How get rid of bed bugs naturally? I’m not sure if we brought some home from our trip to Europe. It makes me nervous, so I want to act now to keep the problem from getting worse.
Amie Kiley, Holland, MI
If you’ve seen bites on your skin, blood spots on the sheets, or tiny black dots in your bed, it’s time to act. Even though bedbugs aren’t dangerous to your health, they are a stubborn nuisance. Let’s go over let me show you some natural home remedies for bed bugs.
Begin by washing all your bedclothes (including pillows) in hot water and drying them on high heat. This automatically kills the bugs and their eggs. Should you need to take anything to the dry cleaner, please warn them about the problem.
Now, use a steam cleaner on every crevice of your bed and the carpet. Pay special attention to the mattress and box spring. If you’re unable to take this step, purchase a bedbug-proof cover that completely encloses the box spring and mattress. This type of cover is also available for pillows.
Next, the vacuum everything thoroughly. Bedbugs can hide in furniture near the bed, so deep-clean them too.
Make sure that blankets don’t touch the floor to provide access. You might also consider placing double-sided tape or commercial bedbug interceptors on the legs of your bed as a way for getting rid of bed bugs on your bed linens.
Finally, you can create a homemade spray to repel bedbugs. All you need is a teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, ground ginger, and oregano oil mixed in water. If that smells too strong for you, try tea tree oil or lavender with rosemary and eucalyptus oils.
I hope that these tips help you get rid of any unwelcome pests.
Joan