Bed Bug Patrol Natural Treatment

Bed bugs, "They're Baaayack!" All my life I had heard of bed bugs. But I had no idea what one was or looked like until recently. Do you?

A relative's home became infested with them recently. And suddenly, there they were. These little dark bugs of various sizes hiding in all kinds of places, on the couch, bed, clothing, drapes! Creepy little things.

What? Where? When? How?

At first we thought it had to do with housekeeping problems. But we discovered that had nothing to do with bed bug outbreaks. Any home can be invaded by these pests and do you want to know why?

Bed bugs are introduced via innocent transportation. Today, bed bugs are more prevalent because of the extreme amounts of traveling we do in modern times. It's as simple as that. They hitch rides in and on things such as in clothing, luggage, used furniture, and contact made from bedding at hotels, travel lodges and the like. As a result, we can all become victims and face an epidemic of these little hitchhiking parasites.

Are you aware bed bugs have become somewhat resistant to certain older methods which were used in controlling their numbers effectively?

Now that they are back and in epidemic proportions, just what do we do to get rid of these little vampires dressed in bugs clothing?

Well one of the first things not to do is "BOMB" the area. Using bug bombs will make the situation worse. These little pests will "flee" the area (pun intended) and move to other areas of the house. Keeping them contained is the best thing. There are many methods both old and new that will permit a successful campaign to eradicate them. But isolation is very important.

Various bug sprays have a good effect but remember these bugs are tough and prolific. They can stand freezing and come back. They procreate fast so you may see generations of them in a short span of time. So, what do I do?

• Usually treatment starts with the bedding. Mattress, box spring, blankets, sheets, pillow cases, all need to be cleaned in the hottest temperatures possible. Using a hot steam steamer meant for killing bed bugs is a great method of dealing with the mattress and box spring.
• Next place some double sided sticky tape around the legs of any furniture that is invested.
• Keep blankets from touching the floor.
• Furniture must be inspected inside and out.
• Closet spaces must be examined. Baseboards, wall outlets, all are places these bugs take refuse.
• A successful war on these bugs will have to keep the area cleaned by vacuuming frequently. I suggest spraying the nozzle of the sweeper with the bug spray as well.
• Seek products that are safe and non-toxic. Don't just rely on harsh chemicals.