Bed bugs are known by several names, from chinches to red coats. No matter what you call them, if you have bed bugs in your home, you want to know how to get rid of them. Thankfully, getting rid of bed bugs isn’t as difficult as people might think.
Bed bugs are small, oval shaped, flat insects, usually brown or red in color. They earned their common name because they prefer to live in mattresses and other areas where their victims sleep. At night, these pests come out of hiding to feed on the blood of any creature unfortunate enough to be sleeping nearby. Although usually seen as a human problem, they will also feed on our pets. Bed bug bites cause a characteristic line of welts in many people, but some people do not have a skin reaction to bites.
Signs of infestation include a cilantro-like scent, black grains of fecal matter in crevasses of mattresses, spots of blood on sheets, and seeing the insects themselves. Bed bugs are sometimes mistaken for immature cockroaches, book lice, and other small pests. If in doubt, treating the area as if it is infested with bed bugs will help eliminate other pests as well.
When an infestation is confirmed, the first step in killing the bugs is cleaning. All bedding, coats, stuffed animals, pillows, and clothing should be washed in hot water and dried on the highest setting possible. Clean items should be sealed in plastic to prevent re-infestation while the rest of the home is cleaned. Floors should be vacuumed and possibly steam cleaned. Mattresses should be vacuumed, and sealed in an air-tight mattress cover if they cannot be replaced. Couches, chairs, and other soft furnishings may also be home to chinches, so cleaning the entire house is essential to getting rid of the bugs.
After cleaning, apply diatomaceous earth powder to carpets, sofas, and so on, but not to the bed itself. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic, but may cause breathing problems in some people. Leave the powder on for a minimum of eight hours, then vacuum it up and dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed container.
Some people may choose to use an insecticide spray after cleaning. Read the directions carefully, and never spray poisons on beds or blankets. Avoid using insecticides on any item that a child may chew or suck on. Insecticide sprays are best used for treating carpet, drapes, and upholstered furniture that cannot be cleaned any other way.
After your home has been deep cleaned and put back in order, preventing re-infestation is also important. Notify people who have visited your home recently that they need to check for bugs, since they may have carried a hitch-hiker home when they left. Do not bring any used furnishings into your home without deep cleaning them first, especially mattresses and couches. Launder all clothing, sheets, and bedding you buy when you bring it home. Remember, chinches can survive up to a year without feeding, so cleaning everything you bring inside is the best prevention.