A strong feature of their infestation is quick reproduction. Worse, the female lays in the vicinity of 500 eggs. No wonder these nuisances are such a pain! So what kills bed bugs permanently? If you’re looking for the quickest way to kill bed bugs instantly we recommend Bed Bug Killer spray by EcoRaider. It is effective on bugs, nymphs, and eggs. For more, read our guide on getting rid of bed bugs.
What Bed Bugs Look Like
Bedbugs may vary in appearance depending on region but there are similarities across the species.
Size: The eggs are the size of a pinhead. Adults grow to the size of an apple seed.Color: Adult bedbugs are reddish-brown and become redder when well fed.Shape: Bed bugs have an elongated or oval body.Smell: The bugs leave a musty odor often mistaken to be the bedding or mattress.Wings: They have wings but don’t fly.
Signs of Existence in Your Home
You can’t see bed bugs. They’re too small. But you can familiarize yourself with signs of infestation.
Small eggs or eggshells in areas where bed bugs hidePoop; small dots that appear blurryRust-colored or red stains on your sheets or mattress that indicate bedbugs got crushed
Often, these identifiers show up when changing or cleaning bedding. You can also find the bugs:
In curtain foldsIn chair seamsIn drawer jointsUnder wallpaper
Bed Bugs in the Home
Bed bugs are naturally scavengers and hitchhikers. Unlike cockroaches or houseflies, how clean you keep your home has nothing to do with the appearance of bed bugs. Ironically, humans “invite” them into the home. We bring them back from vacations. Visitors drop them off. The critters attach themselves to luggage, people, clothing, old furniture, and other personal belongings. They hide their flat bodies in secluded spaces. Unlike other invaders, bed bugs don’t need decay, filth, or organics to attract their attention. The main food source is blood. So anywhere they can find a human or an animal is a good move. Bed bugs come out, usually in the middle of the night when we sleep, and work towards us to feed. Their bite contains a mild anesthetic that keeps us from noticing their presence as they eat. Once upon a time, bed bugs were primarily a source of pain for hotels (because of the constant swapping of residents). Today, they are a major stress point for private homes and businesses. Enterprises from hospitals to clothing retailers and movie theaters have had to deal with these “travel bugs.”
What do the Bites Look Like?
The bed bugs prefer to feed while we rest. That means most of their activity takes place at night. Bites have:
A size of 0.08 to 0.16 inchesA curved pattern, the result of up to four bitesIntense itching, mostly in the morningOccur mostly on legs and armsBlisters
These bites can be mistaken for the work of fleas, scabies, mosquitos, or body lice. There are allergic reactions like redness, itching, and swelling. Additionally, a red itchy, swollen bump with a discolored center or smaller red bumps that look similar to welts are common. These patches of bites can look like welts, zigzags, blisters, or hives. A raised flat bump may also appear on the skin that seems inflamed or hot to the touch. Bed bug bites are not considered dangerous in a sense of fatality, however, if an allergic reaction occurs you may need to seek medical attention.
Treatment of Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bites go away without treatment after a while. You can take an oral antihistamine or topical steroid. Serious reactions you want to take to a dermatologist.
What Kills Bed Bugs Permanently? Bed Bug Prevention
It’s believed we bring these nasty creatures in from the outside, usually after travel. Here are a few home remedies to stop that from happening.
Survey
When you stay elsewhere, seek out signs of bedbugs, including rust or red spots on bed skirts, sheets, or mattress tags.
Lift
Look for signs of bedbugs in bedding, bed frames, and furniture.
Elevate
Keep luggage and personal items away from and off the bed if you’re not sure it’s clean.
Examine
Carefully examine and shake items before packing and returning home.
Place
Once home, dry clothing on high for at least 15 minutes. [Note the process acronym: Survey. Lift. Elevate. Examine. Place. SLEEP.] Be aware bed bugs also hitch rides on used furniture. Make sure to thoroughly inspect these pieces before they come into the home.
Most Effective Treatments
The treatment of bed bugs requires a strategic approach that manages beddings and minimizes infestation in areas where the pests naturally hide and lay eggs. If the matter’s serious, you may need an exterminator to rid yourself permanently of the invaders. Let’s review a few things you can do to implement the most effective treatment for getting rid of these invaders.
Diatomaceous earth
DE (diatomaceous earth) is dust placed around carpets, bed frames, and pet bedding. Bed bugs walk across the substance and take remnants with them. The DE essentially dries them and any bugs they come in contact with from the inside out. Stay away from DEs used in pool filters. That’s a dangerous indoor inhalation.
Insecticides
Insecticides are infrequent bed bug killers. That’s because it’s difficult to apply everywhere you find the creatures. Read labels carefully and use insecticides as directed.
Covers
Encasements for mattresses and other framings are great home remedies. They both keep bugs away and keep current invaders from getting out. You can encase pillows too. Encasements should zip tightly.
Cleanup
Unused clutter around a bed bug’s habitat makes for excellent places to leave eggs and feces. Prevention treatments have no impact on magazines, newspapers, or mail. You have to throw them out. Don’t leave clothing lying around either. And never move items from one room to another. Take them straight to the wash or the trash.
What Kills Bed Bugs Instantly!
What kills bed bugs permanently? The best way to get rid of bed bugs naturally is with steam. Get yourself a steamer and you’re ready to treat unwanted guests.
Both pests and their eggs immediately die at temperatures of 212 degrees Fahrenheit.Apply steam slowly and carefully to the folds and tufts of mattresses, along bed frames and sofa seams, and around edges and corners where bugs may hide.Use steamer wands on your clothing and bedding.If you have furniture that can handle temperature and moisture, slowly run steam over flat planes. Focus on crevices and seams, especially where you find screws and bolts. This is where bed bugs are most likely to live.There are tricky hideaways, like recliners or upholstered items. You often can’t get deep enough into the cushions. Remove parts that come off and get to steaming.
Steaming every few days is a natural way to get rid of bugs permanently. But even being among the best home remedies, steaming isn’t always 100 percent reliable. Another of the most effective treatments for eliminating bed bugs is the application of rubbing alcohol. Though not a full-proof solution, it’s effective on adult bugs (but only on about 60 percent of the time). It does not affect nymphs or eggs. You also have to ensure every bug gets sprayed. One survivor can create a new populace inside of months.
Next Up…
Do Bed Bugs Jump? – Are bed bugs similar to crickets or grasshoppers? Are their legs strong enough to jump? Keep reading to find out!Do Bed Bugs Fly? – Although, bed bugs are tiny, you might be wondering if they can flyHow Big Are Bed Bugs Compared to Other Bugs? – How big are bed bugs, can you see them? What are the signs. Here is everything you need to know about bed bugs!
An effective DIY solution is to apply diluted rubbing alcohol. Alcohol decreases bed bugs permanently. Alcohol also evaporates fast, making it a safe alternative. Steam is another great way to rid yourself of bed bugs quickly. What Chemical Kills Bed Bugs Instantly? Pyrethrin is an insecticide extracted from chrysanthemums. The chemical is lethal to bed bugs. When applied, it flushes bed bugs from hiding places. Their attempts to escape will fail as contact with the chemical kills them no matter where they run. What Do Bed Bugs Hate? Bed bugs, like most arachnids and insects, despise the scent of cinnamon, mint, basil, and citrus. The elements contain linalool, a natural component used in pesticides. The odor won’t kill the critters. It drives them out and into any traps you’ve set. Bed bugs also react the same way to Vicks, which contains linalool too. How Do You Get Rid of Bed Bugs When You Have No Money? If your budget’s limited and your infestation serious, try steam cleaning, desiccant dust, plant-based safe sprays that kill bed bugs, encasements on beds and furniture, and bed bug inceptors. Does Baby Powder or Baking Soda Repel Bed Bugs? There are no scientific findings that support the myth of baby (or talcum) powder or baking soda ridding environments of bed bugs. Compounds like DEs dehydrate insects but these powders do not have the intensity to penetrate a bed bug’s exoskeleton. Now, bed bugs, like most insects, don’t cotton to baking soda but it doesn’t do much to scare them off. Can You Starve Bed Bugs Out? This would be difficult as adult bed bugs can go months without a meal. What is the Main Cause of Bed Bugs? Bed bugs are everywhere but they aren’t nomadic. Bed bugs hitchhike. They attach themselves to luggage, clothing, personal belongings, furnishings, and people. The buggers travel with these items and get into the home.
