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Jennifer Blair
Jennifer Blair has been a freelance writer since 2001 and has published articles on a variety of topics including finance, sports, education and beauty for several commercial and informational websites. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in writing seminars from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
When it comes to household pests, bedbugs are among the most troublesome. Because they are easily transmitted through clothing, bedding and other textured objects, it is extremely easy for infestations to spread. When they come into contact with skin, these small, reddish-brown bugs can bite and cause itchy, red welts and uncomfortable swelling. If you discover that you have bedbugs in your home, getting rid of them as quickly as possible is a priority. You can try any of several methods to help remove them from your home, but professional assistance is typically your best option.
The most effective way to deal with a bedbug infestation is to hire a licensed pest control expert. Getting rid of bedbugs typically necessitates the use of pesticides, and it is not safe for untrained individuals to attempt to administer these chemicals in their home. If you are concerned about the use of chemicals in your house, talk to your pest control expert to determine the least toxic pesticides that are still effective in killing bedbugs. Follow recommendations for when it is safe to use a room that has been treated as well.
While getting rid of bedbugs requires professional assistance, one of the first steps you should take after identifying an infestation is to remove the affected items from your home. Place them in plastic bags or plastic wrap that are clearly marked with a sign that indicates the bags contain bedbugs.
If it’s a large item like a piece of furniture or a box spring that you may not want to throw away, try suffocating the bugs by leaving the items in airtight plastic wrap. You may be able to salvage the items after they are thoroughly cleaned. Suffocating bedbugs is also a simple, effective way to deal with small infestations. Place the items that you suspect are infested in a plastic bag or enclose them in plastic wrap. Make sure the seal is airtight and leave the items alone for several days. The lack of air kills the bedbugs and their eggs so the items can be cleaned and safely returned to your home without spreading the infestation. For example, if you come home from a trip and suspect that your luggage is infested, place the suitcase in a tightly sealed plastic bag and leave it in your garage or backyard for several days. The bugs will eventually die, allowing you to bring the luggage into your home without any hitchhiking critters attached.
Cracks in your home’s plaster or gaps between the baseboard and floor are an ideal place for bedbugs to hide and lay their eggs. If this occurs in your home, you may continually experience reinfestations. To prevent this, repair any plaster damage as soon as you notice it and use caulk to seal any gaps or crevices at the baseboards. Look for problem areas around cabinets and shelves as well.
Bedbugs typically cannot survive temperatures in excess of 140 degrees. If you suspect that furniture items, carpeting or curtains are infested, try steam cleaning them.
Bedbugs are among the most tenacious of pests. Resistant to heat, cold and most common bug sprays, bedbugs are able to survive…
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