 If you think drowning bed bugs is the solution, then read this article to find whether can bed bugs drown or not and how to get rid of them!
Bed bugs are tiny, egg-shaped, rusty brown six-legged arthropods with flattened bodies. As bed bugs love to hide in beddings and mattresses, hence the name. To sustain their entire lifecycle, they have to ingest the blood of individuals or animals. Bed bugs usually bite on the hands, arms, face, neck, and other exposed parts of the human body. A single adult female bed bug can yield upto 200-250 eggs in her lifespan, and with the hatching period of 6-10 days, they are a major health and economic concern all around the world. Due to this, it becomes vital to eliminate them as soon as you notice an infestation. To do this chore cheaply and effectively, understanding questions like the below are important.
- Where do bed bugs hide?
- Can bed bugs drown?
- How to avoid their reinfestation?
Signs of Bed Bugs Infestation
Identifying the presence of bed bugs early is vital to eliminate their existence before their infestation becomes severe. To find out whether bed bugs infest your house or not, notice the below signs carefully.
- Small dots of dried blood on the mattress, pillow covers, and clothes.
- Live crawling bed bugs.
- Broken eggshells, molted skin of nymphs, and bed bugs corpses.
- Dark or red blemishes of bed bugs feces on beddings, apparel, and wallpaper.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide?
As bed bugs are 5-9 mm in size, they can easily burrow into the tiniest of places. Bed bugs drink blood at night, and when they are inactive during the day, they hide in the seams of chairs and couches, drawer joints, electrical outlets, loose wallpaper, closets, bed frames, headboards, and wall hangings along with tiny cracks, holes, and gaps of the wall.
Can Bed Bugs Drown?
Bed bugs weigh almost negligible, that’s why they cannot drown in water easily. If you’re thinking of sinking them in a bucket of water one by one, drop the idea as it’s not a convenient and practical one, and most importantly, they will not drown. However, laundering the bed bugs infested clothing into a washing machine makes them sink, and they die in no time.
Natural Home Remedies for Bed Bugs
Peppermint oil, lavender essential oil, and white vinegar are the most effective and less expensive home remedies to repel or remove bed bugs entirely from your property. Make sure to use one remedy at a time and keep your pets and kids far away from the treated area. Also, wear safety gear like a face mask, goggles, and hand gloves while treating the bed bugs infested stuff with these remedies to avoid any accident.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs Reinfestation?
Incorporate the below activities in your day-to-day life to avoid bed bugs infestation in the near future.
- Use protective covers for the mattresses and box springs to reduce bed bugs’ potential habitats.
- Vacuum every corner of your house 2-3 times a day.
- Install windows and doors screens and repair the existing ones if needed.
- Use silicone caulk to patch the tiny holes, gaps, and cracks of the walls.
- Clean up the clutter of your residence to eliminate their hiding spots.
- If you’re a regular laundromat user, then store your clothes in zipper bags after laundry.
- Don’t purchase used furniture but if you want to, perform a thorough inspection before bringing them home.
- Use door sweeps to prevent bed bug movements to other rooms of the house.
- Keep all your personal belongings under sunlight for 4-5 hours regularly or thrice a week.
- If you’re a frequent hotel goer, then store your garments in airtight bags to make them less accessible to bed bugs.
- Secure all the power outlets of your home with outlet covers.
- Launder your pet’s beddings regularly or on alternate days.
- Beware of pesky bed bugs in public places.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article, anyone can fight against the annoying blood-sucking bed bugs quite easily. However, remember to call a service professional if you’re facing a severe bed bugs infestation. If you have any suggestions or queries regarding this article, don’t forget to write in the comment section below.