How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Quickly

Those bloodsucking mites of singsong lullabies aren't soothing in the least. They're also maddening to exterminate, since they can be nearly impossible to detect until the problem becomes acute. According to the National Pest Management Association, the number of people calling exterminators regarding bedbugs has risen 81 percent from 2000 to 2010. Some people might consider moving as a drastic solution to their bedbug problem, but going to that extreme is likely unnecessary.

Things You'll Need

• New mattress

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Instructions

• 1

  Replace the mattress. A mattress might become bug free with applications of certain treatments, but the safer, quicker and definitive solution is to buy a new one and have the bed frame and headboard treated or replaced.

• 2

  Thoroughly examine every area around the bedding. This includes nightstands, electrical outlet covers, lampshades and even the insides of books and magazines. Discard anything that shows signs of bedbugs--either the bugs themselves, or small, uniform dark splotches, a telltale sign of the pests that indicates their feces.

• 3

  Throw away infested upholstered furniture with rips or tears. Rick Steinau, of Ask the Exterminator, says, "Bed bugs can get behind buttons, tufts and piping where pesticide applications are difficult. As a rule of thumb, any piece of upholstered furniture with torn fabric should be discarded."

• 4

  Dry-clean all blankets, pillows and curtains, according to a University of Florida report on bedbugs. The study further mentions that bedbugs cannot live in temperatures exceeding 113 degrees, so if dry cleaning isn't an option, washing bedclothes and other linens in hot water might eliminate them as well.

• 5

  Steam-clean the carpets. The heat from the steam will also kill the insects. Rent steam cleaners from supermarkets or hardware stores or have your carpets treated professionally.

• 6

  Call an exterminator. A professional evaluation can determine the severity of the problem and provide the most efficient method of removal.