaces.
Enclose mattresses and box springs in a zippered cover as a precautionary measure.
Wrap sided tape around each bed post.
Put all clothing through a high temperature drying cycle for at least 30 minutes.
These eco-friendly measures should take care of the bed bug problem, but they must sometimes be repeated. If they do not work, many people suggest using diatomaceous earth. This powder is safe for humans and pets, but it dries out the shell of a bed bug. Experts also find that neem oil or peppermint spray will effectively keep bed bugs away from humans, but as a means of pest control, they only serve to send the bugs into hiding.
Although bed bug bites are not harmful, they can be itchy, irritating and result in a lot of discomfort and sleepless nights. Incidences of infestations tend to rise during the holiday season as people travel across the country. There are steps you can take to prevent them invading your home in the first place. However, if you are unlucky enough to get an infestation, there are greener ways to deal with these pests without resorting to chemicals.
Robert Sutton recently stayed in a hotel with a bed bug problem, and since then he has become more aware of how these insects spread. He believes people should try to eliminate them from their homes using eco-friendly methods.
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