There are more than 900,000 species of insects in the world. That’s not too surprising, given that they’ve been around for hundreds of millions of years!
The good news is that most of these critters are harmless. With that said, there are some that are considered to be pests, such as mosquitos.
Bed bugs are another example. While they’re not known to spread disease, their presence can be an annoyance.
Want to know what kills bed bugs? Need some tips? If so, be sure to read the rest of the post!
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that bite on humans and animals to feed on their blood. The size of an apple seed, they tend to lurk in crevices and cracks. In some cases, they can also be found behind baseboards and wallpaper.
While they can’t fly, they can easily spread by crawling on clothing, furniture, or bedding.
What Kills Bed Bugs? 4 Things That You Should Do
These critters are notoriously difficult to deal with. With that said, it is possible to eliminate them as long as you take the proper steps. Here’s a short guide on how to get rid of bed bugs.
- Cut Down on Clutter
First things first, you want to reduce hiding spots by cutting down on clutter. The cleaner your house, the easier it will be to identify and eliminate the bugs.
Consider throwing away anything unneeded such as old newspapers and magazines. Generally speaking, you don’t want anything to be on the floor.
- Clean the Infested Space
Wash all clothing and bedding with hot water; the heat will kill off any bed bugs. Consider placing the items in a sealed plastic bag when you’re transporting them between rooms.
It’s also important that you wash and vacuum the floors. When you’re done, double-bag the vacuum bag and place it in a bin outside.
- Treat the Room With an Insecticide
The next step is to treat the room with a concentrated insecticide. You’ll want to use something that’s specifically formulated for bed bugs. Depending on the product, you may have to mix it first.
Once you’ve done that, spray it onto the corners, baseboards, and around doors and windows. Pay extra attention to furniture legs, and wall-to-wall carpets.
- Apply Bed Bug Powder
Apply bed bug powder after spraying the infested areas with insecticide. Also known as diatomaceous earth, the fine powder will kill the bugs by clinging onto their exoskeleton and causing them to dehydrate.
Note: It can take a day or two for the powder to kill the bed bugs after they come into contact with it.
Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Hopefully, that answers the question of, “what kills bed bugs.” As you can see, there are several steps that you want to take!
For more posts like this, check out the rest of our website!