Bed bugs are nasty little parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals including humans and their common name comes from their love of nesting in places where people sleep. An infestation is something that nobody wants to live with and the truth is, finding an effective way to kill bed bugs can be difficult at best.

Though they are hard to find, they can be seen with the naked eye if you know what you are looking for. Their flat bodies are ovals and they can effectively stuff themselves into the smallest of crevices and cracks. Dark spots found on the bed linens are signs that you may have an infestation of these nasty insects.

The infested area will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Remove the bedding, clothes and throw rugs from the room and clean them as usual. Use hot water and put the dryer setting at the highest level.

Meanwhile, vacuum all sides of the mattress and seal it in plastic wrap. Lay mattress out in the sun for as long as you can. Rent a steam cleaner and use it on the curtains and carpet. The perimeter of the rug needs to be vacuumed as well as the edges of every piece of furniture in the room. Dislodge any eggs by scrubbing any hard surfaces with a stiff brush.

Purchase an insecticide made specifically to control them and, only after you have read the instructions, spray along the baseboards and in crevices where bed bugs may be hiding. Do not use any kind of pesticide on the mattress or any other surface that humans may come in direct contact with.

Use a pesticide that has been specifically developed to deal with this pest. Carefully read the instructions and spray it around the edges of the room especially in the crease between the baseboard and the carpet. Do not let the spray get on anything that has a chance of making contact with the skin.

Three of the common insect killers used are contact insecticides, insect growth inhibitors and insecticidal dust. As the name suggests, the first type kills the bugs when they come in contact with it but it some instances, they become immune. Growth inhibitors go after bugs that have just hatched in addition to eggs to control the population. These are effective but work slowly. Insecticidal dust is the most potent of the three but it is also poisonous to humans.

Even after you have done all this, you may still find some insects. If this is the case, it is time to call an exterminator. A qualified professional will have access to stronger chemicals and the expertise to use them properly. Several treatments may be necessary if the infestation is severe.

If you are plagued with an infestation of this tiny creature, you want to find a product that will not only prevent bed bugs but will kill bed bugs. At the same time, the treatment cannot be harmful to humans or pets.

Tags: bed bugs, get rid of bed bugs, kill bed bugs, prevent bed bugs

This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 9:24 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.