How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

Learning how to get rid of bedbugs will help keep you and your family from painful infestations. The common bedbug (Cimex lectularius) is normally found in northern climates. The bedbug can slip into tiny cracks and crevices and live for up to a year without feeding. This means that getting rid of bedbugs requires patience and persistence.

How To Get Rid Of Bedbugs Like A Pro

Before you can get rid of bedbugs, you need to identify and locate them. Since bedbugs are excellent hiders and only come out at night to feed, the first indication you may have is bites on you or a family member. Bedbug bites appear as red, round welts, often in lines or arcs. You may also notice tiny black or rust colored stains on mattresses or fabric.

Once you've determined that you have bed bugs, getting rid of them will be an ongoing battle. Here are the steps you'll need to take:

• Start with the bed. Wrap the mattress in black plastic and remove it from the house. Set the mattress out side in the sun while you inspect and clean the rest of the room. If your mattress has bedbugs, several hours of extreme heat (120-degrees) will kill any bugs present.
• Wash in hot water. All bedding, curtains and clothing should be washed and dried using the hottest settings that won't ruin the fabric.
• Dismantle and inspect. Starting with the bed frame, dismantle the furniture in the room as completely as possible. Inspect each part for bedbug nesting sites and clean and remove as many as you can. Be sure to remove all drawers from dressers and, if possible, turn over all furniture and inspect and clean the undersides. Remove all furniture from the room.
• Clean the room. Thoroughly clean the room, including baseboards and door and window trim. Vacuum and steam clean carpeting. When vacuuming, pay strict attention to seams and edges of carpet. When you're done, seal the vacuum bag in plastic and dispose of it immediately.
• Seal it up. If you intend to keep the mattress, place it in a sealed, bedbug certified mattress cover. Sprinkle some Borax into the mattress cover before you close it up, and leave the cover closed for at least a year to ensure the death of any bugs or eggs left inside.
• Inspect frequently. Continue to monitor the infected room on a regular basis, being sure to inspect folds in upholstery and the underside and crevices of all furniture in the room. Be patient, it may take some time to get rid of all of the bedbugs.