Although bed bugs may seem like an old problem, the situation is quite different. According to statistics, the frequency of cases of the spread of these insects is gradually increasing. For example, from 2000 to 2006, the frequency increased by twenty-five percent. The problem with bedbugs is larger than it might seem, and sometimes controlling insects can be costly. In addition, it can cause psychological discomfort. If you are afraid that you too will have to deal with bedbugs or have already noticed a problem, it will be useful for you to learn ways to forget about insects forever.
Get rid of the clutter
The first step to reducing the risk of bed bugs or finding bed bugs is to keep your home as clean as possible. Try to keep your room organized by immediately putting stacks of laundry, mail, or any other items in their place. Then the insects will not have a place to hide, and it will be much easier for you to notice them. Only after you have cleaned up does it make sense to think about subsequent measures.
Classification of methods for combating
There are several ways to get rid of unpleasant insects. One of the most important requirements is the use of an integrated approach.
- physical-mechanical,
- chemical,
- folk
The combination of these methods is due to the fact that “chemistry” harms humans, animals and plants. Traditional recipes are not always effective.
Physico-mechanical technique
Not everyone can catch bedbugs with their hands and kill them. These insects not only have a repulsive appearance, but also a disgusting smell.
Mechanical action involves the use of a steam iron. It is used when treating the most “bedbug-infested” areas of linen – seams and folds.
It is advisable to treat not only linen, but also furniture, as well as the gap between the bed and mattress.
Important! You should not use boiling water to flood insect nesting sites.
They are very afraid of boiling water, but furniture does not react to it in the best way.
Liquid nitrogen helps a lot. A spray bottle is filled with this product. You can also use a pneumatic spray - this way the cryogen will get even into hard-to-reach places.
Use of special drugs
The table provides information about the most powerful drugs.
Means | Description | Price |
"Chlorophos" | The most powerful insecticide. Intended for storage in non-residential premises. It is very important to store it in a tightly sealed container. The proportions with water are 1 to 4. The solution is prepared outside or with the windows open. | 1000 rubles/1 kg. |
"Karbofos" | Has an unpleasant pungent odor. After spraying it disappears very quickly. Has a wide range of effects. Has a long protective period. | Negotiable |
"Mikrofos" | Long-term preservation, wide spectrum of action. Not only bedbugs die, but also cockroaches, ants, and fleas. Active ingredient: chlorpyrifos. Has no smell. It is safe to use, because has very low toxicity. Intended for professional processing. | Negotiable |
"Pyrethrum" | Strong poison, fatal to all types of insects. | 150 rubles |
"Tetrix" | The most effective drug. Not available for free sale. | , |
"Combat" | “Multispray” is used (a fast-acting drug. It has a paralytic effect), as well as “Superspray”. The main advantage is low toxicity. The composition includes imiprotrin, cyphenothrin. The death of parasites is immediate. | From 200 rubles. |
"Executioner" | Quickly destroys adults, as well as larvae and eggs. There is almost no smell and no stains remain. | From 180 |
Grandmother's funds
Chamomile has a powerful effect. Both fresh herbs and pharmaceutical preparations are used. Chamomile is brewed in boiling water, infused for 40 minutes, then carefully filtered and charged into a spray bottle. The prepared solution is used to treat all problem areas in the room. Its use will help expel bloodsuckers and prevent their return. Chamomile does not affect eggs. When a new population appears, new treatments will be required.
Another remedy is table vinegar. They need to wipe all places where parasites accumulate. Care must be taken as vinegar is quite aggressive. Due to its impact, not only bedbugs can suffer, but also some surfaces.
It is believed that cockroaches eat bedbug eggs. This is true, but this happens quite rarely.
Important! The diet of cockroaches and bedbugs is not the same.
Cockroaches feed on food scraps, bedbugs feed on human blood. This allows both species to exist peacefully in the same territory. This makes the life of an apartment owner significantly more difficult.
After removing bedbugs, it is necessary to carry out general cleaning. If a strong insecticide was used, the room should be well ventilated. Dead insects must be carefully collected and burned.
Wet cleaning should be done using cleaning products. The floors are washed with soapy water or powder several times.
You also need to “arm yourself” with a vacuum cleaner and carefully “walk” through all the upholstered furniture, carpets and bookshelves. It’s good if the vacuum cleaner also has a cleaning effect.
Use a mattress cover and pillowcase
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Prevent the spread of bed bugs in your mattress by purchasing bed covers. Zippered mattress and pillowcase covers are effective in controlling insects and will allow you to keep your expensive items even if bed bugs still infest your home. Make sure there are no holes in the covers and that the zipper is secure to prevent insects from getting in.
Effective control of bedbugs - methods and methods
Although bed bugs may seem like an old problem, the situation is quite different. According to statistics, the frequency of cases of the spread of these insects is gradually increasing. For example, from 2000 to 2006, the frequency increased by twenty-five percent. The problem with bedbugs is larger than it might seem, and sometimes controlling insects can be costly. In addition, it can cause psychological discomfort. If you are afraid that you too will have to deal with bedbugs or have already noticed a problem, it will be useful for you to learn ways to forget about insects forever.
Insulate the doors
Bed bugs are very small and can get through even small openings, but it is still important to take care of the insulation. This is especially significant for those who live in an apartment building. Use thick plastic covers on the bottom of the door to keep your home insect-proof.
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What is a steam appliance
Essentially, a steam gun is a high-power fan with a heating element in one housing. When turned on, the blades force air through the heater and direct it further into the room. The body is metal, and its external shape often, although not always, actually resembles a cannon.
Also provided:
- safety thermostat to protect against overheating;
- heating temperature regulator;
- air flow mode switch.
The power of steam guns varies from 3 to 30 kW. Energy source: gas, kerosene, diesel, electricity. As a rule, it is more convenient and practical to use an electric model to control insects.
Check your washing machine before use
If you're traveling, you may need to use a public laundry for your washing machine. It is worth remembering that bedbugs can live in such cars. Before you put your items in the drum, carefully inspect the inside of the machine using a flashlight. This will help you make sure there are no bugs left inside from the clothes of previous laundry users.
Effective methods of controlling bedbugs - can they be combined?
Any insect control professional will answer that an integrated approach to the fight against bedbugs only increases the likelihood of their complete elimination. The most convenient and compatible methods of dealing with bedbugs:
- “preservation” of things in sealed bags;
- treatment with hot steam and insecticides on the same day;
- “preservation” of furniture items, as well as washing + ironing on the same day, but after treatment;
- vacuum cleaning (with a vacuum cleaner) and a thorough re-examination.
To achieve a guaranteed result, it is important to do everything in order.
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Use a hairdryer to lure out bedbugs
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If you want to lure bedbugs out of their hiding place, a regular hairdryer can help. Simply use it on the lowest setting, directing the heat to the baseboard or other area you suspect. As a result, insects may appear on the surface, and it will be easier for you to get rid of them.
Effective methods of control
Scientists have long established the fact that bedbugs are afraid of high temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to poison bedbugs at a temperature not lower than 50°C.
The following methods are best suited for controlling bedbugs using temperature:
- Heat gun - specialists use such equipment for arranging suspended ceilings, for heating and drying rooms. All you need to do is take the device and place it in a closed space, which needs to be thoroughly heated to a temperature of +60°C. Leave it at this temperature for at least 30 minutes, preferably at least an hour.
- Steam cleaners and steam generators have a detrimental effect on parasites. Such equipment can be used for areas of any size.
- Washing items at 90°C. The disadvantage of this method is that not all items can be washed at this temperature.
- Use an iron - you will need to carefully iron bed linen and towels at the highest temperature.
- You can use boiling water to bait bedbugs in baseboards and crevices.
- Use sunlight in the summer if you have the opportunity to dry things in the sun. When exposed to maximum heat in the sun, all parasites die.
- Hot air gun. Before using such an industrial tool, prepare a fire extinguisher and keep children and animals away. How to work with a hot air gun: set the temperature to 80°C and heat the surface at a distance of 10 cm. For uniform treatment, move the hair dryer in a circular motion over the area of the object.
Clean things up regularly with a vacuum cleaner
Of course, a vacuum cleaner by itself is not a sufficient measure to get rid of insects, however, with its help you can significantly reduce the number of bedbugs. Clean up regularly, using a vacuum cleaner not only for the floor, but also for furniture. Once you've cleaned, empty the dirt from the vacuum cleaner as soon as possible. If you wipe the inside of your vacuum cleaner with paper towels, you should throw those in a sealed plastic bag as well.
How to remove bed bugs with hot air
Studies have shown that bedbugs, their eggs and larvae cannot tolerate high temperatures. If they are exposed to temperatures of +50 degrees Celsius, they die within 15-20 minutes. But you should know that bedbug infestation is not limited to just the bedside area. They can be found throughout the house. Now, it becomes a question of applying heat to different household items that require different approaches. In the following sections, we will discuss various methods of heat killing bed bugs.
Methods for thermal destruction of bedbugs - hot water
Treating your apartment for bed bugs
All items that can be washed, including bed linens, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, clothing and woven furniture coverings, must be washed in hot water. Load all these items into the washing machine and set the temperature to 50-60 degrees. Set a routine that runs for at least 30 minutes. After washing, put the items in the clothes dryer.
Again, set the temperature required to kill bedbugs. Alternatively, you can dry your laundry in the sun. Bed bugs and their eggs cannot tolerate high temperatures in the washer and dryer.
Dry heat
There are many items such as leather jackets, shoes, stuffed animals and others that simply cannot be washed in hot water as they may be damaged. In this case, removing bedbugs relies on dry heat. Place each item in a separate plastic sealed bag and seal it properly. When you pack them, make sure that the items are not folded too tightly, otherwise the heat will not be able to fully penetrate the folds of the fabric, where the bedbugs hide.
Place the bags in the clothes dryer and set it to 50-60 degrees. Leave items in the dryer for 15-20 minutes. Next, remove the plastic bags containing your items from the dryer and allow them to cool before removing the contents of the bags. Finally, vacuum items to remove bed bug remains.
Destruction of bedbugs with steam
Bed bugs hiding in carpets and home furniture can be killed by steam. If you don't have a portable steam cleaner at home, you could rent one from a nearby store. When steam passes through the carpet fabric, bedbugs simply have nowhere to go, and if they come into contact with hot steam, they are doomed. When using a steam cleaner on furniture, you will need a machine with a small nozzle that can force steam into small cracks and crevices of the furniture.
If necessary, you can repeat the steam treatment every two weeks to ensure that all bed bugs are killed.
Use a hot air gun
A hot air gun can be used against bedbugs that hide in large things like mattresses, beds and upholstered furniture in the bedroom. You should take some precautions before using a hot air gun as it is an industrial tool. Above all, keep children and pets away from the work area. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Avoid any loose clothing when working with hot air.
Set the temperature to 70-80 degrees. Hold the hair dryer 10 centimeters from the surface to be treated. Gradually move it in a circular motion over the entire area of the object being processed.
As you work on the mattress, heat it on both sides and don't forget to go along the seams. Likewise, in the case of beds and other furniture, heat should be applied to all surfaces, including the bottom. This way, you can eliminate bedbugs completely, including any corners and crevices.
Once you've rid your home of bed bugs, make sure you don't fall victim to another infestation. To prevent such a turn of events, you must keep your home clean. You can continue to thoroughly clean your household items with a heat treatment once a month.
After every trip, don't forget to give your luggage a hot air treatment before unpacking it and taking it around the house.
Source
Sprinkle silica gel
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To get rid of bedbugs, it is not at all necessary to use powerful chemicals. Silica gel, which can easily be found in the box of new shoes, is an effective insect repellent. This has been confirmed by recently published studies.
Learn more about using a heat gun
Among all the listed “temperature” methods, the most effective is considered to be the one that kills bedbugs with a steam gun - as a mobile air heater is called. It quickly heats the air in the room to the desired temperature parameters and helps “maintain the temperature.” And the degree should be at least +60.
Why? – The fact is that adult bedbugs die already at +50°C. Moreover, the “disastrous” process takes only a few minutes. But their eggs also exist. – Unhatched blood eaters are more viable; they can withstand fifty-degree ambient temperatures for up to a day.
That is why it is important that in the room where these bloodsucking creatures are driven, it is +60°C for 40-60 minutes, or better yet +70°C. In this case, it definitely won’t hurt to overdo it.
A steam gun for baiting bedbugs is ideal because creating such conditions for it is not a problem. You just need to choose a device of appropriate power. And, by the way, such heating will not require inflated expenses - the cost of operating the gun is quite affordable.
True, this equipment itself is expensive, so it is better to rent such a steam gun or invite a special team of bedbug extermination specialists who work using this method. In this case, using a gun will be cheap.
Hazard to human health
There is an assumption that bedbugs are carriers of deadly infections. There is no scientific evidence for this yet. However, the insect can still seriously injure children and adults. First of all, mentally. The table will show why parasite bites are dangerous to human health.
Table - Why bed bugs are dangerous
Danger | Details |
Bites | — One individual leaves a chain of five to seven bites; — there is a risk of infection through the area injured by the bug |
Allergic reaction | - It can be very extensive; - sometimes anaphylactic shock occurs |
Anemia | — Iron deficiency occurs due to blood loss; - the condition is diagnosed in childhood |
Insomnia | Due to regular attacks by bedbugs at night, people do not get enough sleep |
Stress | — Regular lack of sleep puts the body in a state of stress; - there is a need for psychological support |
Depression | — Often turns into prolonged stress; - requires the intervention of a psychiatrist due to danger to physical and mental health; - significantly worsens the patient’s quality of life |
Benefits of Heat Treatment
A machine can also help eliminate insects because it can quickly increase the air temperature. With street values of +35, the car often reaches +45°C, perhaps more. This temperature ensures rapid destruction of bedbugs, it will take about 30–45 minutes.
Still, hot steam has become very popular in killing insects. It is characterized by certain advantages and disadvantages, and allows you to process many items, including a mattress and blanket.
Positive qualities seem to be high environmental friendliness and naturalness. For processing use ordinary water. This is one of the available ways to kill parasites on blankets, pillows, and bedding. Thanks to steam, any size room can be treated quickly as it spreads quickly.
The disadvantages are the inability to process books, magazines, equipment, because it may stop working, and the steam does not penetrate deeply.
Preventive measures
Preventive measures include regular cleaning using special detergents, treating carpets and sofas with upholstery cleaning products, sealing cracks and holes in the floor and walls. Change bedding regularly and wash it immediately; experts do not recommend storing it, as pests can multiply. You should periodically look through carpets, wallpaper, furniture, and books. If bedbugs are found, immediately take measures to destroy them.
Let's summarize: the main places where bedbugs appear are upholstered furniture, cracks in walls and floors, and in wallpaper joints. Experts recommend making cosmetic repairs immediately and treating the walls and ceiling first. In this article we looked at the question “what can be added to wallpaper glue against bedbugs?” On the shelves of ordinary and specialized stores you can find many effective products that will help get rid of pests forever. When using an insecticide, you need to remember your own safety; after all, these are chemicals that can cause dizziness, headaches or an allergic reaction. The process of fighting bedbugs takes time, a lot of effort and some financial costs. Timely adoption of certain measures will save you from unnecessary hassle.
Safety rules for heat treatment
Do not direct steam at yourself or another person while the steam cleaner is on. This poses a risk of burns.
- If the room is treated using the freezing method, be sure to turn off the heating system and drain the water.
- You cannot treat fabric and surfaces with steam if the composition does not allow it (varnished and wooden furniture, wallpaper, synthetics).
- The steam generator should be set to 20-25 percent humidity, this will be enough.
- Plastic surfaces may be subject to deformation when treated with steam at 70 degrees.
Calling a service to exterminate insects can provide you with a professional fan heater.
The device will be installed in the room, the temperature will be set to 65 degrees, and bedbugs will stop bothering the owners forever. The action of the fan heater causes all insects to die, regardless of the stage of development. If the treatment of the room occurs in the hot season, you can take all things out into the open sun for some time, the parasites will die, and to confirm the effect, you need to wash and iron all possible things. If you have your own car, you can simply bring things that need processing into the cabin and close it; the temperature in a car parked in the open sun rises higher than it actually is. All insects that could be in things will die.
You can freeze things if you have a freezer, but you will have to keep your wardrobe there for at least 10 days.
In most cases, consumers turn to chemical treatments. This is the simplest and most accessible method. In addition, today there are chemicals on the market that do not harm people, plants, or animals. They are completely safe to use and continue to live in, do not damage furniture or things, and do not leave stains or marks.