Bed bugs are a nightmare. They are notoriously difficult to get rid of and can be found in any home. Your mattress is one of their favorite places to live, and it’s important to eliminate them before it spread throughout your house. This guide will give you some tips on how to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress in your own home.
What are Bed Bugs?
If you live in the United States, chances are good that you have encountered bed bugs. Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on human blood. Bed bugs are small, flat and oval in shape. They have their name from the fact that they prefer to live in beds and mattresses. They can be found in cracks and crevices of beds, box springs, and other furniture. Even though they look like ticks or fleas, they are not known to transmit any diseases. The growing problem of bed bug infestations is due to several factors including increased international travel, higher populations per dwelling unit, and greater resistance among their hosts (humans).
Where do Bed Bugs come from?
Bed bugs are small, oval, brown insects that feed on the blood of animals or humans. They have five immature nymph stages and a final adult stage. Bed bug eggs are white when first laid, but they turn rusty red after hatching.
Bed bug infestations occur around the world wherever people reside or visit. They can be found in homes, apartments, hotels, and motels; hospitals and nursing homes; colleges dormitories; offices; trains and buses; movie theaters where they hide in cracks in upholstery (cushions) on theater seats as well as behind frames of paintings on the walls or between picture frames hanging on walls behind sofas/chairs where people sit down to watch movies/TV shows).
What are the signs of infestation?
If you think that you have bed bugs in your mattress, there are a few things to look for. The first sign is the bites themselves. Bed bug bites look like multiple red dots in a line or grouped together in a small area, usually on your arms or legs. They can also appear on other parts of your body, but these are rare cases where the bugs got inside clothing and bit through it to reach the skin.
Other indications include dark spots on your mattress (bed bugs are attracted to dark colors), small brownish bugs that scurry away when disturbed, and excessive itching at night (the insects tend to be nocturnal). If you notice any of these symptoms in addition to the bites themselves within a week’s time then it’s likely that you have bed bugs.
Tips to get rid of Bed Bugs in a mattress
Wash bedding items
The most important thing to remember when washing your mattress bedding is that you must wash everything in hot water and dry it on high heat. If you don’t have access to a dryer, hang your items out in the sun to kill any bed bugs that may be hiding in them. After washing, place your sheets and blankets into the driest setting possible for at least 20 minutes to ensure they are completely dried before storing them away again.
Vacuum the bed
Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean the bed. This is important because you’ll be trying to collect any bed bugs that may be hiding in the crevices of your mattress, and you won’t want them escaping into the air. Make sure to thoroughly clean out your vacuum after use, as well.
Use a crevice tool to obtain into small spaces. If there are any small spaces between the seams or corners of your mattress that you can’t see with regular vacuuming, use a crevice tool to try and reach these areas.
Steam cleaning on bedding
To truly kill bed bugs and eggs, you’ll want to use a steam cleaner with a temperature of at least 130 degrees F. The right kind of steam cleaner will also be able to penetrate the fabric of your mattress, which is crucial for killing bed bugs inside the top layers of your mattress.
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the mattress and all its associated parts, place it in an enclosed zippered bag or plastic storage container until it can be safely brought outside. You may want to place some newspaper or other absorbent material into this container as well so that any moisture left behind by the steamer can evaporate before you take out your clean mattress again.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made up of the fossilized remains of tiny single-celled organisms called diatoms. These fossils are crushed into fine dust and used as an insecticide, pesticides, and fungicides.
Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to humans and pets but is toxic to insects. Although you can buy DE in many forms (granules, powder), it’s most commonly found in shaker bottles that are designed to spray particles onto your mattress or furniture.
You can dust your mattress with DE by shaking it on all sides of the bed frame and then letting it sit for about 10 minutes before vacuuming up any excess moisture or crumbs that may have been disturbed during application.
Use chemical treatment
To get rid of bed bugs in a mattress, it’s important to use chemical treatment. There are several different kinds of pesticides that can be used on beds and around the house. Make sure that the pesticide you plan to use is safe for use on mattresses and follow all directions on the label. Do not mix two or more pesticides at once as they may create hazardous fumes, as well as harm any nearby pets or children. Keep away from people who have asthma or similar conditions when using pesticides indoors; if someone in your home has asthma, keep an eye out for any signs of an attack after spraying chemicals inside your home (such as wheezing).
Also Read: How To Get Rid of Bugs In The Kitchen
Apply Baking Soda
One of the most effective ways to get rid of bed bugs is to apply baking soda. Baking soda is a natural insecticide that can kill bed bugs and their eggs. It also has no odor or chemicals, making it an ideal option for those who want to avoid chemical pesticides.
Baking soda is safe for humans and pets, although some people may experience irritation if they come into direct contact with large amounts of baking soda on their skin. When mixed with water, baking soda forms an acidic solution that can kill bed bugs and their eggs quickly without posing a threat to you or your family members.
Making use of Silica Gel
Let’s talk about how to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress using silica gel. Silica gel is moisture absorbent, so it can be used to remove excess moisture from beds.
First, place the silica gel in a sealable plastic bag and set it near your mattress for at least 24 hours. The bed bugs will be attracted to the high moisture level of the silica gel, which will kill them when they come into contact with it. Remove the bag after this period has elapsed, dispose of it outside of your home (it’s not safe for you or anyone else), and vacuum up any dead bed bugs that remain on your mattress.
Use an encasement
A bed bug encasement is a great way to protect your mattress from bed bugs. Encasements are available for all sizes of mattresses and keep the bugs out. They’re also easy to install, which makes them the best option for protecting your mattress against infestations.
Encasements work by creating a barrier between you and the bed bugs hiding inside your mattress. This barrier prevents any bed bug from getting into contact with you or biting you while they’re hiding on or under your sheets in your home.
Peppermint leaves
Peppermint is a common household plant that can be used to repel insects. Natural insect repellent and non-toxic, peppermint leaves can be crushed and used as an all-natural pest control spray or powder, applied directly to the mattress or surrounding area to keep bed bugs away. In fact, peppermint leaves are often used in tea blends meant to help you sleep better at night.
Black Walnut Tea
Black Walnut Tea is a natural remedy that can help to get rid of bed bugs. It has been used for centuries as an insect repellent and natural pesticide. The tea is made from the hulls of black walnuts, which contain a chemical called juglone. This chemical is used by plants to ward off insects. When applied directly to human skin, it will kill any insect that comes into contact with it.
This ability makes black walnut tea an excellent option for keeping bed bugs at bay when you’re trying to get rid of them in your mattress or other furniture items like couches or chairs.
Conclusion
In short, if you’re dealing with bed bugs and want to get rid of them for good, there are a number of things that you can do. However, before trying any of these methods, be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them strictly. For example, if the directions say “leave in sun for two days before washing in cold water only” then don’t wash your clothes outside in hot sunshine or use hot water on them. Also, make sure not to dry clean items exposed to bed bugs because they will spread throughout the cleaning facility.
