Don’t Lose Sleep Because Of Bed Bugs

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Do you have bed bugs?

Chances are you may not have them, but with their ease of transportation, global reach and long life, it is possible for you to come across their path in the near future.

Fact: Bed bugs can live for up to 18 months without a food source.

Fact: Most people will acquire bed bugs at hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts or travelling abroad, bringing the bed bug infestation to their homes in their luggage or clothing.

Understanding Bed Bugs

It’s important to understand bed bugs, where they hide and how to locate their hiding places. The bed frame is their favorite hiding places and knowing where to look is the first step in bed bug control.

Bedbugs aren’t known to infest an entire house or apartment. They like to hide in places where they know people or animals sleep. They can be anywhere in the bedroom such as the box springs, mattress, baseboard, springs, wicker furniture, along the tracks of dresser drawers, behind cove molding or even in the laundry.

Natural Treatments for Bed Bugs

1. The first step in eradication is detection.

To pinpoint a problem with bed bugs, there are a variety of signs one should be on the lookout for. Below you will find some of the most common signs of bed bugs:

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Bites:
While bites are a sure indication of bed bugs, it is important to note that not all bites received in the middle of the night are the handiwork of the bed bug.
Dried Blood:
Also known as fecal spots, dried blood that appears along the seams of a mattress, the box spring, behind the headboard and anywhere else around the bed is a telling sign of bed bugs.
Shed Bed Bug Skin:
The hollowed-out remnants of bed bugs are called “skin casts,” which are a result of the nymphal stage.
Bed Bug Eggs:
While difficult to see, some individuals have discovered the eggs of bed bugs, which are about 1 millimeter in length and shaped like rice.

2. The next step is cleaning and organizing.

Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding places for the bugs.
Thoroughly clean house using a high-powered vacuum cleaner and a stiff brush to remove bugs from cracks in the floor.
Dismantle beds to find hiding places.
You don’t have to dispose of your bed or bedding. Wash the bedding. Seal up mattresses and box springs by taping any holes or other places where bugs could exit a hiding place. Wrap the mattresses and box springs in heavy plastic covers and seal them. Dumping mattresses on the street could result in making the problem worse by spreading it to others.
To keep bugs from traveling from the floor, up your bed, and to your sleeping corpus, set the bed frame legs in containers of mineral oil and do not let covers touch the floor.
Caulk and seal all holes and cracks around pipes, electrical outlets and around baseboards and moldings.

Homemade Bed Bug Spray

1 Cup Water
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops essential oil of clove (optional)

Place in a fine mist spray bottle, and shake well before using.
I want to include some cautions here. Never work with essential oils unless you are wearing gloves. Undiluted essential oils can be dangerous if absorbed through the skin. Another possible problem is that essential oils, even diluted, can have an adverse effect on some cats, so keep kitty away.

Traveling and Bed Bugs

If you suspect you have had a bedbug encounter during a trip out of the country, it’s possible you have transported the little fellows or the bed bug eggs in your luggage. Leaving your luggage in a closed car for several hours in a hot summer sun should kill the pests off. Meanwhile, it’s a good idea to have clothing professionally laundered in a commercial bug-killing solution immediately upon your return, preferably before you bring the clothing home. Inspect, vacuum, and scrub your empty suitcase with a stiff brush to remove any bed bug eggs.

Traveling Tips

Inspect your hotel room thoroughly, especially the bed crevasses and other nooks for dried blood. This is extremely important because you will not know if you came into contact with bed bugs until it is too late.
Keep your cloths hung up or on the luggage rack
Keep bedding and clothing off of the floors
Clean and inspect your luggage before leaving and before your return home.

Luggage Herb Sachets

If you want to avoid bringing bed bugs home with you when you travel, try keeping sachets of herbs in your suitcase. The smell will keep them out of your belongings and help you avoid a bed bug infestation in your home. Tuck two sachets into your suitcase, one on either side. It’s a good idea to place a couple in the pockets of your hanging garments, or in any folded clothing you plan on placing in hotel room drawers.

Bed Bug Herb Sachet 1

1 Cup dried Eucalyptus leaves
½ Cup dried rosemary
½ Cup dried lavender buds
10 Large cloves

Bed Bug Herb Sachet 2

1 Cup loose-leaf black walnut tea
½ Cup dried eucalyptus leaves
½ Cup dried lavender buds
¼ Cup dried thyme
2 Bay leaves

The sachet recipes above should each fill seven to ten small muslin bags. Muslin bags are small cotton bags with drawstrings much similar to tea bags and they can be found at your local craft store.

Conclusion

Each week there are new cases and more and more cities infested with bed bugs. With the rising spread of this bed bug infestation, it is in your best interest to err on the side of caution. However, following the simple tips, tricks and natural solutions above you can feel safe sleeping at night.