Bed bugs. What else could make your skin breathe so poorly? Contrary to their name, bedbugs can infest more than just beds! They are attracted to dark cracks in human areas. This means that they can be found in many different places throughout the home. Find out how to get bedbugs out of your apartment with your own hands.
When you discover a bedbug, it can be understandably unnerving. These little vampires feed on blood, leaving itchy red bites on their hapless victims. These bites can be potentially dangerous to your health. And let's face it, they're just plain rude!
What is boric acid?
Boric acid is a white powder made from the chemical boron and water. This is what is called an oxygenated acid, and it occurs naturally in some minerals, hot springs, and volcanic waters. It is known to be useful in many home and medical applications.
While it should of course be used with caution, boric acid is much less harsh than some harmful chemicals. We keep this brand in our kitchen cabinet.
Boric acid for pests
Among its many household uses, boric acid is an effective and natural pest control solution. Boric acid is mainly known as an extremely effective ant killer. It can be found as a main ingredient in many common insecticides.
It is highly toxic to most pests, causing severe loss of their tough outer shell on contact. It will also kill them if eaten - it destroys their stomach and metabolism.
Also find out: Can you use Listerine as a lice treatment?
How to remove bedbugs from an apartment: is boric acid safe for people?
Luckily, boric acid affects the insect body differently than it does the human body! For the human body, the powder is slightly more toxic than table salt (when compared in large doses). The smaller the body, the more toxic boric acid will be.
Although it requires a large lethal dose, this does not mean that boric acid is necessarily safe for humans. Always keep it out of the reach of children and try to avoid inhaling the powder.
Like everyone else, just use common sense when it comes to boric acid. Do not swallow it, do not try to inhale it, and make sure it does not come into contact with broken skin.
Mechanism of action on bedbugs
Boric acid affects parasites in several directions at once:
- In case of contact damage, the death of the insect occurs due to drying of the chitinous cover.
- If the bloodsucker eats the poison, the chemical will begin to act from the inside, affecting the digestive tract. Accumulating in the intestines, acid corrodes it and attracts fluid from the internal organs. Subsequently, the tissues die and the insect dies.
- The substance affects the nervous system of the parasite. Blocking of nerve impulses and subsequent immobilization lead to the death of the bloodsucker.
Boric acid also affects the ability to reproduce, which significantly reduces the number of individuals in the population.
However, you need to understand that this applies more to cockroaches and ants, since the poison is much less effective on bedbugs.
How to remove bedbugs from an apartment: the effectiveness of boric acid
Many people try to use boric acid to kill bed bugs, but most industry experts advise against using it. Boric acid is not the most effective solution for bed bugs, and here's why.
How to remove bed bugs from an apartment effectively, the creatures must ingest something to kill them. Boric acid can kill some by damaging their exoskeleton, but it doesn't seem to work in general. Boric acid is not actually an effective bedbug bait like human blood.
The jury is still out on whether boric acid is harmful when it comes into contact with human skin. If you decide to use boric acid, make sure you err on the side of caution. The use of boric acid in areas that come into direct contact with the skin, such as mattresses, is not recommended.
Sprinkling boric acid on all areas of the bed except the mattress can kill some bedbugs, although it is not the best option.
Pros and cons of the product
Affordable and inexpensive boric acid against bedbugs in an apartment has some advantages:
- If used with caution, it will not cause harm to owners and their pets.
- The product is quite inexpensive, and you can try using acid as an additional measure of protection against pests. True, to get at least some result, you will need a lot of powder, and the savings will no longer seem significant.
- In cases of minimal infection, the result is sometimes positive. But if there are a lot of bedbugs, you can’t count on boric acid. Such harassment will achieve nothing, and precious time will be lost. It makes sense to use the drug only in combination with other drugs.
The main disadvantage of the substance is its weak effect. It is difficult to recommend it even as a temporary measure, since bloodsuckers multiply at tremendous speed.
The low degree of toxicity can be called both an advantage and a disadvantage. For a bug to become infected, it must walk across spilled poison, and this cannot be guaranteed. So the process of fighting living creatures will be long.
People are also often interested in whether acid kills bedbug eggs or not. Unfortunately, it is not able to cope with them, and one cannot count on a long-term protective effect. Even if some of the pests die after persecution, the young shoots will try to avenge their relatives.
Despite the fact that this remedy for bedbugs is relatively safe for people, you need to treat your apartment or room with it with caution. Do not allow the substance to come into direct contact with the skin, as this may cause burns. Inhaling the powder is not recommended. This is also a disadvantage, because it is enough to allow the slightest negligence, and family members may suffer.
What are bedbugs and how to identify them?
Bedbugs are famous travelers. They can be transmitted through used furniture, clothing, bedding, luggage, theater seats, etc. Despite their small size, they are an incredibly aggressive and dominant pest.
With these characteristics, bedbugs can infest entire buildings. They are reddish-brown in color and have a tiki-like appearance. Like ticks, their size varies depending on how much blood they suck.
What bedbugs are considered true bugs for is that they have a jointed beak and a so-called stylet, which is used to break the skin and find a blood vessel. The bug sucks out enough blood until it is full and then hides to digest the blood.
The best way to tell if you have bedbugs is if you notice unexplained itchy bites that look like red welts in zigzag paths or clusters. When you notice this, determine where they came from by looking in small places that are usually overlooked.
Why are bedbugs so difficult to eliminate?
To say the least, bedbugs are extremely durable. They can go for a long time without a blood feast. These dry spells surprisingly don't reflect them. They are tolerant of changing conditions and reproduce very quickly.
Although the battle against bedbugs may seem hopeless, they can be beaten. There are many different natural ways to get rid of bed bugs, most of which are better than boric acid. Below are 12 more effective (but still natural) ways to get rid of these unwanted intruders.
Features of the fight against bedbugs using folk remedies
Folk remedies that help get rid of bedbugs have been time-tested. Some of them have proven to be quite effective, others are less effective.
Professional exterminators believe that the use of traditional methods to combat bedbugs is entertainment for the thrifty, and can only be used in cases where there are not very many insects. If the colony of bedbugs is extensive, then it is better to use folk remedies in combination with specialized drugs.
Folk remedies have a deterrent effect. Insects will not die from their influence, but will leave their habitats.
The advantages of using folk remedies include:
- Cheapness. The components for preparing traditional medicines are inexpensive.
- Safety of most folk remedies. Since there are no toxic substances in the composition, the products are safe for people and animals. They can even be used in apartments where children live.
- It is not necessary to leave the premises after treatment.
- In most cases, bedbugs do not get used to folk remedies, which means treatment can be carried out several times with the same substance.
Folk remedies have the following disadvantages:
- Not effective against insect larvae.
- They don't kill bedbugs, they just repel them.
- Difficulty of processing. Folk remedies must be carefully applied to possible habitats of bedbugs.
- Short-term impact effect.
- There is a chance that the parasites will return after the substance wears off.
Video: where do bedbugs live and why are they dangerous?
How to get bedbugs out of an apartment: 13 ways
Send all bedding before you do anything.
As soon as you suspect you have bedbugs, wash everything that can be washed in the hottest water possible and dry on high heat. The extreme heat will kill any bed bugs on your bedding.
Vacuum and steam cleaning
The mattress, box spring and area around the bed should be thoroughly vacuumed using a wand attachment. Make sure the vacuum bag is located somewhere outside your home. It is also helpful to thoroughly steam clean the mattress and box springs.
Disposal of contaminated furniture
If at all possible, replace any bedbug-bearing items. Although it is expensive and inconvenient, sometimes the eggs are located in places that are almost impossible to reach. In this case, deletion is your best option.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a powder that comes from a type of soft and sedimentary rock. If the environment is dry, it is very successful in controlling bedbugs.
The dusty component can get on the bed bugs' exoskeleton, breaking the layer and eventually dehydrating them. They can also pick up diatomaceous earth by passing through it.
When they lick their feet, the silica is so sharp that it damages their insides and leads to death.
Rubbing with alcohol
Using alcohol friction can be effective. Spray it on and around the infested area to kill bed bugs and dry out the eggs. Just remember that alcohol can damage wood that has been varnished. Test a small amount on the wood before spraying/wiping the entire area.
Invest in a protective coating
The sealing of your mattress and box is critical. The mattress cover leaves errors in care or in bed. This will also keep your bed protected even if you don't have any bedding. After all, who knows what your next home might be unknowingly wearing?
Seal all cracks and cracks that bedbugs can get into.
In order to say goodbye to the pest, it is logical to get rid of your home. Find any cracks in the walls or gaps between baseboards and walls and fill them. Although this may seem tedious, it will certainly be worth it once the bedbugs stop appearing.
Essential oils and lavender sachets
Diffusing some essential oils is beneficial for bedbugs, such as tea tree, cedar and oil. These essential oils have the ability to significantly suffocate bedbugs. They block the external openings of the respiratory system, thereby closing everything.
Something that is important to know about this technique, however, is that essential oils are only effective when in direct contact with the little parasites.
Not only are lavender packets beautiful, but the scent of lavender repels bedbugs. Storing some of these sachets would be a win-win.
Pyrethrum
It is a natural extract found in chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethrum travels through the nervous system of bedbugs, having a toxic effect on them.
bean leaves
This is a popular technique that was first used in Eastern Europe. Leaves are scattered in areas where bedbugs are present. When they step on the leaves, the hooked hairs attached to the leaves pierce them, successfully capturing them.
Legume leaves are very difficult to find. If you can't find any items for sale, you can always plant beans yourself using other methods such as plant sprouts.
Clean and disinfect thoroughly
Poor sanitation is not a direct cause of bedbugs. However, unnecessary places where they can hide are beneficial. Again, wipe everything down with alcohol and/or bleach and scrub!
Heat treatment
Direct heat will kill bedbugs and their eggs after about 30 seconds of direct contact. Many items cannot be placed in washers or dryers, so move them outside (if the weather is hot and the sun is good).
You can also invest in a space heater or two and place them right where the bedbugs are. This may be a good idea, since space heaters will cover a larger area, unlike steamships, which may not be able to reach these narrow areas.
Invest in such natural products
This spray, called EcoRaider, gets great reviews as an effective bedbug killer. It is used and preferred by exterminators and is made from natural and organic ingredients, making it safe to use around children and pets.
Tips on how to get rid of bedbugs yourself.
How to get rid of bedbugs yourself? This question worries a lot of people, and unfortunately, not everyone knows the answer to it.
Bedbugs are fairly small insects that can cause a lot of trouble for apartment owners. They feed on human blood and after satisfying their hunger they return to their shelter. They hide mainly in cracks in walls, in furniture upholstery, behind wallpaper and baseboards, and in beds. A bug bite causes redness of the skin and severe itching. In addition, they are carriers of infectious diseases. Therefore, if you find these uninvited guests in your apartment, immediately start fighting them. It is, of course, difficult to remove them, but it is still possible. Each of us should know how to get rid of bedbugs at home. And when they appear, do not be confused, but be fully armed.
So, let's look at how to get rid of bedbugs yourself. The safest and at the same time effective means of destroying them is pyrethrum. It is best to use fresh preparations, as their effect is much stronger. Using a rubber bulb, blow the powder of this plant into all the cracks where there are bedbug nests. We do not ignore wallpaper, cracks and other places where it is difficult to reach. After a week, repeat the treatment again. A more common method is to kill bedbugs using insecticides . These are special aerosol cans that are easy to use. But you should also know that they are very poisonous. Therefore, before getting rid of bedbugs yourself, take all possible safety measures. It is recommended to start processing in the morning. Remove all food and pets from the room. Windows must be open during processing. Spray all areas where bedbugs may be present and close doors and windows well for eight hours. After this, the room should be thoroughly ventilated.
Most of these products destroy adult insects and their larvae, but they have no effect on eggs. Therefore, processing must be repeated periodically. The only exception is karbofos , which has a very strong and unpleasant odor. You can prepare an aqueous two percent emulsion from it. We apply it evenly to the walls, treating all the cracks and cracks where bedbugs can hide. You can also use an aqueous solution of chlorophos , but since it does not kill bedbug eggs, the room should be treated once every three months. Due to the strong toxicity of chlorophos, it is best to invite specialists. But if this is not possible, remember: you need to work in a robe, put rubber gloves on your hands, cover your eyes with safety glasses and put a gauze bandage on your face. After treatment, remove clothes and wash, wash your hands and face with soap and rinse your mouth. In the room, open all windows, wash the floor and all existing furniture. The container in which the solution was prepared will have to be thrown away. Now let’s look at how to get rid of bedbugs yourself using folk remedies.
Temperature. Bed bugs cannot tolerate very low or very high temperatures. Therefore, if it is winter outside, take out the things in which bedbugs live and leave them for a day. Or treat things with hot steam.
Camphor. Take 100 ml of ethyl alcohol and mix with 100 ml of denatured alcohol. Dissolve five grams of camphor in the resulting mixture and treat all areas where bedbugs accumulate.
Borax. Sprinkle bedbug nests generously with this powder. Dust soap, turpentine and kerosene. Dissolve the soap in water, add 20 ml of kerosene, 10 ml of turpentine and treat the room. Before you can get rid of bedbugs yourself, you will need to go through many difficult and far from safe procedures. To avoid this, carefully inspect the things you bring home, because in most cases this is how these insects are brought into the house. It is much easier to prevent the appearance of bedbugs in the house than to eliminate them.
I hope the above tips on how to get rid of bedbugs at home will help you.
