How to get rid of bed bugs?

Bed bugs are little, round, brownish insects that feed on animal or human blood. The flat bodies of adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. Their bodies, on the other hand, enlarge and turn a crimson tint after feeding.

Although bed bugs cannot fly, they may quickly migrate across floors, walls, and ceilings. Throughout a lifetime, female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs, each approximately the size of a particle of dust.

Nymphs, or immature bedbugs, shed their skins five times before reaching maturity, and each shedding requires a blood meal. The bed bugs can mature fully in as little as a month under ideal conditions and produce three or more generations every year.

Despite their annoyance, they are not believed to transmit diseases. However, bed bug bites are known to cause skin irritations and even allergic reactions in some people. You may be wondering if you can deal with them on your own, or if you’ll have to call an exterminator for bed bugs.

How to tell if you have a bed bug problem?

You may have bed bugs if you wake up with itchy spots you didn't have when you went to sleep, especially if you bought a used bed or other old furniture around the time the bites began. Other indicators of a bedbug infestation include:

• Your linens or pillowcases have blood stains on them.

• Bed bug excrement in dark or rusty stains on sheets and beds, bedclothes, and walls

• In regions where bedbugs hide, look for feces, eggshells, or shed skins.

• The scent glands of the bugs emit an awful, musty odor.

• A mattress with bed bugs in it can feel musty or itchy, and it's often safe to assume there are bed bugs in your mattress if you wake up with any amount of bed bug bites, even as little as one or two bites.

Remove all bedding and inspect it for traces of the bed bugs or their excrement if you suspect an infestation. Remove the dust cover from the box springs' bottoms and inspect the wood frame.

Is it okay to sleep in a bed with bed bugs?

It’s not recommended to sleep in a bed with bed bugs. While it may be tempting to move to another room, doing so can spread the infestation to other areas of your home. To effectively address the issue, it’s best to seek professional bed bug pest control services to eliminate the bugs and prevent further contamination.

Can I treat bed bugs by myself?

There are several methods to help you deal with bed bugs, and they can often be effective if your bed bugs isn’t very severe yet. First, you will have to make sure you know where the bed bugs are located. Check your furniture, clothes, and your bed as well. Most of the time, your problem stems from a mattress with bed bugs, but it’s also possible to have them on articles of clothing or even things like purses and backpacks, which helps the bed bugs spread around. You might even have several different groups of bed bugs in different places in your house.

You can treat bed bugs on your own by stripping and isolating your bed, encasing the mattress and box spring, and laundering infested items in hot water. Repellant sprays specifically designed for bed bugs can be effective, particularly when dealing with a small number of bugs or for preventative measures. It's essential to choose the right product, preferably eco-friendly and from a trusted brand. A water-based spray is a good option, as it won't stain your mattress with pesticides. However, for more extensive infestations, professional treatment is often the most effective solution.

Professional bed bug removal

If DIY methods fail, hiring a professional exterminator is the best option. At The Healthy Home®, our expert pest control services ensure complete elimination through an efficient treatment process:

Step 1: Inspection and treatment plan

Our team thoroughly examines your home to assess the severity of the infestation. We then create a tailored bed bug management strategy.

Step 2: Steam treatment for bed bugs 

Steam cleaning is a powerful solution for bed bug removal. High-temperature steam effectively kills bed bugs on mattresses, furniture, and carpets, making it a reliable and eco-friendly method.

Step 3: Post-Treatment recommendations

After treatment, we provide preventive measures to keep your home bed bug-free, including regular inspections and proper hygiene practices like cleaning, wash all garments, linens, soft toys, pillows, and cushions.