People often find that bed bugs have ridden home with them after their trip. To know how to get rid of bed bugs, read the article further. Normally, dogs and cats are the primary source of pet flea infestations in homes, but if an animal happens to be crossing a clothing line or picking up along the way, it can become the source of a flea invasion as well.
They reproduce at a super-fast pace and very short time they can become a major problem since they are prolific. According to one research, a single bed bug female can be capable of laying up to 500 eggs a lifetime. Fleas are also produce as many as 50 eggs in a day. To successfully eradicate bed bugs and fleas, one must be aware of their behavior and ways to remove them.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs and Fleas
Bed bug bites look like small red spots with darker centers, and they are usually connected in a row. Furthermore, a lung-head-heavy infestation of bugs may be the cause of people with weak conditions of different anemia forms to get sick.
On the other hand, fleas are more dangerous in the sense that they are more likely to be the disease carriers. Fleas-borne typhus, plague, and cat scratch disease are some of the diseases that fleas can spread through their bites. The itching caused by flea bites is usually very severe and they appear mostly on the lower legs and ankles. The possibility of children accidentally ingesting infected fleas not only posing a risk of losing the infection among themselves, but also sharing the infection to their human hosts through the transmission of tapeworms is another point to consider here.
Prevention Strategies on how to get rid of bed bugs and fleas
Prevention of bed bugs
It is recommended that you go through the used furniture very thoroughly in order to be sure that it is clean and that it won’t bring any bugs with it when you get it into your house.
Also, it is very important to re-check your luggage and clothing after your trip, particularly if you are coming from a hotel or an infested area. Besides that, make an effort to get rid of as much clutter in your bedroom as possible, so there won’t be any hiding places for the bugs.
Prevention of fleas
Prevention of fleas is mainly connected with the care of animals and the management of the garden.
Do not forget to keep up with a schedule for flea treatments for your pets during the whole year.
Routinely vacuum carpets and upholstery as well as at spots where the pet frequents and sleep areas, so that you get rid of eggs and larvae.
Also, keep grass short and shrubs trimmed so that outdoor breeding areas are at a minimum. Additionally, do not let wild animals get food on your property, as that will attract them.
Treatment Methods for Bed Bugs
To eliminate bed bugs and fleas, it is best to follow a targeted plan which starts from confirmation. The first step is to check the mattress and furniture for bed bugs by looking for living bugs, blood stains, and dark spots.
Heat treatment is a very good solution for bed bugs.
Wash all your clothes and bedding with hot water at a temperature higher than 120°F. Besides, dry your clothes at the highest temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Steam cleaning helps to get rid of bed bugs in mattresses and furniture. The temperature of the steam must be at least 130°F and it has to be applied slowly on surfaces.
On the other hand, diatomaceous earth can serve as the natural solution for the treatment of the infestation caused by bed bugs. The powder is abrasive to the bed bugs’ exoskeleton and it causes dehydration. It is recommended to spray it in the cracks, crevices, and around the bed frame in a thin layer.
Treatment Methods for Fleas
To get rid of fleas it is essential to treat your pets and the environment at the same time. First, give your animals professional treatments from a veterinarian. Also, wash pet bedding every week with hot water and vacuum the area carefully.
Vacuuming is a way of getting rid of fleas in all their life stages from carpets and upholstery. Move the vacuum slowly and carefully, do not miss any beds or places where the pets are. Take the vacuum bags out immediately and put them in a closed container outside the home.
Using a steam cleaner on carpets and upholstery can definitely get rid of fleas at any of their life stages. The heat generated by the steam goes right into the fibers. To be sure that you have a thorough flea control, also vacuum the affected areas regularly along with steam cleaning.
What Kills Bed Bugs and Fleas?
Heat-Based Solution
Heat continues to be the most dependable method of slaying of bed bugs and fleas. What kills bed bugs and fleas most effectively here include the fact that temperatures of 120°F and above kept for certain durations.
Chemical Treatment
Bed bugs that resist insecticides from the professionals are the target. New bed bugs are capable of resisting most of the over-the-counter sprays. EPA-registered products that have certain active ingredients are more effective.
In addition, insect growth regulators (IGRs) for fleas keep them from making offspring for a long time. Applications with permethrin are good for the time left after the application since they provide residual protection to clothing and carpets.
Natural Methods
Diatomaceous earth does that by drying the pests out of their water supply. What kills bed bugs and fleas naturally also includes this algae powder. Place food-grade diatomaceous earth in narrow lines where pests are likely to pass.
Vacuuming is a physical method that operates by physically capturing pest and their eggs. This mechanical approach works immediately and drastically reduces the pest population. Combine vacuuming with other treatments for comprehensive control.
Cold Treatment
Temperatures below 32°F are freezing and such they can only in a matter of several days directly kill bed bugs. However, do not forget that they should be placed in the freezer for four days. It is necessary to be sure that the bed bugs are dead. This is the best solution for clothes and small pieces of furniture that cannot be exposed to heat treatment.
Conclusion
These creepy crawling pests such as bed bugs and fleas can be only thoroughly eliminated if multiple methods of treatment approach is being used. Being informed of how to get rid of bed bugs and fleas is important. Heating, profession-grade chemicals, and natural means like diatomaceous earth are the parts that are playing in the elimination of the pests. In addition, regular cleaning, taking care of your pet, and maintaining the house will be all that is needed to prevent future infestations and safeguard your family from those persistent pests.
