Many people are afraid of bed bugs. The presence of these insects is not always a sign of poor cleanliness of a place; Bed bug infestations are even found in some five-star hotels. Sometimes bed bugs are difficult to spot because they hide between mattresses, bed springs, or bed backs. In addition to their size and shape that can fool the human eye, bed bugs also only come out to find food at night. However, nowadays, there are several easy ways that can be done to identify the presence and infestation of bed bugs.
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Part 1 of 3: Identifying Signs of Bed Bugs
Step 1. Check your mattress
Bed bugs often migrate and nest in mattresses, bedding, mattress frames, and headboards. The body is oval in shape, small in size, and red-brown in color. Bed bugs feed on animal and human blood. Check the edges of the mattress, the folds of the sheets, and the pillowcases. If you find clusters of small insect colonies ranging from eggs (approximately 1 mm in size) to adults (5 mm, approximately the size of an apple seed), there is a possibility that an infestation has occurred. While most bed bugs are black, some are white and about the same size as a pinhead.
- Bed bugs don't always clump together. Sometimes, these insects can spread evenly throughout the bed. Therefore, use a magnifying glass to examine the edges of mattresses and sheets.
- Use a flashlight if the lighting in your room is insufficient. Lift and light the flashlight about 15 cm above the mat so that it can illuminate the surface more effectively.
- Although bed bugs cannot fly, they move fairly quickly on many surfaces such as ceilings, walls, and fabrics. If the bugs you find on your mat have wings or can fly, they are not bed bugs.
Step 2. Look for blood-red spots or the digestive tract of bed bugs on the surface of the sheets and/or mattresses
Each day, bed bugs spend three to ten minutes eating. Small blood spots can drip onto the sheets from a fresh wound (bed bugs use anti-clotting agents when they bite), while larger blood spots are often caused by a tick that has sucked too much blood into it and becomes swollen. shattered by the pressure from within his own body. The digestive remains of bed bugs will appear as black spots about the size of ink droplets. The bed bug's food is blood, and when the digested remains of blood are removed by it, the blood cells dry out and turn black in color.
- Often, bed bugs will dispose of their digestive waste directly in the same location where they eat. Examples of such places are the edges of the mattress, folds in the sheets, and small gaps in the back of the bed.
- Use a magnifying glass if the digestive tract of bed bugs appears to be spread over a large area instead of concentrated in one place. Gently rub your hand over the area to check for anything stuck.
- Approach any area you suspect is a breeding ground for bed bugs. Touch your hand near the area. After that, kiss the surface of the skin of your hands. The digestive remains of bed bugs have a damp smell.
Step 3. Look for the presence or absence of egg shells and shell remnants
Like most insects, bed bugs must undergo a process of mating, reproduction, and molting. After mating, bed bugs can produce hundreds of children who will then grow quickly and leave large amounts of their old skin behind.
- Check the edges of the mattress, creases in the sheets, and small cracks in the back of the bed. Look for clusters of small white larvae (1 mm, equal to the size of the tip of the needle). In addition, also check whether or not there are remnants of old skin that are clear, tan, or dark brown.
- Due to the very small size of the larvae and the see-through remains of the exoskeleton, you may want to use a magnifying glass to locate them. Touch the surface of the mat to check for any stuck or tucked skin remnants.
- The presence of brown, black, or red spots on the surface of your bed is a sign that some bed bugs may have squashed and died during the night.
Step 4. Check the headboard and spring base
Both of these areas, although not a feeding ground for bed bugs, are locations that are often used to hide after eating, living, and reproducing. Cracks in wood and creases in fabric are perfect reproduction sites for bed bugs and should be carefully examined.
- Dust off the underside of your mattress. Check for cracks and crevices in the wood frame. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight. Look for black dots that could be bed bugs or white spots that could be their larvae.
- Remove the layer of fabric that is attached to the mattress frame. Check the creases and both sides of the surface.
- Given that bed bugs like to hide and breed in the joints of wood frames, or wood surfaces that have cracked due to age and age, be sure to check these places as well.
Step 5. Check the things around your bed
Bed bugs love to hide in small crevices where they can reproduce. Examples of objects that could be hiding places are books, bedside tables, telephones, radios, and even power plugs.
- Open the books that are near the bed and examine each page. Make sure there are no black or red spots on the surface.
- Pick up your radio and phone. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight to examine the wood around the nail on the bedside table.
- Unplug your power plug. Before doing so, don't forget to turn off the electricity first. Use a flashlight and look for signs of bed bugs such as digestive debris, old exoskeletons, or live lice.
Step 6. Check the edges of the carpet
Certain types of floor coverings such as carpet (tight or loose) or linoleum are common places bed bugs hide. Both are also suitable hiding places for bed bugs to reproduce. Without damaging your carpet or linoleum, lift the edges. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight to detect bed bugs, skin debris, or droppings. Do the same for the wooden floor, especially at the meeting point between the wood panels and the floor.
Step 7. Check your wardrobe and clothes
Bed bugs often hide in the fabric of clothes and pants, especially if the clothes haven't been washed in a long time. The inside of the closet also provides hiding place, warmth, and easy access to your bed.
- Open the closet and check your clothes. Feel the fabric, see if there are any black spots that start to appear when you apply pressure to the surface.
- You can also do the same with the clothes in the drawer. Rub your hands on the cloth. Examine the panel gaps on the inside of the drawer with a flashlight and a magnifying glass.
Step 8. Check for any loose and/or loose paper or wall paint
Both are often inhabited by bed bugs because their location is quite hidden and close to your bed. If you don't find bed bugs in both places right away, peel off some of your paint and/or wallpaper. Look for the presence or absence of small white larvae using a magnifying glass. You may also find black spots as you peel off the paint and/or wallpaper.
Step 9. Check for bite marks on your skin
Generally, bed bugs come out of their hiding places at night to bite human flesh and consume blood. Although bite marks are often mistaken for mosquito bites, in reality, they are very different.
- Check your ankles or feet in the morning. Bed bugs often attack areas of skin that are exposed at night, such as the soles or ankles. However, the bite marks can also be found on various other parts of your body.
- Observe the presence or absence of bite marks when you wake up in the morning. Bed bugs usually bite in a straight line three times, very different from mosquitoes which usually only bite once. Bed bug bites will appear as a series of small red spots.
- At first, the bite marks will not be felt at all. If you notice that, after a few days, the bite marks start to itch, then bed bugs are most likely the culprit. The itching and swelling that occurs can last up to nine days.
Step 10. Call a professional exterminator
Sometimes bed bugs are very hard to find. Therefore, you can contact a flea control expert for an examination. After that, you will be able to get a definite answer from him.
Part 2 of 3: Getting Rid of Bed Bugs in the House
Step 1. Wash your sheets and blankets
This is the quickest and easiest way to get rid of these insects. Since bed bugs don't survive very long in temperatures that are too hot, you can wash and dry your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets to kill them.
- Soak the sheets in warm water in the washing machine. First, check the label on your sheets to see if the fabric is hot water washable or not.
- When you're done washing it, put it straight into the dryer and use the highest temperature.
- The same can be done for your clothes. However, you have to be extra careful because clothes have a tendency to shrivel in hot water and the drying temperature is too high.
- For items that cannot be washed, put them in the dryer and set the highest temperature for thirty minutes.
Step 2. Place the sheets on your mattress as tightly as possible
For your mattress, keep the sheets as tight as possible to prevent bed bugs from getting in between the mattress, the folds of the sheets, and the springs. This will also make it easier to get rid of bed bugs because you will only have to put the sheets in the washing machine.
Step 3. Attach plastic cups to the legs of the bed
Buy four plastic cups and attach them to the four legs of your bed. This will prevent bed bugs from crawling up onto the mattress from the closet or carpet in the room.
Step 4. Remove unused items from around your bed
Given that items in your bedroom can be a hiding place for bed bugs, clean the area around your bed. This will eliminate hiding places for bed bugs and make your room cleaner.
- Stack the scattered books and place them on the shelves or as far from the bed as possible.
- Fold clean clothes neatly and place them as far away from the bed as possible. Hang it in the wardrobe or store it in a drawer.
- Make sure the bedside table is neat and clean. Remove all trash, cups, plates, utensils, handkerchiefs, tissues, and other distracting items from the table. Clean the surface with a damp cloth or use a cleaning spray.
Step 5. Vacuum around the bed regularly
Most of the time, bed bugs hide and move around using carpets. Make sure your vacuum is strong enough to suck up any items that may be tucked deep into the carpet.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with cyclone technology or four suction chambers.
- Vacuum regularly-once per day or week-to prevent bed bug infestations.
Step 6. Close all the small gaps in the room
Bed bugs often breed and hide in crevices in furniture, bedposts, and headboards. Use putty, plaster, or eco-friendly wood glue to seal the gaps.
Step 7. Purchase a portable heating device for your room
Look for a tool that can be carried or placed easily on the floor of the room. Since bed bugs don't tolerate extreme temperatures, a heater will kill them.
- When using a standing heater in the room, set the temperature to 27-29ºC. Close the bedroom door while the appliance is working. Don't forget to check the room regularly to make sure there's no fire due to overheating.
- When using a portable heater, point the heating part at a surface that appears to be infested with bed bugs. Do not touch the part directly because the temperature is very high.
- Once you've used the heater, remove the dead bed bugs from the room. Use a vacuum cleaner on carpets, wipe wooden furniture surfaces, and wash your sheets.
Step 8. Discard the mattress or furniture
This is the last option that can be done. If the flea infestation on both is too large, throw away your mattress or furniture.
- Remove your mattress as far from the house as possible. You can put it at a garbage collection point or take it directly to a landfill. Do the same with furniture that has been infested with bed bugs.
- Bed bugs can often be found on used mattresses or furniture. If the mattress or furniture you have is a used product, you should replace it with a new one. Used mattresses or furniture are often inhabited by bed bugs and can become a breeding ground for new bed bugs in the future.
Step 9. Use a chemical-safe exterminator on your bed and the area around it
There are many bed bug control chemicals that can be purchased in stores. Look for materials that are safe to use, especially those that are available in a spray bottle.
- Spray the chemical on the bed bug infested surface. Leave it for a few minutes.
- You can also buy some chemicals like those used by expert exterminators and can be left in a room to get rid of bed bugs.
- After using the chemical, clean the sprayed surface with a damp cloth or tissue. Dispose of the cloth or tissue as soon as possible because the cloth may already contain these chemicals and the carcass/dirt/skin of bed bugs.
Step 10. Call a flea control expert
Instead of using chemicals that can cause health problems, you should contact a professional exterminator. You will be able to get better documentation of infestations and chemical removal solutions.
Part 3 of 3: Coping With Bed Fleas Outside the Home
Step 1. Check your temporary residence
From apartments, dorms, cruise ships, hotels, to homeless shelters, always check for bed bugs and dirt or skin marks in your temporary residence. Keep in mind that even the best five-star hotels experience bed bug infestations.
- Use a magnifying glass and flashlight. Check mattresses, sheets, headboards, carpets, closets, and any other places you think could be hiding places for bed bugs. In addition to the bed bugs themselves, also check for traces of dirt and/or remnants of the outer skin.
- Contact the landlord if you find anything suspicious. Homeowners will immediately call an exterminator who can clean and deal with the bed bug infestation.
Step 2. Check your luggage after traveling
After you come back from vacation, check your luggage. Perhaps, there are some bed bugs that have hitched a ride in your bag from hotels, cruise ships, and other places you've visited.
- Use a magnifying glass and flashlight to check. Observe the creases on the bag, especially the seams on the fabric, and on your clothes.
- Regardless of whether or not bed bugs are found in your luggage, disinfection should still be done. Spray lightly concentrated chemicals on your bags (except clothes). After that, wipe your bag clean with a damp cloth or tissue.
Step 3. Wash clothes regularly
As soon as you return from vacation, wash all the clothes you brought with you. Use warm water which will kill bed bugs. Then, put it in the dryer and set the temperature to the highest number.
Step 4. Check your workplace
Your office can be a great location for bed bugs to settle in. Bed bugs can hide in sofa chairs, break rooms, lounging areas, offices, and warehouses.
- Use a magnifying glass and flashlight to examine the furniture. Observe the seams on the fabric. Inspect the wood panels that are near the floor (baseboard). Check for cracks in the walls and peeling paper/paint. These places are often hiding places for bed bugs.
- Check for feces (which are shaped like black spots), skin debris, or bed bugs themselves.
- If possible, clean your work area with a safe chemical. After that, wipe the area with a damp cloth or tissue paper. If you are not allowed to disinfect the area, tell your supervisor about any bed bug infestations you find.
Step 5. Share the information with other workers in your office
It is very important for your co-workers in the office to also know the signs of bed bugs. Tell them to always be on the lookout for small, dark, oval-shaped insects, black spots that are their droppings, and the remains of their clear or yellowish skin.
Step 6. Schedule an in-office inspection
Schedule inspections so that each staff member has a specific time to check for bed bugs. This arrangement is intended to reduce the burden of carrying out inspections and ensure that the presence of bed bugs can be immediately identified.
- Ask each staff member to tell you their free time which can be used to check rest areas, offices, office furniture, etc. Arrange the time list into schedule blocks and organize them into a main scheduling table.
- Send the schedule table to all staff and print and post a copy at the office break as a reminder.
Step 7. Avoid panic
Hysteria due to bed bugs should not occur in your office. These fleas are not deadly insects; its presence can be found in the cleanest environment. Just make sure staff know what to look out for. Do not let the search for bed bugs dominate work activities in your office.
Step 8. Insert a reminder card in your wallet
On a small piece of paper, or on the back of a business card, write down points to keep in mind when looking for bed bugs. Insert the card in your wallet so you can always know what things to watch out for.
Tips
- Do the inspection in your room slowly and gradually. Often, bed bugs cannot be seen directly. Make sure you carry out the inspection thoroughly and within a sufficient period of time. Also, repeat the inspection in the same area several times.
- Contact your friends or family for input. You will be able to get help checking for signs of bed bugs.
- Don't overreact to bed bugs. Remember that even the cleanest places can be inhabited by these insects.
- Regularly clean your sheets and change your mattress, such as every few years.
Warning
- Make sure that the chemicals you use to get rid of bed bugs are safe to use. If you are not sure, contact a professional flea control specialist.
- Always pack and mark items you throw away because they are infested with bed bugs. In addition to making it safe for garbage collection officers to collect, you can also prevent a wider infestation from occurring in the area around the house.
