Health Risks: While bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause itching, discomfort, and allergic reactions in some individuals. Infestation Spread: If you sleep in an infested bed, you risk spreading the bed bugs to other areas of your home, making the problem worse.
The chance of picking up bed bugs when you travel is low, but as infestations become more common throughout the world, it is important to take simple precautions.
No, you don't have to throw away furniture or beds if they are infested with bed bugs. However, it is advisable to treat the infestation as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the bed bugs from spreading throughout your home. There are a number of ways you can treat a bed bug infestation in your home.
DO NOT move yourself or your furniture from room to room. Bed bugs will not go away if you sleep in another room. Instead, they will follow you and create new colonies wherever you move.
Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.
Bed bugs are not known to spread pathogens through their bites. Bed bug bites can be itchy and stressful. Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying.
Can one bed bug cause an infestation? Well, if it's one male, there's no chance of an infestation. However, if it's an adult female, then the answer is yes - it could cause an infestation. All it takes is one one adult female, which can lay eggs, and you could be in for a real problem.
Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs. If you live in an apartment or other shared housing, try to close off your unit.
Most people get bed bugs from infested clothing, luggage, accessories and upholstered furniture which are bought into the home. These pests are hitchhikers and can easily travel between buildings as they go unnoticed by humans.
The first clue suggesting that you may have a bed bug infestation is often the presence of itching bites. However, bites reactions are quite variable and may not be due to bed bugs at all. Be aware of the other signs that bed bugs leave behind: fecal spots, molted skins, and aggregations.
In 2009, EPA and CDC collaborated on a joint statement to highlight the public health impacts of bed bugs . Myth: Bed bugs won't come out if the room is brightly lit. Reality: While bed bugs prefer darkness, keeping the light on at night won't deter these pests from biting you.
Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.
Bed bugs can live for up to a year without a blood meal, so they could potentially stay alive in an empty house for quite some time. However, there are some factors that will determine how long they last.
Although it sounds like a grim choice, it is best to continue sleeping in the infested area using the population reduction methods described above, until the bed bugs are eliminated.
While bedbugs are a nuisance and can be upsetting, they aren't known to transmit disease (their biology is a little different from bloodsucking insects that do transmit disease).
"If you think you're ever going to get rid of them the answer is no," says Booth. "Unfortunately, bed bugs are with us until we disappear from this planet."
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common compounds used to control bed bugs and other indoor pests. Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins.
Tea tree oil, renowned for its antibacterial properties, is like a natural bug repellent that bed bugs can't stand. Peppermint oil, with its invigorating minty freshness, overwhelms their acute senses. And eucalyptus oil, known for its refreshing aroma, is a formidable deterrent against these tiny intruders.
Thus, you need a professional exterminator. They have the tools and methods to fully kill bed bugs at all life stages. They also keep them from coming back. Bed bugs have also become resistant to many of the pesticides they encounter in their travels.
In general, you shouldn't have to throw out any items in the midst of or after a bed bug infestation. With proper treatment, all items should be able to be salvaged. Instead of throwing out clothing and bedding, it's recommended to wash them in a hot water washing machine. High heat will kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Wool items, plush toys, shoes and other non washable items should be placed in the dryer at the highest dryer setting for 20 minutes. Seal and throw away bags used to move laundry to be washed. Clean clothing and sheets should be stored in sealed bags or sealed plastic containers until the bed bug problem is stopped.