Can bed bugs bite through clothes? How to get rid of bed bugs? Stay tuned with this informative article to find out the answers to these questions below!
Bed bugs are minute blood-sucking creatures with flattened bodies that allow them to sneak into the tiniest of places. As a female bed bug can oviposit 200-250 eggs in her life, their emerging population and bite are a cause of concern. They usually bite on the exposed areas of the body but can bed bugs bite through clothes? Let’s find out the answer later in this article.
Can Bed Bugs Bite Through Clothes?
No! Bed bugs can’t bite through clothes because their mouthparts are too small to penetrate most fabrics. That’s why bed bugs lie on the host’s exposed skin to drink blood. But it doesn’t mean clothes can give you the utmost protection from bed bugs because they can easily get inside your clothes to drink blood.
What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
Differentiating bed bugs bite from mosquito and flea bites is not easy, but in general, bed bug bites look like:
- Itchy, red, and inflamed
- Identical to a mosquito bite
- Grouped in lines or clusters
- Red and swollen with a dark red spot in the middle
Bed Bugs Natural Remedies
Bed bugs are not a threat to human beings, but their bite causes itching, loss of sleep, and skin infection (in severe cases). That’s why if you want to get rid of bed bugs for good, use the below home remedies.
1. White Vinegar
Thanks to vinegar’s acetic acid content, it’s the go-to remedy to exterminate the blood-sucking bed bugs once and for all. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz it all over the holes, cracks, and gaps of your house. Plus, spray vinegar underneath the furniture and electronic appliances along with kitchen cupboards and closets.
2. Peppermint Oil
Keep bed bugs far away from your house with the help of peppermint oil. Its characteristic strong scent deters bed bugs quickly. For this hack, all you need is peppermint oil, distilled water, and an empty spray bottle. Read the remedy here.
3. Diatomaceous Earth
The food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is all you need to combat pesky bed bugs. DE is a natural desiccant that’s why when bed bugs come into contact with the abrasive particles of diatomaceous earth, they die due to dehydration eventually.
4. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is another potent bed bug repellent like peppermint oil. It works because of its powerful fragrance that bed bugs hate the most. Gather a bottle of lavender oil, lukewarm water, and this tutorial to make the bed bug deterrent spray.
Precautions to Consider
- If you want to apply essential oil repellents on yourself, first, dilute them with 2-3 tsp of carrier oil like olive or argan oil.
- Don’t forget to wear good quality hand gloves, a face mask, goggles, and full-sleeved clothing while trying the above remedies.
Bed Bugs Prevention Tips
After getting rid of bed bugs, don’t forget to follow the below preventive tips to inhibit their reinfestation.
- Get rid of heaps of clutter from your home.
- Vacuum every part of your house at least twice a day.
- Don’t share your clothes with anyone and avoid wearing borrowed garments too.
- Store your clothes in zipper bags after using a shared laundry facility.
- Put all your personal belongings under the sunlight for a few hours, and then wash the tubbable ones in the washer.
- Avoid purchasing old furniture or atleast do a thorough check.
- Seal any holes, gaps, cracks, and other possible tiny entrances.
- Take special precautions while going to any public places.
- Clean your pet’s bedding on a daily basis.
- Install door sweeps and screens as well.
Conclusion
As bed bugs are minuscule, their extermination is quite a cumbersome task. If you’re facing a mild infestation, home remedies can do the trick, but for severe infestation, professional help is a must.