How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs _ DIY Pest Control _ The Home Depot

Even the cleanest of homes can get bedbugs .

They need only a means of entry and a food source .

Bedbugs reproduce and spread rapidly .

So even a small problem can quickly become a large infestation .

Tell tale signs of bedbugs include a sweet musky odor , rust colored spots on mattresses or bedding and bites similar to those of a mosquito to confirm the presence of bedbugs use disposable bedbug traps that will attract and trap insects in about an hour .

If bed bugs are present place additional traps in other areas of your home to determine how widespread the infestation may be all infested rooms must be prepped before treating the problem .

Clear clutter from the room , especially from under and around the bed .

Any items you're washing should be placed in a sealable plastic bag while still in the affected room .

If you're getting of items dispose of the bags outside of your home , if you have items stored in boxes , place them in plastic totes .

Instead , bedbugs can hide inside cardboard , remove any bedding and clothing that have been exposed , seal them in bags and immediately clean all items with a detergent , specially formulated for killing bedbugs set your washer on its hot water cycle and dry the load on the hottest temperature setting , vacuum the room thoroughly including the mattress box , spring baseboards , and even behind switch and outlet plates .

When done immediately remove the vacuum bag or bagless container , seal it in a plastic bag and dispose of it .

There are a variety of safe do it yourself .

Bedbug treatment products available .

Most of them are odorless and non staining for larger areas .

A fogger is a good option .

It will not only kill adult bedbugs but also their unhatched eggs .

It will reach into rugs , window treatments and the other areas where they hide , use only one fogger in a room and never place one in a small confined area like a closet before activating the fogger .

Close all windows , turn off fans and the heating and cooling systems .

If a closet has been infested , leave the closet door open during the fogging process , extinguish all open flames including pilot lights and unplug appliances that cycle on and off such as refrigerators , set the fogger on a box or table in the center of the room and activate the fogger as directed .

Leave the room immediately and close the door behind you do not reenter the room until two hours after the treatment is completed , immediately open the windows , turn on any fans and the ventilation system and allow the room to air out for two hours .

Treatment products are also available in powder form and are great for treating tighter spaces .

Spray bottle and aerosol products work well for treating smaller areas and spot treating mattresses and box springs lay out new disposable traps to confirm there are no bed bugs left to prevent bugs from crawling up into your bed .

Place interceptors under each leg in case your box spring and mattress in a specially designed protective cover .

Be sure your headboard doesn't touch the wall and that no bedding touches the floor .

When traveling , set a bedbug trap to check your hotel room and when returning home , spray your luggage before packing unpack outside your home , seal your clothes and blastic bags and immediately wash them .

Taking these simple steps will help you sleep .

Well , knowing the bed bugs won't be biting for more detailed information about this and many other projects .

Check out the diy projects and ideas section of Home Depot dot com or talk to one of our store associates and thanks for shopping at the Home Depot .