Bedbugs cause many problems. Their bites cause itching, they damage furniture and clothing, and are carriers of dangerous diseases. Among other things, insects multiply at a rapid speed, thereby causing cause for concern and even panic.
How to prepare an apartment for bedbug treatment
Currently, there are a huge number of drugs on the market to combat bedbugs. Some of them have no effect, some help cope with the problem only for a few days. How to choose a truly effective drug? According to statistical studies, consumer reviews, and drug characteristics, we have compiled for you a rating of the best bed bug remedies.
Where could they be
To destroy bedbugs, you need to know where their nests may be. You can get rid of these insects only if you simultaneously treat all their habitats - nests. If at least one living individual remains (a female at any stage of development), everything will have to be repeated. And they are so tenacious that they will definitely remain. Until now, they have not found a remedy that would kill all the bedbugs at once.
For the fight against bedbugs to be effective, you need to know where they can hide.
Bed bugs usually make nests near the feeding area - 2-3 meters from the bed. In this area, they can live in any crack, recess, or hole that is larger than 0.5 mm in size. Here's where to look:
- Under and in mattresses.
- In the bed frame.
- In bedside tables, chairs, armchairs, cabinets.
- On the back of carpets and rugs.
- Behind the baseboard.
- In sockets, switches, electrical appliances, in electrical wiring channels.
- Behind the peeling wallpaper.
- In the cracks between the floor/ceiling and the wall.
- In the cavities of frames and frames of paintings and photographs.
- Under floor coverings and in floor crevices.
- In the recesses of the wall.
- In clothes.
This is what bedbug bites look like.
Actually, all places where it is dry and warm at a distance of a couple of meters from the bed can be breeding grounds for bedbugs. Here's an example: if the plaster is behind, then they will be behind it. Or under the laminate. Or under linoleum. In any cavity.
Inspection Process: Example
When fighting bedbugs, you need to thoroughly inspect all possible places of their nests. For example, in furniture, inspect the bottom and legs. Remove the back wall if possible. Be sure to pull out drawers and shelves. Inspect all joints of furniture parts, under fastening and mounting plates, in recesses for fasteners. Even remove the handles and check for bedbugs.
If you want to find all bedbug nests, remove all parts that you can
This is how meticulously and scrupulously everything needs to be checked. Otherwise, even the best remedy will not help. When processing, go through even those places where theoretically there should not be bedbugs. They are found in strange and remote places. And if one survives, then after a while there will be a hundred again, and then a thousand.
What to look for when choosing a product
When choosing industrial preparations that contain highly concentrated insecticides, you need to pay attention to:
- product effectiveness is an important indicator in case of severe infection and the need to quickly solve the problem;
- compound;
- environmental friendliness;
- safety for people and animals;
- the presence of odor and the time required until it completely disappears after treatment;
- release form;
- method of application;
- duration of exposure after application;
- price.
Industrial products can be produced in various forms: aerosols, gels, powders, tablets, etc. Aerosols are effective, but have a local effect. Their action is based on the suppression of the insect’s nervous system; it dies from paralysis.
If the treatment is carried out independently, it can be difficult to treat all rooms in the apartment in such a way as to destroy parasites and nests.
How to poison bedbugs
Even though bedbugs settle near the bed, the entire apartment must be treated at once. If you treat only one room, the insects can “wait it out” in other rooms.
In addition to all the possible places listed above, ventilation ducts must also be treated. And not only with “poison”, but also with barrier means. They will prevent bedbugs from other apartments from migrating to yours. The well-known Mashenka chalk works well as a barrier. It can also be applied under baseboards and in cable ducts. Just don't forget to update it.
To prevent them from getting back into furniture that has been cleared of bedbugs, use Mashenka chalk.
To prevent disinfected pieces of furniture from becoming infected with bedbugs again, coat everything you can with the same “Masha.” If it is cabinet furniture, all the shelves around the perimeter, behind the cabinet before putting the back wall in place. Upholstered furniture has places for attaching legs and a couple of rings on the legs themselves. You can “draw” closer to the body so that it is less noticeable.
How to deal with bedbugs: repeat over and over again
If the degree of bedbug infestation in an apartment is very high, any single treatment will be ineffective. They may disappear for a day or two, then appear again. You will have to poison again and again, trying to reduce the number of insects. With the right amount of persistence, you can still win. But such a fight against bedbugs takes many months. And during all this time, treatment must be carried out at least once a week.
If the apartment has a high degree of bedbug infestation, there may be dozens of similar nests
This is what many stories look like: poisoned many, many times and as a result the bedbugs disappeared. The means used are very different. It is only important that during treatment the bedbugs actually die and that you find their shells every day. In this case, after several months of regular use of one of the products (as practice shows, any that kills bedbugs), you will defeat the bloodsuckers.
How to get rid of bedbugs faster: make repairs and poison them
A faster option is to combine repairs and measures to eliminate bedbugs. For maximum results, you need to take out all the furniture, remove the wallpaper, remove the floor covering, suspended or suspended ceiling, if any. During this work, bedbug nests are exposed and must be destroyed. Therefore, stock up on insecticides in the form of sprays or powders, which are best first tested on the “control group”.
Look where there may be bedbugs in the apartment. Only repairs will allow you to reach all possible places
After everything has been taken out and removed, all cracks, depressions and cavities must be sealed. Anywhere nests can appear again. It is also necessary to inspect the ventilation shafts. Then treat all rooms a couple of times with the selected product or method. For insurance, you can re-process or combine techniques.
Only after you have not observed bedbugs for a week (preferably two weeks) can you complete the repairs and bring in the treated furniture (or better yet, buy new).
How to sleep without getting bitten in bedbug-infested rooms
Not everyone has the opportunity to spend the night outside the home while the fight is underway in their home. How can you sleep without being bitten? You need to place a disinfected bed on high legs in the middle of the room. Cover the legs with Velcro for flies.
Fly velcro on the legs and ceiling will help you sleep without being bitten
Make a couple of rectangles on the ceiling from the same Velcro. The smallest one should be the size of the bed. The other two are 5 cm wider/longer. That's all. You can go to bed. If this does not seem sufficient, apply Velcro to the floor as well. But it will have to be updated every evening.
Bedbugs will crawl along the legs of the bed and stick there. They will try to “drop” from the ceiling. But they will stick there too. Just update your traps periodically. Until you get rid of bedbugs completely.
Why do they start?
Many people wonder where bedbugs come from in the house. From the last paragraph we can draw one conclusion - bloodsuckers can appear from anywhere. They are brought by animals and passed on to each other by people in transport. Bedbugs can independently reach your home, coming from neighbors. There is no point in discussing this point at all. It is important for us to achieve 2 things - to destroy bedbugs and larvae, and also to prevent their subsequent appearance. Let's touch on 2 more nuances.
Unsanitary conditions play a role: despite the fact that bedbugs feed exclusively on blood, the presence of garbage contributes to the reproduction of most insects, including those discussed. The proof of this statement is Medieval Europe - then there were bedbugs in the houses of peasants, townspeople and even kings. Battles with them were fought with spirits and steam rooms, however, without success. In the 20th century, the animal population declined. Scientists attribute this to the advent of the vacuum cleaner and the spread of cleaning chemicals.
Ways to combat bedbugs
There are several effective methods for getting rid of bedbugs in an apartment or house. The most common is to treat it with chemicals. But chemicals often cause allergies, and they take a lot of time. Not a single available chemical can kill bedbugs in one go. The fact is that few substances act equally effectively on adult bedbugs and their larvae.
It is far from so easy to destroy all bedbugs if their number already amounts to hundreds
Let's say you poisoned adult bedbugs. After 2 weeks, the freshly laid larvae hatch into nymphs—teenage bugs. Under unfavorable conditions, they may appear after 6-7 weeks. Therefore, you have to repeat treatments once a week, at least for a month. Or better yet, within two months.
Another option is to steam everything you can. Bedbugs can only withstand heating up to +50°C for an hour. At higher temperatures they die immediately. The steam generator produces a stream of steam at a temperature of about 80°C. Clothes and linen can be washed at high temperatures. Everything else can be processed with a powerful steam generator. This method is good because the temperature kills bedbugs of any “degree of maturity.” You just need to get all the nests and individuals. To be sure, it is advisable to take the ferry a couple of times at intervals of several days.
Steam will help where chemicals cannot reach - in the deep layers of upholstered furniture
Freezing also works, but this method is suitable for things and furniture. Because bedbugs can withstand -10°C for several days. At -20°C they survive for more than 24 hours; at even lower temperatures they die within a few hours. You will not freeze a house or apartment so much that the walls, floor and ceiling have a deep sub-zero temperature. And there may be a lot of them there. Even if you can open the windows/doors of a private house and leave for a week, during this time the pipes/radiators will burst and the equipment will freeze out. But the furniture can be exposed to frost for several days. And for several weeks.
Without chemicals, you can fight bedbugs using frost
Squeezing and beating bedbugs is a futile idea. Adult individuals have a shell adapted to this, but larvae and young individuals are only smeared.
Development and life cycle
The development of bed bugs occurs according to a certain algorithm. The eggs are laid by females. One female can lay 10 eggs per day. From egg to adult, insects develop as follows:
- Egg stage. It takes 3-4 days after laying until the larva hatches. The speed at which the parasite appears is influenced by external factors. Sometimes development takes more than 10 days. If the room is cool, the pests hatch more slowly.
- Larval stage. The structure of the larvae is almost the same as that of adults. The difference is in size. The larva goes through 5 stages of development. Every time there is a shedding. The transition to the final form takes about 10-15 days.
- Imago (adult). An adult bedbug lives for approximately 12 months. All this time he causes a lot of damage to a person.
Bedbugs feed on blood, but they can survive without it for long periods of time. Larvae require more blood, so they interact with humans more often. They do not use an anesthetic secretion, which makes their bites much more painful. Parasites almost always bite at night. During the day they are located in nests and are rarely seen by humans.
When the bug begins to lay eggs, a nest is formed. There can be 2-3 nests in the apartment. Because of this, the fight against parasites is complicated. All nests must be located before using strong chemicals.
What chemicals will help?
Unfortunately, almost all “targeted” drugs sold in stores are ineffective. This is explained by the fact that if a couple of individuals survive after being treated with chemicals, their offspring become insensitive to it. Professional products work, but they are absorbed into walls, floors, and furniture. They cannot be washed for months. Therefore, apparently, allergies often develop.
After a while, you just want to get rid of bedbugs. And the method is not important - only the result is important
There are several other drugs that help get rid of bedbugs. Read below about their action and how to use all these means.
Colloidal microcalcite
This is not poison, but a powder that absorbs moisture. It is contained in the pharmaceutical drug "Polysorb" and the like, so the development of allergies is unlikely. The Hector product is based on this substance. Almost pure colloidal microcalcite contains Aerosil 200, a thickener for epoxy compounds. You can find it where they sell resins and fiberglass. The same substance in a different form is found in Diatomite (food grade) and Diatomaceous earth - these are food additives. They differ from those listed above in that they do not dry out the air and only bring benefits to people. Bed bugs die from them in the same way as from their analogues.
The release form or name of the drug is not so important
How does this substance work? Bed bugs catch particles of powder on their legs and shell. They do not die instantly, but walk around “dusted.” But after a couple of days you begin to find their shells. The powder simply dries them out and the insects die.
They don't die immediately from the powder. And every other day they still don’t die. But after a couple of days you start to find their dry shells
The only problem is that the powder will “dry out” you too if you inhale it. So you need to spray colloidal microcalcite wearing a respirator, long sleeves and gloves.
Powdered colloidal microcalcite should be sprayed in bedbug-infested areas. It is volatile and this will not be a problem. If you bought not the drug, but the powder in its pure form, make a “dust bottle”. Take a plastic bottle and add powder to 1/2 volume. Put on the lid with small diameter holes made in it (burn with a needle heated on the fire). Then simply squeeze the bottle, spraying the powder. Aim at the places where there may be nests. The volatile suspension will reach the rest on its own. It is better to leave the powder indoors for at least a month. And it’s better not to clean under baseboards and in crevices at all.
Delcid
Delcid also helps get rid of domestic bed mites. This is a veterinary drug (insectoacaricidal drug) that is used to treat animals and places where they are kept. It is also effective against bedbugs. Sold in ampoules and even in canisters in veterinary pharmacies or stores. The good thing is that it is not harmful to birds and animals (and humans). But toxic to fish and bees .
One of the release forms. Maybe for dogs. There is also water concentrate in bottles or canisters
In veterinary pharmacies it is usually sold in ampoules. They contain a concentrate that is diluted with water. The amount of water is indicated on the package (concentration may vary). Forms a white emulsion with water. You can spray it from a regular spray bottle. For animals and their habitats, double treatment is recommended. The apartment will probably require more repetitions - just to be sure.
Any insectoacaricidal drug
To kill ticks, you can use any insectoacaricidal drug from a veterinary pharmacy. Drugs in this group are aimed at destroying animal parasites, including bedbugs. So any of them will work. For animals, double treatment with an interval of 10 days is recommended. For an apartment with a high degree of infestation, more repetitions will be required.
It needs to be processed very carefully. Insects can settle in any fold or crevice.
When choosing, take release forms for large dogs or even larger animals. The concentration of active substances in them will be sufficient to quickly kill insects. Sprays are the most convenient. With their help, you can apply the drug even to the farthest corners. Upholstered furniture can be processed point by point, but make at least 2-3 “points” per square meter. At the same time, it is better to apply more of the drug into all possible cracks (between the railing and the seat, in the cracks of the frame, in the folds of the upholstery, etc.). Don’t forget that ventilation also needs to be treated. You can put rags soaked in the product there. To guarantee, it is better to carry out several “extra” treatments.
How are they different from other larvae?
The larvae of house bugs are easily confused with the offspring of other parasites. Distinctive features:
- Young individuals have an external resemblance to ticks, but the latter can be identified by the number of limbs. Bed bugs have 6, ticks have 8.
- The body shape of bedbug larvae can resemble house ants. The offspring of the former are distinguished by a more rounded, wide body. Ant larvae have a bridge between the abdomen and cephalothorax.
- The offspring of cockroaches are active. The main feature is a light spot in the cephalothorax area.
Bed bug larvae are sometimes confused with fleas. The latter are distinguished by jumping ability and high mobility.
Ozonation is very dangerous, but effective
Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that, at the proper concentration, destroys all living things. Literally everything. In the classification of toxic substances, it is in the same group as arsenic. Therefore, this method cannot be used in multi-story buildings. But in private homes you can do whatever you want. But you will need to live somewhere else for a few days.
How to fight bedbugs using ozone
But even this method will not help get rid of bed house mites in one go. If the level of infestation is high, 3-4 applications per week will be required for 4-5 weeks. In addition, you need a powerful ozonizer and clogged windows/doors and ventilation ducts. They place it in the affected room, but leave the doors to all others open. In an average-sized room, the ozonizer should operate for at least 10 hours. Considering the fact that it consumes a lot of energy, the pleasure is not cheap.
There is no need to spray ozone - it will penetrate into all the cracks on its own.
But this is strong poison!
The ozonizer must be turned on/off remotely (throw the extension cord/carrying device outside). After turning off, wait a day, after which you can jump in wearing a respirator (preferably a gas mask), open the windows and jump back out. Airing will end in about another day. If the required ozone concentration has been achieved, you will get rid of all fauna in the house, including bedbugs.
Once again: ozone is a powerful poison. Be extremely careful. But along with the bedbugs, it will also destroy their smell.
Traditional methods
Sometimes problems arise with the use of chemicals to kill bedbugs. In such cases, folk methods come to the rescue. However, such methods are effective only when the premises are not heavily infested with bedbugs.
Bedbug mixtures
To kill bedbugs, it is recommended to use a mixture of turpentine, water and kerosene. The ingredients must be mixed in a ratio of 10:100:15 ml with the addition of liquid soap.
Ammonia mixed with denatured alcohol and benzene (10:150:40), and a mixture of denatured alcohol (300 ml) with naphthalene (10 g) are effective. The components are mixed, and the resulting composition is sprayed onto problem areas of the apartment.
Cold and heat exposure
Both frost (below minus 20 degrees) and very high temperatures have a detrimental effect on bedbugs. Heat treatment of mattresses, bed linen and clothing with hot steam, iron or boiling water (70 - 80 degrees) allows you to destroy adult individuals and even their eggs.
Plants with a pungent odor
Tansy, valerian, wild rosemary, wormwood, chamomile, calamus - all these plants have a detrimental effect on bedbugs. It is better to use them fresh, when the smell is most powerful due to the essential oils contained in the herbs. But in the cold season, when it is not possible to use fresh herbs, dried plants are also suitable.
Bedbug bite
Bedbug bites are not always painful and can go unnoticed for a long time. The bloodsucker chooses the most vulnerable and exposed places on the human body, such as the legs, arms or neck.
A bug bite can cause an allergy, which is an individual reaction to toxic substances contained in the insect's saliva. Signs of a bug bite are swelling around the bite site, severe itching, inflammation of the skin at the puncture site, and reddish spots located close to each other.
If an allergic reaction occurs at the site of the bite, it is recommended to apply Fenistil gel. In severe cases, tablet antihistamines are prescribed: Suprastin, Claritin.
Compliance with hygiene standards and timely destruction of bedbugs using modern insecticides help to quickly cope with a bedbug infestation. If necessary, you can contact specialists and organize professional disinfestation, destroying both adult individuals and their eggs and larvae.
