A bed bug infestation can occur on any homestead. Once they land in your house they will feed on the blood and sweat that you produce. Contrary to what most people believe, bed bugs are not associated with dirt. This means that no matter how clean you keep your home, these insects can still find their way to you.

There has been a resurgence of bed bugs leading to much researches on the proper ways to get rid of the bed bugs. Bed bugs are small in size but are visible to the human eye. They are oval-shaped, brown in color, and cannot fly or jump.

Bed bugs crawl out of their hiding at night to feed. They feed on human blood resulting in bed bug bites. Bed bugs do not cause diseases but some people react badly to the bites.

Signs of bed bugs

The natural way would be to catch them crawling under your sheets, there other different signs of a bed bug infestation to look out for.

• Bites on the skin
• Musty smell on your bed or sheets
• Blood spots on your sheets from accidentally squishing a bug while asleep
• Black spots on your bedsheets (bug feces)

If you see any of the mentioned signs then it might be an indication that you have been infested and you should try the eradication methods we are discussing below.

How do you prepare for bed bug treatment?

• Remove all clutter

Bed bugs are not only found in the bed and in sheets. They could be hiding on clothes, closets, boxes, laundry baskets. You need to get rid of all clutter before you treat bed bugs. You can also try some DIY methods to get rid of bed bugs.

• Wash items that could be infested

Clean anything that could have bed bugs.  Cleaning will kill the bed bugs. Ensure that all your clothing and sheets are treated and thoroughly cleaned. Examine the furniture in your bedroom for any signs of bed bugs.  Vacuum the whole room and keep the cleaned items in sealed plastic bags.

• Keep your bed clean

Bed bugs do not always reside in the mattresses, they however are often found in mattresses and proper measures should be taken. Try moving your bed further from the wall as this will make an infestation less more likely.

• Vacuum the affected area

Before treatment make sure that the whole affected area is thoroughly vacuumed. Do not only concentrate on the bed and mattress only. Vacuum the slats and headboard too.

Natural remedies for bed bugs

• Use of Diatomaceous Earth

This is often considered the best natural bed bug treatment. It is cheap and very easy to use. Its powdery nature means that it can be sprinkled everywhere. The only problem with this is that it takes longer to work. Directions of use: apply the Diatomaceous Earth to the area and let it sit for a few days, you will gradually start to sport dead bugs.

• Use bicarbonate soda

Baking soda can be used to effectively kill bed bugs. It is thought that bicarbonate soda works by dehydrating the skin of the bed bugs. This is also a cheap alternative and it works well. The downside to this is that you need to repeat the regular application and sprinkling to effectively banish them.

• Use of tea tree

If your home is constantly under threat from pests then tea tree essential oil can come to your rescue. Tea tree is effective in not only getting rid of the bugs but also masks the human scent that attracts the bed bugs.  Coupled with the fact that it is easy to get, makes it a cheap effective solution.  You need to dilute approximately 20ml of water and spray the affected areas.

• Use of borax

This is also another natural quick way of treating bed bugs. Sprinkled borax on mattresses mixed with a little water will suffocate the bugs. It is also useful especially when washing the affected beddings and items.

• Vinegar

Vinegar has a strong smell that can effectively keep the bed bugs away. Most of us have vinegar in our homes. This should be your emergency go-to solution. Vinegar will kill bed bugs; however, it is not effective in eradicating the eggs. Apply the vinegar at the edge of the affected areas and directly on the bugs if you can see them.