Bedbugs: How They Live & How to Eradicate Them with a Simple Method
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How Do Bedbugs Live?
1. Habitat:
Bedbugs are tiny, flat, reddish-brown insects that live in the cracks and crevices of beds, mattresses, furniture, and even behind wallpaper. They are most active at night and feed on human blood while you sleep.
2. Lifecycle:
β’ Eggs: Tiny (1mm), white, and sticky. Females lay hundreds in their lifetime.
β’ Nymphs: Hatchlings that need blood to grow through 5 molting stages.
β’ Adults: Live for months and can survive without feeding for weeks.
3. Feeding:
They detect carbon dioxide and warmth from sleeping humans, then bite exposed skin. Their bites are painless at first but often cause itchy red welts.
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How to Eradicate Bedbugs with a Simple Method
1. Identify the Infestation:
Check mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and furniture joints. Look for:
β’ Rusty spots (bedbug droppings)
β’ Molted skins
β’ Live bugs (about the size of an apple seed)
2. The Simple Method: Heat Treatment (DIY Version):
Bedbugs die at temperatures above 120Β°F (49Β°C).
Steps:
β’ Wash: All bedding, curtains, and clothes in hot water.
β’ Dry: On the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
β’ Steam: Use a steamer on mattresses, furniture, and carpets. Bedbugs and eggs die instantly under direct steam.
β’ Encase: Use bedbug-proof covers on mattresses and pillows to trap remaining bugs.
3. Declutter & Vacuum:
β’ Thoroughly vacuum all cracks, crevices, and furniture.
β’ Dispose of vacuum bag outside immediately.
β’ Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding spots.
4. Use Diatomaceous Earth (Natural Insect Killer):
β’ Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around bed legs, baseboards, and furniture.
β’ It dehydrates and kills bugs when they crawl through it.
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Extra Tips:
β’ Repeat treatments weekly for at least a month.
β’ Avoid moving infested items to other rooms to stop spreading.
β’ For heavy infestations, professional extermination may be needed (using heat or insecticides).
Want a step-by-step printable checklist? I can make one for you!
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