According to Pest World, bed bugs are most commonly found in single-family homes (with 91% being found there), apartments (with 89% being found there), and in hotels (with 68% being found there).
The sooner you deal with bed bugs, the better because these bitey little critters can quickly infest your home. Keep reading to find out which home remedies can help you kill bed bugs and get a better night’s sleep.
How Do You Kill Bed Bugs
The average cost of hiring a pest control specialist to get rid of your bed bugs is between $1,000 and $2,500. If the infestation is only small and you want to save money of course with kill bed bug, then you might be wondering how to kill bed bugs using home remedies. Alternatively, if you want to avoid using harmful pesticides, then these home remedies might also be worth trying.
1. How to Kill Bed Bugs With Heat
The first thing you can try is killing the bed bugs with heat. Before applying heat to kill bed bug, make sure you vacuum the infected areas, to help remove any bed bugs that are lying around. Then you need to wash the affected items (bedding, clothes, and any other machine-washable items) at a hot temperature and away the pest .
Many people ask how hot to kill bugs and the answer is the hotter the better. Use your washing machines hottest setting. Temperatures above 140° Fahrenheit are often best.
Larger items, such as mattresses and furniture, will need to be steam cleaned. Again, make sure the temperature is above 140° Fahrenheit. When steam cleaning your affected items, make sure you go over them several times and pay close attention to places the bed bugs might be hiding.
2. How to Kill Bed Bugs With Cold
On the flip side, you can also use extremely cold temperatures to kill bed bugs. Items that are infected but can’t be washed can be placed into plastic bags and put in the freezer.
Items should be left for at least 24 hours, although longer periods may be more effective. After you get the items out of the freezer make sure you shake the items off and remove any dead bugs or eggs.
3. Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is sand that can kill bed bugs. Bed bugs have weak exoskeletons, which means the sharp sand can kill them.
You can buy Diatomaceous Earth in-store and online and all you need to do is apply it to the affected areas and leave it for a day or two. After you’ve left the sand on the affected areas for 24 to 48 hours, vacuum the sand and the dead bed bugs.
4. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is the go-to home remedy for many problems and it just so happens that it works. Baking soda removes the moisture, which dehydrates the bed bugs and kills them.
Pour some baking soda on the affected areas and leave it to sit for a week. Then simply vacuum the baking soda and dead bed bugs away.
If your bed bug infestation doesn’t go away after you’ve tried home remedies, it might be time to call in the experts. Check out this guide, that explains bed bug treatment procedures and how a professional exterminator can help fight your infestation.
Kill Bed Bugs to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Your sleep quality is important for your overall health and wellbeing, which is why you need to kill bed bugs as soon as possible. Follow our tips and tricks for removing bed bugs from your home before the infestation spreads out of control.
Read some of our other home care and lifestyle articles to find out how else you can improve your sleep and home.