I've been fortunate enough not to have these horrid little parasites in my home, but considering that bed bugs are making a comeback here in the United States, it might serve you well to learn how to prevent an infestation or remove them if you do find them in your home. So, here is some advice about how to get rid of bed bugs in your home.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Quickly
Even if it's not quick, preventing an infestation is the best way to get rid of bed bugs. If you think you're being bitten (usually identified by rows of welts that appear during the night) it's best to do a sweep of your home for these pests. Furniture, luggage, bedding and clothes hampers are probably the first places you'll want to look. They're small, but if you need help identifying them, here is a picture of a bed bug.
Get rid of bed bugs by inspecting dwellings that are commonly used. Places like dorms, apartments, motels, hotels, and especially used furniture departments. If you're traveling or you've just recently purchased some used furniture, it's a very good idea to do a thorough inspection for any mature bed bugs, bed bug husks, or their eggs. According to the Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, "tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses" are the first places you should look.
Blood stains and dark spots on bedding from the insect's fecal matter are a sure sign of a bed bug infestation. The reason blood stains happen is either because you've rolled over and crushed an adult full of blood, or the anticoagulant they've injected worked well enough that you continued to bleed after the bed bug has fed. If you see anything like blood, or even empty skins (from molting) around your bed, chances are you have an infestation.
After confirming an infestation it is time to get rid of the bed bugs by sanitizing the affected areas. If you can spare money for another mattress it would be a good idea to throw your old one out. If you can't afford another mattress, vacuuming the mattress and applying a sealable cover should be sufficient. Meanwhile, all clothes, linens, and bedding should be washed in hot water, and the immediate area vacuumed thoroughly.
Insecticides are not an option to get rid of bed bugs, because insecticides should never be applied to an area where you sleep. Sticky traps, like those used for mice, are a good way to capture rogues that have managed to escape your domestic exorcism. Some insecticides like Boric Acid might be used in areas around the mattress, but never on the mattress itself.
Bed Bug Poisons and Sprays
There are treatments and sprays available from several vendors online, but if you have an infestation that you think you cannot handle on your own, we recommend contacting a professional extermination service that can specifically address the issue. The sprays available online may or may not be able to be used on mattresses. It should be noted that any spray you use on a mattress should be explicitly noted in the directions on the bottle. If there is no guarantee from the manufacturer that you are not putting yourself in danger by applying their pest control agent to your mattress, it's best not to use it.
