Virginia Bed bugs are a particularly nasty kind of pest because traditional extermination methods don’t generally work with them. In fact, some insecticide sprays can actually exacerbate the problem. If you discover that your home has become infested with bed bugs, the important thing is not to panic. Do not run to your friend’s house and sleep there. By the end of your stay you will most likely have infested his or her house and lost a friend in the process. Do not run out to the store and buy every chemical in sight; do your research first. Do not call just any exterminator; call one that has a good track record dealing with bed bugs. But most importantly do not panic.
How to Kill the Bed Bugs in Your Clothing
Bed bugs hate extreme heat and extreme cold, though it takes much longer to kill them with the cold than it does the heat. If you discover an infestation, the best way to get bed bugs out of your clothes is to wash them in hot water and then put them in the dryer on high heat for a couple hours. Wrap clothing items that can’t go in the washer in plastic and leave them out in the sun for a couple of days. These are the only ways to ensure that your wardrobe will be free of bed bugs.
How to Kill the Bed Bugs in Your Home
There are quite a few steps that can be taken to rid your home of bed bugs. The first of which is to call a professional that specializes in exterminating the little pests. But, there are also things that you can do on your own if you decide to handle the problem independently. Kill the bugs and eggs that you can see by spraying rubbing alcohol directly on them or pointing a steamer at them. Next, vacuum your entire house and throw the vacuum bags into a sealed trash bag to be disposed of immediately. Buy residual insecticides, not aerosol pesticides, and apply them to any cracks where the bed bugs may be hiding. Repeat the treatment two weeks later if you still think that you haven’t gotten all of them.
Sometimes infestations get so bad that drastic measures need to be taken. If all of your efforts and those of a professional exterminator have not worked, you may have to get rid of your mattress, box springs, and other furniture that was hit. If you live in an apartment, let your neighbors know about your infestation so that they can look for any signs that the bed bugs have spread to their home as well.