Bed bugs – dealing with them or worrying about these biting pests – can make it hard to sleep. How to get a good night’s rest again? Learn how to identify bed bugs and get rid of them in your Alaska home.
Stress can affect sleep quality whether it’s from bed bugs or other issues. We can help ease your mind at Alaska Sleep Clinic, and in this article we’ll show you how to solve your bed bug problem.
Bed bugs then will be one less problem to lose sleep over.
IDENTIFICATION
No one wants to find any bugs in their bed or luggage, but knowing the difference between a bed bug and another pest is the most important step in remediating the issue. Adult bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies and six legs.
If you have a bed bug problem, you’re likely to find bites in a line or cluster on your skin, causing itching and redness. However, not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, so this may not always be a reliable indicator. The bites of bed bugs also resemble those of other pests, including fleas.
Once you know what you’re looking for, you need to know where to look. Search for signs of bed bugs in seams of mattresses and box springs, along mattress edges, behind headboards, in cracks and corners of furniture, and along baseboards. If you’ve been traveling, you want to look along the seams of your luggage and any dark crevices or folds of the lining. You may find live bugs, shed skins, or fecal stains which are dark spots like pepper flakes.
REMEDIATION
Wash and Heat: Wash infested bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water (at least 140°F) and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Items that can’t be washed can be placed in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Start with items you know have been touched by bed bugs, and then move on to all other fabrics and upholstery.
Steam Treatment: Steam can effectively kill bed bugs and their eggs. You will need to use a steamer that reaches at least 160°F. Handheld travel steamers probably won’t reach this minimum, so be sure to get a strong enough steamer. Slowly move the steamer across mattresses, furniture, and other infested areas. Pay close attention to the seams where bed bugs most like to hide. To ensure you don’t damage fabrics (and protect the longevity of the steamer), use only distilled water.
Encase Mattresses: Use special encasements designed to trap bed bugs and prevent them from infesting other items, such as bedding, curtains, and nearby furniture. Bed bugs will travel on you and other materials, so you want to prevent movement as much as possible. Make sure the encasements are labeled as bedbug-proof and fit the mattress properly. These covers can be purchased from big box stores and online retailers for around $20-35.
Chemical Options: If the problem is especially bad or you aren’t finding success with the above options, consider insecticides. Purchase an insecticide labeled for bed bug control, and follow the directions carefully. If you’re treating something that can be easily moved, like luggage, curtains, or clothing, consider taking these items outside. You may also want to wear a mask and gloves to protect yourself further.
Monitor and Repeat: Continue to look for signs of bed bugs and repeat treatments as necessary. It may take multiple treatments to completely eradicate an infestation. Eggs typically hatch in about 10 days, so you will need to check again at least a week and a half later. Bed bugs can survive several months without a meal, so you need to be vigilant for quite a while.
Professional Help: If the problem has really taken root, you’re short on time, or you are thoroughly icked out, call in the pros. Professional exterminators are well-versed with bed bugs and can make short work of the problem.
PREVENTION
Preventing an infestation is the easiest way to deal with bed bugs. Bed bugs travel from one place to another on furniture, bags, clothing, and other upholstered items. About half of the nation’s bed bug infestations are reported during the summer months when more people are traveling and moving. Bed bugs can also travel between homes in multi-unit dwellings such as apartment buildings and duplexes. Regularly inspect your bedding and furniture, and avoid bringing used or secondhand items into your home without careful inspection.
If you encounter the issue while traveling – either confirmed or suspected – avoid bringing your luggage and belongings inside. Leave them on a porch or in a garage if possible. This will help prevent the bugs from spreading and making your house their home. Treat the infested items in one of the ways noted above.
Another way to prevent a serious problem with bed bugs and other pests is to minimize clutter. Bed bugs like dark, tight spaces, so reducing clutter will afford them fewer opportunities to hide. It is also important to regularly vacuum carpets, furniture, and baseboards. Using a wand will help you get into the tight spaces between carpeting and baseboards, while a brush will help you really get into upholstery.
While doing your regular cleaning, keep an eye out for cracks and crevices where bed bugs may hide and lay eggs. Seal these openings using caulk or another appropriate sealant. If you live in an older house or feel overwhelmed by this kind of handiwork, it might be worth enlisting the support of a handyman.
While the old adage tells us to sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite, let’s go a step further and not let the bed bugs bother us at all. Keeping an eye out for pests and attacking them from multiple angles will ensure your sleep and your home go undisturbed by bed bugs.
Alison is a world traveler who loves to spend her time writing and reading. When she’s home, you can find her playing with her pet rabbit and baking.
