Bed Bug Extermination in Mississippi: How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good

Can you rid yourself of those pesky bed bugs on your own? While you have probably heard all the bed bug references and stories, they are no joke. So, here is the truth and how to get rid of these pests once and for all. Bed bugs are tiny, brownish insects that depend on the blood of humans and animals.

While these insects usually begin brownish, after feeding, they expand and take on a reddish appearance. They do not fly but move quickly over walls, ceilings, and floors. Healthy female bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime, which can mean serious infestation problems.

How Bed Bugs Travel and Hide

The theory of bed bugs only being in filthy spaces is only a half-truth, as you could have just as well brought them home from your pleasant stay in a clean hotel. Their small, flattened bodies allow them to fit in tiny spaces. While bed bugs do not have nests, they live within groups in hiding in places such as box springs, the creases of mattresses, bed frames, and headboards where they can easily bite you at night while you sleep.

Over time, they can scatter and spread to other rooms of the house. Bed bugs can piggyback on your clothing, in backpacks and purses, and even in your luggage. Apart from existing caution with traveling, you must know how to get rid of these insects, or you may end up with a very uncomfortable experience on your hands.

When Bed Bugs Bite

Bed bugs thrive on blood and are mainly active at night while you are sleeping. It’s not hard for you to understand their name based on this kind of activity. They can prick your skin and suck the blood from your body for long periods. After about 10 minutes, they stop and crawl back into their hiding spots when they are full. Though they are small, you don’t need to spend long thinking about why 10 minutes of bloodsucking can be a problem for you.

Afterwards, you end up with bumps and itching that you may very well associate with mosquitoes, making an infestation challenging to identify.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Other than waking up with itchy areas that were not there before, seeing blood marks and stains on your bedding can tell the story. Alternatively, signs of insect filth, eggshells, or shed skins on your sheets, walls, and clothes are reliable indicators that a bed bug problem is present and must be addressed. Additionally, you may notice a nasty, musty smell, which could be a definite sign of an infestation.

You need to conduct an inspection by removing all your bedding and using your magnifying glass to identify the bugs. Do not just check your bed, as not seeing them can lead you to have a false sense of security. Check your clothes, examine the wood frames, telephones, carpets, books, night table, and electrical outlets. If you are still unsure, call an exterminator who can tell for sure what the situation is. The best part is that the exterminator can remedy the issue, whether that comes in the form of liquid bed bug treatment, dust bed bug treatment, or insect growth regulators.

DIYs to Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

You can try using these household products to rid yourself of bed bugs. The most effective ones are rubbing alcohol and vinegar. They can kill some of the adult bed bugs, but do not harm the eggs that would’ve been laid.

Since bed bugs dislike extreme conditions, such as cold and heat, you can clean linens, clothing, bedding, and curtains by washing them in hot water of 140 degrees or above. For items that cannot be washed, such as shoes, they can go into the dryer on high for 30 minutes.

You can try freezing the bed bugs out as well. Infested items such as cushions and pillows can be placed into the freezer for roughly three to four days at zero degrees or below.

Alternatively, you may try to use a rigid brush to scour your mattress’ seams to get rid of the bed bugs and their eggs, then use a vacuum to round things out. Thoroughly vacuum your bed and the area around it, frequently paying close attention to seams, pillows, furniture, and cushions. When you are finished, empty the contents in a plastic bag, seal it, and put it in the outside garbage.

Pay close attention to repairing cracks in walls and plaster or glue down wallpaper to eliminate hiding places.

You can also put your mattress in a tight zipper covering to keep bed bugs from escaping or entering. Since these insects can survive up to a year without feeding, it is best to keep the covering longer than a year to ensure they are all dead.

Get rid of clutter in your bedroom and the house at large. The more items you have crowding spaces, the less adept and effective mitigating bed bug activity is going to be.

You might think using insecticides to get rid of bed bugs is a good idea, but it never works unless you know where the insects are hiding, and even then, foggers and spray cannot reach into the small, tight spots where they are.

These chemicals and sprays can be harmful to you, your family, and your pets. Additionally, even if you spray them accurately, they might still not work as bed bugs have built up a resistance to most pesticides.

Bed Bug Extermination 

The methods above can be considered in preparation for bed bug treatment as only with professional assistance can you eradicate bed bugs from your home.

Bed bug treatments work in a couple of ways. Professionals begin by identifying the location and extent of the infestation. Heat treatment, liquid bedbug treatment, dust bedbug treatment, conventional treatment methods, insect growth regulators, or a combination may be used. The traditional treatments, including spot treatment, mattress encasement, and pesticides, may work for simpler infestations in small homes.

As bedbugs go through various stages, multiple methods are likely going to be needed to get rid of them all, and professionals combine any of the above to get the job done.

If you’re looking for the right team to handle the issue for you, Synergy² is here to help. We provide trusted services throughout the area, so contact us for the best pest control services around.