Here is how to deal with mattress bed bugs.
Bed bugs quickly make the list of the most dreaded pest issues to deal with.
These tiny bugs can make your life a living hell, especially when you need rest. An infestation can happen when you least expect it.
Dealing with Bed Bugs on Mattress
While that is true, many can lead to infedeveloping infestations mere fact that you’re restless at night or wake up to severe itches and bite marks on your body is a sign that you may be dealing with an infestation.
You’ll need to investigate further, to be specific.
Having confirmed the problem, immediate treatment is necessary.
Now, your mattress is the ground zero of bed bug activity. This tends to be the most infested part of your home. Bed bugs navigate their way to your mattress because it gives them proximity to their food source, which is you.
To fight back, you’ll need to have your mattress thoroughly treated.
Symptoms of Bed Bugs in Mattress
Although bed bugs try as much as possible to feed undetected, you’ll still wake up to all kinds of symptoms. First off, you’re likely to have a rough or restless night.
Plus, you’ll find bite marks on your arms and shoulders. Waking up to severe itchiness around bite areas is another symptom; there’s also the likelihood of perceiving a solid musty odor.
Another sign of bed bug presence on the mattress includes rust-colored, reddish-brown blood stains. While there are other areas to look for signs of bed bug presence, we’re more interested in the mattress area.
So, with bed bugs confirmed, how do you get rid of such?
How to Kill Mattress Bed Bugs
It’s important to understand that bed bug issues can be challenging.
These pests can survive in an empty house without food for as long as 400 days without food (blood). This gives you an idea of how problematic an infestation can be.
When bed bugs are found on mattresses, the problem likely goes way beyond the mattress.
In other words, the infestation is likely to be widespread. You’ll have to look at other areas like furniture joints, seams between ceiling and wallpaper, as well as between couches.
Other possible hideouts include underneath loose wallpaper, inside electrical outlets, and beneath wall posters and paintings.
Bed bugs may also be found in baseboards and near box springs & mattress tags. To be safer, it’s best to perform comprehensive treatment of your home.
You have the choice of calling for professional help or handling things yourself. To begin, have the infestation contained as a preparatory step towards elimination.
Choose your treatment technique and apply it accordingly. Next, evaluate and take preventive steps.
i. Calling a Pro
Professional pest control companies offer pest solutions, including bed bug control.
Reputable companies should be preferred when searching for a service provider. Experienced technicians inspect your mattress and other areas of your home to determine the spread.
In most situations, these pros will likely recommend a broader treatment approach. That is because bed bugs are likely to be holed up in areas like those mentioned earlier.
Treating your mattress alone will do little to fix the problem.
After assessing your bed bug situation, these pros can recommend the best treatment plan. This always tends to be highly effective.
However, if you wish to handle your bed bug issues without professional help, as discussed below, there are ways to go about it,
ii. Preliminary Containment
As the title suggests, this involves containing or preparing the primary treatment.
It involves running your vacuuming machine over your mattress. This should be a painstaking process that carefully covers all parts of the bed, especially its seams.
The bed should also be vacuumed, including surrounding areas like the carpet(s), dresser, and electronics. Wall sockets will also need to be cleaned. Vacuuming helps pick up bed bugs and their eggs.
Having completed vacuuming, have the contents bagged up immediately and disposed of.
iii. Using Natural Bed Bug Spray
There’s a growing preference for natural bed bug treatment products instead of chemical products like many insecticides.
Natural bed bug sprays tend to have no adverse effects. While there are many, one of these sprays is made with vinegar and essential oils as ingredients.
Have your bedding removed and heat treated in the washer and dryer.
Now, have your mattress removed for effective treatment. Get a glass spray bottle and pour vinegar until it’s about complete. You’ll need to add some vinegar and shake until it mixes properly.
Now you have your natural pesticide. Has the entire surface of your mattress been sprayed? This also includes the box spring. Leave the bed to dry before use.
iv. Treatment Using Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth has also proven to be highly effective against bed bugs.
If you’ve used food-grade diatomaceous earth on other pests, this technique shouldn’t be entirely new. Evenly sprinkle this powder across your mattress, carpets, floor, and bed.
Allow sitting overnight before vacuuming all treated areas. Sometimes, a single treatment wouldn’t be enough. Consider repeating this treatment once each week for the best results.
v. Killing Bed Bugs with Insecticide
There are lots of insecticide products used for treating sundry household pest issues.
Carefully select the best brands and use them for your bed bug treatment. For such products, it’s best to follow the use instructions mostly found on the product label.
Of course, strict adherence to safety instructions is also paramount. That is because there’s some level of toxicity associated with such products.
By taking precautionary measures, you can maintain safety while eliminating bed bugs.
vi. Preventive Treatment
Getting rid of bed bugs comprehensively goes way beyond the actual treatment itself. Preventive action should be adopted to keep these bugs at bay.
Examples include using protective mattress covers, interceptors, and box spring encasement and carrying out periodic inspections.
These treatment methods discussed have proven effective in dealing with bed bug infestations on mattresses. With multiple options, you get to choose a treatment approach that best serves your needs.