Bedbugs -- How do you get rid of them?

[swogden]

I don't know if I have bedbugs, but something bit me and the vampire insect from hell is on my list.

Been reading about BB's on the website BadBedBug.com and it's truly scary that this insect is so tough to irradicate.

How do you know you have them?  If they are bad enough you will see them, but they don't like the light so they usually don't come out until 3-4am -- to feast on you when you're in deep sleep.

You normally only realize you have them when you react to their bites.  Not every one reacts to their bites, but I think if you are bitten enough, you'll see the results of the bites -- 3 or more in a row or in a triangle shape - that itch like crazy and bloom into pinkish red areas.

If you are infested, and bring in a professional to remove them, there is no guarantee they will be successful and it usually requires several or continuing visits to keep them under control. (and mucho $$) If you live in an apartment or condo, the insecticides may simply drive them into your neighbors dwelling and eventually they will find their way back to you.

So I'm interested in your experiences, your home remedies, successes as well as failures.


I've learn two things in my reading:

1.  Bedbugs find you by detecting the CO2 you breathe out.
     (So if you move to another room, they'll follow the CO2 trail and move with you.)
2.  They don't like the smell of cedar or lavender.  Don't know whether the smell messes with their ability to detect CO2 or whether the smell actually repels them.

[swogden]

I've confirmed that what I have is bedbugs.  Found some in various stages so they've been here a while.  Hope that I have found them soon enough to eradicate them without totally destroying my house.

Have to continue my research, but would welcome comments and suggestions of you.

[swogden]

Set up a CO2 trap using alka-seltzer to produce the CO2, but didn't catch any nosy bugs.  Either the CO2 isn't enough to attract them or they weren't hunger enough to go hunting.

The instructions are to put 4 alka-seltzers on a wet sponge and both items on activated hand warmers.  When the bugs sense the CO2, they move towards it and then locate the victum via body heat (hence the hand warmers).  I put duct tape around the dish containing the sponge/alka-seltzer (sticky side up) to catch the bugs.

Maybe tonight will produce some results.

[sdecaro558]

Pretty sure you would need an exterminator to actually get rid of them and be certain they're gone.

[deisha718]

I've never had bed bugs before. But when they were a big topic in the news a couple of years ago, I learned about a natural possible way to get rid of them -- Diatomaceous Earth.  The food grade brand is also used as a detox in addition to exterminating.

http://www.richsoil.com/diatomaceous-earth.jsp
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/get-rid-of-bed-bugs.php

[catherinedwhite]

I am pretty sure you can vacuum and clean up any minor cases of bed bugs.
Unless you are extremely infested, I doubt you will need an exterminator. 

[laine39]

I've never had them, but I've read they are very difficult to get rid of and you really should get an exterminator asap!

[debrar]

I know heat get rid of them, if you can put your furniture out in the sun for about one hour that will get it. My daughter got a moving U-haul and let her furniture sit in it to get hot to kill them and washed everything went to the laundry made sure the dryers were really hot to kill the rest. Also cleaned her carpet and used diatomaceous earth. I live in a house we got rid of our carpet and make sure I wash all the sheets once a week. My curtains are washable too. I keep a lavender plant by my front flower bed by the door and a huge rosemary plant in the back. I don't know if that helped, but we have not had any problems. KNOCK ON WOOD!  Good Luck!

[davidh121]

If you find them in your mattress encasements for your mattress might be an idea to starve them. However, there really isn't any sure fire way to get rid of them.

[Gerianne]

There are professional bedbug exterminators. I was reading that is your best solution to make sure they are GONE!

[PGS28]

I've had them once, I believe they came from the warehouse my new beds came from.  I ended up throwing the beds and any other cloth they may have attached to away.  They are very hard to get rid of.  If this isn't an option call an exterminator as someone else suggested.