Do it Yourself Bed Bug Treatment
There are numerous steps you can take to address bed bugs in your home. DIY methods can certainly mitigate an infestation, but usually, a professional treatment is required to eliminate bed bugs for good. If bed bugs are still manageable in your home and you haven’t reached the point of contacting a professional, there are several successful methods that you can attempt yourself.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Yourself in Memphis TN Metro Area
When searching the internet for bed bug solutions, how do you know which method will successfully tackle your problem? Arguably, most of these methods have varying degrees of success, however, none are likely to tackle a full-blown infestation.
Some of the at-home remedies that are commonly suggested include tea tree oil, rubbing alcohol, mothballs, talcum powder, diatomaceous earth, and even ultrasonic devices. Some other steps you can take include washing linens, freezing, and vacuuming.
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Cleaning Instructions for Bed Bugs in Memphis TN Metro Area
Washing clothes, bedding, and infested items in hot water is one of the best ways to control and limit bed bug infestations. To successfully clean items without reintroducing the bed bugs, you should first sort your clothes. Once the clothes are sorted, place each pile into a separate plastic bag. These bags should be sealed to prevent the bed bugs from escaping and transferring into other rooms.
When ready to wash, tip the sealed bag into the machine to drop the contaminated clothes into the wash. Wash and dry these items at the highest temperature available. Place the bag of that laundry into another sealed bag and dispose of it outside of your home. Dried clothes can be folded but placed back into a sealed bag to keep bed bugs from infesting once again.
Can Bed Bugs Survive in the Washing Machine?
One of the best ways to kill bed bugs is to expose them to high temperatures. Washing your linens, bedding, and clothes at your highest setting should effectively kill all stages of the bed bug cycle, including their eggs. Always remember to carefully move items around the house when you are washing them so you can avoid spreading eggs or bed bugs to new areas.
Will Washing Bed-Bug Infested Linens Always Work?
Washing your linens and other items in hot water is a great way to tackle many infested items. However, to prevent them from returning, the entire infestation must be treated, meaning that items that cannot fit into the washer must also be addressed. This is where washing your items can only do so much and additional steps must be taken.
All-Natural Bed Bug Treatments
There are often suggestions for all-natural treatments to kill bed bugs, including baking soda, dryer sheets, tea tree oil, and diatomaceous earth. While some of these methods may successfully kill some bed bugs, it will not be enough to control the severity of a full-blown infestation.
Why Baking Soda Won’t Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Baking soda is an excellent example of a successful remedy that could work if you placed baking soda on nearly every corner of your home. The thought behind baking soda is its ability to break down when it comes into contact with water. Since bed bugs have a thick fluid on their shell, baking soda should work to dehydrate them. There is no guarantee that contact with baking soda will kill the bed bug, but even if it did, they would all have to be located and killed using this method, which would be quite the undertaking.
Fully eradicating bed bugs is frustrating due to its level of difficulty, Lingering bed bugs can reignite an infestation even after all of the above measures have been taken. Hiring a pest control company can target bed bugs for you and get you back to your normal routine!
What to Do When DIY Bed Bug Treatment Doesn’t Work
Don’t be discouraged if you have tried rigorously to eliminate bed bugs from your property. To fully remove bed bugs, a professional bed bug exterminator is almost always needed. Enlisting the expertise of a team of professionals can assist you in getting your bed bug problem taken care of quickly and effectively!