How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs: 6 Powerful Strategies for Singapore Homes
We bet leaning about bed bugs and their lifecycle is not exciting at all. However, learning how to get them out of your mattresses and your home is crucial if you're dealing with them at your home in Singapore. Bed bugs can still creep their way into your cosy sleeping spaces even if you're a neat freak who religiously washes your bedding all the time. We know that it is quite an upsetting truth. So what could be the possible solution to this problem?
Don't worry much! Our guide aims at making you understand bed bugs in detail along with some effective treatment and prevention strategies.
However, you should keep in mind that we highly recommend reaching out to professional pest control services in Singapore if you're dealing with a large infestation or fail to see any results after tackling them on your own. Finding a solution for bed bug infestation is not something that you should keep procrastinating about. We want you to have a peaceful, bug-free sleep! Let us see what we can do to get there.
Let’s Start! Get to Know About Bed Bugs in Detail
Identifying bed bugs is the first step in dealing with them in your home effectively. These pests are typically oval-shaped and about the size of an apple seed, and they have a reddish-brown colour. Though they cannot fly, they are quick runners and can move from place to place quite easily.
Do you know the dangerous part of bed bugs? We’ll tell you- they feed on human blood, plus female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs throughout their lifetime. This makes it crucial to find a solution to bed bug infestation as early as possible to prevent the problem from becoming worse.
Find Out Their Hiding Spots
Bed bugs are skilled at hiding in nooks and crannies. They can squeeze themselves into even the tiniest of spaces effortlessly. Bed bugs usually gather in groups and can commonly be found hiding in mattresses, box springs, and bed frames - all places where they can easily access humans at night. In addition to all these menaces, they can also stay in creases and folds in loose wallpaper, bedside tables, and other areas near where people sleep. This is why it is important to thoroughly check all such areas when looking for signs of a bed bug infestation.
How to Tell If Bed Bugs Have Infested Your Mattress?
Have you been experiencing unexplained itchy areas on your body after waking up in the morning lately? Or have you been noticing bloodstains or dark spots on your bedsheets, mattress or pillowcases? If yes, chances are high for that to be bed bug excrement. In such situations, we understand that you need to bother about getting stains out of the mattresses too.
So here is Sendhelper’s popular guide on how to remove blood stains from mattresses effectively.
Other signs to look out for at your home include finding eggshells or shredded skin in areas where bed bugs might be hiding. Look for a musty odour on the mattresses and areas around your bed. Sometimes, you would even spot living or dead bed bugs themselves in any of these places.
If you've been hesitant to inspect your mattress for bed bugs because of the creepy-crawly pictures you've seen online, don't worry too much! Unlike what you might have seen online, bed bugs are so small that they often just look like a tiny dark speck on your mattress. Get a magnifying device like your phone camera and take a closer look to confirm your suspicions about their presence in your house.
Should You Throw Away Your Mattresses If They Are Infested by Bed Bugs?
Getting rid of bed bugs doesn't always require throwing away the mattresses at your home. Although it might seem like the simplest solution to many people, it can be costly unless you've been considering replacing your mattress anyway. So what do you do? You can try some DIY pest control methods to remove bed bugs from your mattress as an alternative. However, if your home in Singapore is seriously affected by bed bugs, consider opting for professional pest control services from one of the best service providers like Sendhelper for faster and more effective results. Needless to mention, bed bugs can be challenging to eliminate on your own. So save your time and worry by entrusting the job to the right hands in Singapore.
Want to Learn How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs? Follow These Simple Steps Every Day
- Wash the Linens at Your Home Regularly
The first step in getting rid of bed bugs is to wash all of your bedding and clothes. Put them in a trash bag to avoid spreading the bugs around your home. It's important to use hot water in the wash, as bed bugs can't survive high temperatures. However, be careful not to damage any delicate items. Use a garbage bag and throw it away outside instead of using your regular laundry basket after washing. It helps prevent any remaining bugs from getting back into your home.
- Vacuum Your Bedroom and Repeat
Now that you’ve washed your bedding, it is time to vacuum your bedroom to get rid of any remaining bed bugs. Use the hose instead of the brush attachment to avoid spreading the bugs as bed bugs can hide in the bristles. You should also focus on vacuuming small crevices in your mattress and other areas around your room, especially the areas near your bed.
Vacuum your rooms multiple times to ensure that the rooms are thoroughly clean. Dispose of the vacuum's contents in an outdoor trash can after this. Now, clean the container to prevent any remaining bed bugs from making their way back inside.
- Take the Bedframe Apart and Clean it
If you want to be extra thorough in your bed bug extermination process, consider disassembling your bed frame and cleaning every nook and cranny. Bed bugs are experts at hiding in small spaces, so it's important to be meticulous in your cleaning. Using a magnifying glass and flashlight can help you see into the crevices that might be missed otherwise. If your bed frame is made of wood and you find any cracks, consider sealing them to prevent bed bugs from hiding there.
- Choose Bed Bug Sprays That Are Safe for Your Mattress
Make sure to read and follow the directions on the container of insecticide you spray before using it on the mattresses. It's essential to have good ventilation in the room when using an aerosol spray as inhaling the fumes of insecticides is not good for your health. You need to make sure to use an insecticide that is specifically formulated for use on mattresses; avoid using a general-purpose aerosol. You can spray the insecticide on the infested areas and any other furniture in the room once you have the right product.
Spraying bed bugs with an insecticide is the quickest way to eliminate them. However, it's important to note that once the solution has dried, it may not be effective against any remaining bugs. Certain insecticide ingredients can kill bed bug eggs, but they may still hatch before the chemicals take effect. Other ingredients may be less effective in preventing eggs from hatching or killing bugs after they hatch. Be sure to research beforehand to determine the most effective product for killing both bed bugs and their unhatched eggs.
It is also important to be careful when using insecticides in your sleeping area because they contain harmful chemicals. Many insecticides recommend leaving the room and closing the door and windows for around 15 minutes before re-entering and opening the windows for ventilation. So it is always best to stay away from these rooms for as long as possible.
- Steam All Your Mattresses
The steam needs to reach a temperature of at least 120 degrees for the successful elimination of bed bugs with steaming. Since most individuals might not have steamers with this level of power, steaming may not be the most effective method for removing bed bugs from a mattress. However, this technique can be helpful if you have access to a powerful steamer.
- Cover Your Mattress and Box Spring with a Protective Encasement
If you don't want to spend too much money on a new mattress or deal with the potential dangers of DIY bed bug extermination, there is another option to consider. Purchasing a specialized mattress cover and box spring cover is always a smart decision. These covers are designed to make it extremely difficult for bed bugs to escape. For best results, they should be left on for a year to ensure that all bed bugs inside are dead and not reproducing.
However, it is important to note that this method only works if the bed bugs are confined to your mattress and box spring. This method may not be effective if they have spread to other areas of your room, such as your bed frame or nightstand.
Are You Now Thinking About What to Do to Prevent Bed Bugs?
If you have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with bed bugs at your home, you may be worried about them returning to your home. Knowing how to get rid of bed bugs in your mattress is already challenging. And yes, preventing them from returning is a whole new challenge. Here are some preventative measures you can take to keep bed bugs at bay.
There is a good chance for bed bugs to still find their way in despite having a clean home. We hate to tell you this, but sometimes you might want to consider disposing of your mattresses and purchasing new ones in worst-case scenarios. None of us would want to invite the same problem again after doing everything we can to get rid of it from our homes, right?
If you do bring second-hand items home, inspect them thoroughly and clean them outside if possible. While bed bugs are not harmful, they can be a nuisance and difficult to eliminate if left untreated. We agree that attempting to get rid of bed bugs on your own could be helpful. But it is best to book a professional pest control service for effective elimination.
Sendhelper’s pest control services offer protection from all types of pests through safe treatment methods. If you are eager to know more about how to make your bathrooms pests-free, read our detailed guide. We offer home and commercial pest control services around Singapore at reasonable rates. What else do you need to take the right step towards bed bug removal? Download the Sendhelper app from Google Play or App Store or use our website to book our pest control service that starts just at $80.
