Methods to Get Rid of Bedbugs and What Do They Look Like?

Bugs are small but nice. Adults are roughly 1/4 inch long so they’re definitely easy to spot … if you can find them. Bugs are cunning little creatures and hide in all sorts of places to avoid being spotted.

They have six legs and a flat, oval body that helps them get to their hiding spots quickly. And bed bugs don’t have wings, so they can’t fly 🙏. The error color can vary and range from white to brown. After feeding, they bounce and become more reddish in color.

Similar to Dracula, they only feed on blood and usually feast at night. They can survive long distances without feeding, sometimes longer than a month or two between meals (that’s you and your pets!).

Bed bugs can live for several months, and a female can lay up to 500 eggs during her lifetime. You can spot tiny, white oval eggs clinging to the surface they are lying on 🕵️‍♂️.

Baby bugs (also known as nymphs) are only about 1/16 of an inch tall. These not-so-cute people go through a molting process in the first 5 weeks of life, during which they peel off their skin several times before they reach adulthood.

Why do the bugs bite?

Bedbugs are not fans of light, so they usually feed at night. That makes people who sleep easy targets.

Bite reactions can vary. Some people feel nothing or an irritation that resembles a small mosquito bite. Others experience large, red, itchy welts that can take days or even weeks to go away.

On the plus side, bed bugs are not believed to transmit disease.

Bedbugs do not discriminate and can appear in even the cleanest of houses. But where do bedbugs come from? When visiting an infested location, they usually hitch a ride over items that they can easily hide in, including:

• clothes
• baggage
• used furniture
• Pet carrier

Once home, bed bugs can find their way into small cracks or crevices. You can even find your way to neighboring rooms or apartments (sorry, neighbors and roommates).

They can also reproduce quickly and increase their numbers before you even notice they are there.

Do you think you have a case of bed bugs? Here are some common signs:

• You will see real bed bugs (yes, this is super obvious, but super important too).
• You will see flaky skin or even eggs or eggshells.
• You will notice reddish stains on your mattress from bugs that have been crushed.
• You will find bedbug bites on your body.
• You will notice tiny dark spots also known as bug poop 💩.

Where to look for bedbugs:

• near the edges of your mattress and box spring
• between furniture cushions and joints
• in the cracks of your bed frame or headboard
• in sockets
• under all hanging wall decorations
• in or around baseboards
• under any loose wallpaper, even where the wallpaper meets the floor or ceiling
• in any seams or cracks where insects could burrow

Once you discover you have bed bugs, you’ll want to get them out as soon as possible. There are several steps you can take to get these errors started.

1. Start the wash cycle

Bedbugs hate high heat and temperatures of up to 46 ° C prevent these insects from being dead … in the truest sense of the word.

Wash your bedding (and clothes because you never know what these little pests are getting into) in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Then put them in the dryer on the hottest setting for another 30 minutes.

2. Remove it, repackage it, throw it away

Infested items that cannot be thrown directly into a hot wash cycle must be packed and sealed.

Use black trash bags for bedding, clothes, pillows, curtains, or anything plush (yes, that includes your favorite childhood teddy bear). Seal the bags tightly and leave them outside in the heat or in your garage.

In cooler seasons, it can take several months for bagged beetles to die. But bedbugs hate intense cold as much as they hate high heat. So if you’re in a place that has some arctic temperatures (we’re talking 32 ℉ (0 ℃) or less), you might die faster 🥶.

You can also put smaller bags in your freezer for at least 4 days. However, be sure to monitor the temperature inside the freezer.

When removing items from bags, be sure to reseal the bags and throw them away. Immediately wash the items in hot water.

3. Take the furniture apart for cleaning

It’s deconstruction time! Remove the drawers from all parts and take apart the bed frame, headboard and any other easily dismantled furniture. This will help you scrub all of those tiny nooks and crannies that bed bugs love to hide in.

4. Vacuum, scrub and steam!

On these bulkier items, start vacuuming to remove any visible bugs. Make sure you deflate the vacuum outside. You don’t want the bugs to crawl out of the trash again!

Then give them a good scrub. You can buy special detergents for this step. However, be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid any residue on products.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to throw your mattress, couch or carpet in the washing machine. Steam these areas with cleansing heat (remember, bed bugs hate high heat!). After cleaning, let them dry completely before using them again. Make sure to attack an upholstered headboard or bed frame as well.

5. Cover the mattress

For your mattress (and box spring!) It is a good idea to use a mattress cover once these are clean. This will help keep remaining bedbugs and new bedbugs out.

If your mattress is badly infested and the bugs just won’t leave, it may be time to throw it away. Be careful how you dispose of your mattress so you don’t share your bedbugs with an unsuspecting stranger!

6. Sealing and sealing things

Bedbugs love to hide in cracks or crevices that they can find.

Look for cracks or gaps in your walls or baseboards, especially in the most infested areas. Use caulk or other sealant to seal these spots and keep bugs from going in and out (this helps keep more than just bugs out!).

7. Kill them with chemicals

The only way to really get rid of bedbugs for good is through murder. (We know it went from 0 to 60 very quickly). While there are non-chemical options, insecticides are often a more effective option.

Be careful when handling chemical treatments like insecticides. Wear gloves, a gas-approved face mask, and work in a well-ventilated area. Read and follow all directions on the product label carefully to get the most out of (and safest!)

The general options available include:

• Pyrethrins and pyrethroids. The most common pesticide used to treat bedbugs, pyrethrins and pyrethroids attacks the insect’s nervous system. However, some bedbugs have developed resistance to these chemicals.
• Pyrroles. These pesticides, which include chlorfenapyr, destroy the bedbugs’ cells to kill them. While it is slow to act, it is efficient and bed bugs have built up no resistance to it.
• Neonicotinoids. This artificial version of nicotine damages bedbugs’ nervous systems. It is very effective even on defects that have become resistant to other chemical options.
• Desiccant. Although slow acting, this substance is effective. It attacks the outer coating of bed bugs, and once the coating is destroyed, the bugs dry up and die. Desiccants have low toxicity to humans and certain pets, which also makes them a great preventative option.
• Smoke machines or insect bombs. Fog machines and insect bombs can be toxic if not used properly. They should therefore be left to the professionals. While they can potentially kill bedbugs, they don’t reach every nook and cranny they hide in.
• Oil-based plant products: Look for products like EcoRaider and Bed Bug Patrol for less toxic options. These work to kill bedbugs with fewer (but still some!) Harsh chemicals.

When choosing a treatment, look for an EPA registered product for bedbugs.

8. Monitor the situation

Bedbugs don’t give up that easily. Check the infested areas weekly for signs that they have returned (or never left). You can also use bug catchers to catch any remaining bugs. Just put them under the legs of your bed and check them often.

Even if it looks like your buggy buds have disappeared, it is best to continue monitoring for up to 1 year. It takes time to get rid of them completely.

You may need to try different treatment modalities in order to find the correct way to finally boot from bedbugs. But if you’ve tried everything to no avail, it may be time to call for reinforcements.