Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

A few suggestions to at least control -- if not wipe out -- a bed bug infestation:


a) Try spraying lavender, thyme, tea tree, or eucalyptus on bed linens, clothes and in other locations where people sleep in the house.


b) Diatomaceous Earth:

Using food-grade diatomaceous earth as a repellent for bed bugs -- while possibly not eradicating the whole bed bug population -- has been known to decrease the number of insects.


c) Boric Acid:

Spread boric acid powder about the places where bed bugs choose to frequent, feed, and hide. This natural cure should never come in direct contact with a mattress or box spring. This remedy is often used to control the migration of bed bugs in a home.


d) Steam Treatment:

To eliminate bed bugs from mattresses and additional upholstered items, some pest control professionals will use steam to naturally treat a sleeping area. Although of limited effectiveness, this method has shown promise when involving less than an inch of penetration. Some people have purchased small steam cleaners to treat their bedding.


e) Clothes Dryer:

Placing infested linens within a clothes dryer and heating the items for more than 20 minutes is said to kill bed bugs.


f) Natural Heat:

In cities where the climate reaches extremely high temperatures, hanging linens in the sun will kill attached bed bugs.


g) Botanical Insecticides:

Insecticides that contain natural pyrethrins are known to serve as a temporary natural cure, as the insects are repelled by this remedy and become ineffective for a short period of time. Unfortunately, natural pyrethrins break down quickly and are unable to provide the necessary bed-bug fighting power that lasts long enough to wipe out the entire population.