I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on how to get rid of bed bugs. I’m trying to learn all the different methods so that I can find the one that I’m comfortable with and that will get the job done. I don’t want to use a lot of dangerous chemicals that could hurt my two girls, but I don’t want to try a bunch of half-baked solutions that don’t really work, either.
I came across some natural solutions that sound intriguing. We try to live sustainably and “be green” here in the house, so I first investigated natural methods to get rid of bed bugs.
- Heat. Even if you use a professional exterminator, you are going to be supplementing his pesticides with heat. You’re always advised to steam clean everything in a room with bed bugs, including clothing, bookcases, rugs – well, pretty much anything with a surface for the bugs to live on. Heat is going to be a part of your efforts no matter what, but the more I read, the more it became apparent that heat can’t do the job all on its own. You must combine using heat with other bed bug extermination methods.
- Cold. Bed bugs can be frozen out, in a manner of speaking. Temperatures below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) will kill bed bugs, but not instantly. If you have a room infested with bed bugs, you could choose to put your mattress, pillows, and box spring in a low temperature environment for about 2 weeks. For most people, this is a tall order, but it is a natural solution that will work. You still would need to treat the rest of the room in some other method, unless you can seal off the room and open the window during cold weather for an extended period of time. This method seems impractical for many people, but it is a way to kill bed bugs.
- Dogs. I actually learned about this one from one of my girls, who was watching a TV episode on the home and garden channel about a couple trying to get rid of bed bugs! Dogs can be trained to sniff out bed bugs, so you can target the specific location where they’re living. The only problem with this method is that bugs could get missed if the dog trainer isn’t very careful with handling the dog. However, you can hire a trainer and dog to come out and sniff after other treatment methods are used to ensure that all traces of bed bugs are gone.
But your approach to bed bugs should always begin with prevention, and the #1 preventative strategy is mattress protectors. I like the selection at Bed Bug Supply. They KNOW bed bugs!
