| There are several ways to kill bed bugs infesting | | | | are about a quarter of inch in length and can be |
| a home. Usually a combination of several steps | | | | seen. They are not much observed because they |
| and methods will eliminate them altogether. | | | | tend to hide out in dark crevices and only come |
| For best results and total elimination, a | | | | out at night. After a through examination around |
| comprehensive cleaning of the house, and an | | | | the sleeping area they should dislodged by |
| insecticide application to infested areas, should be | | | | brushing and scraping their hiding places and by |
| carried out, under the advice of a professional | | | | immediately vacuuming before they scramble to |
| pest control expert. However in cases where that | | | | another hiding place. Trash in the vacuum bag |
| kind of comprehensive treatment is not required | | | | should be sealed and disposed of safely. Any |
| or infestation is only suspected, there are several | | | | hiding places and crevices found through this |
| other steps a homeowner can take to kill bed | | | | method should be caulked and filled up if possible |
| bugs. | | | | so that they do not offer shelter to bed bugs in |
| Bed bugs come out at night to feed on the blood | | | | the future. |
| of the host. So one of the first steps that can be | | | | Various insecticides can be used to kill bed bugs. |
| implemented to kill bed bugs is to remove the | | | | Most such insecticides available commercially can |
| physical possibility of their traveling from | | | | kill lot of other pests like ants and cockroaches as |
| wherever they are hiding to the host at night. | | | | well. Generally insecticides that kill bed bugs come |
| This can be done by separating the bed from any | | | | in the forms of aerosols or dusts, and can be |
| adjacent furniture or walls. Legs of the bed can | | | | sprayed or spread on the bugs and their hiding |
| be coated with Vaseline or mineral oil. Coating | | | | places. Unlike with some other insects, bed bugs |
| should be about 2 inches in width. A barrier of | | | | cannot be baited. These insecticides generally |
| silica aerogel or chalk can also be placed around | | | | remain effective for a long period. |
| floor of the bed posts. | | | | Other methods of killing bed bugs include placing |
| Another method that can be used is placement of | | | | infested furniture and garments in very cold |
| sticky tape on bed posts so that individual bed | | | | temperature or in the sun for several days. Bed |
| bugs can be captured. This would also make it | | | | bugs cannot stand cold temperature or heat for |
| possible to identify the infestation clearly. Double | | | | long. This method also destroys bed bug eggs. |
| sided carpet tape can also be used to trap | | | | Before reintroducing the furniture so treated to |
| bedbugs. | | | | everyday use again, they should be thoroughly |
| It is also possible to physically remove some of | | | | inspected. |
| the bed bugs and their eggs. One of the many | | | | By regularly carrying out such steps a bed bug |
| misconceptions about bed bugs is that they | | | | infestation may be stopped in an early stage. |
| cannot be observed by human eyes. In fact they | | | | |