Tuesday, April 02, 2013

A To Z Blogging Challenge: B is For Bed Bugs

That's right, I said Bed Bugs. I know it's not something most people want to read about or talk about but if you watch the news reports or read articles about it, then you know it's getting really bad and they are sprouting up in more places than just Hotels and Motels.

After hearing all the doom and gloom on the subject I started reading around the internet about how many people were getting ripped off big time by having pest control companies come out and spray. The thing is, they have to keep coming back and spraying because one time doesn't get them all. That's where they get you in the pocket book. They charge you for each time they come out and spray. I'm talking into the thousands of dollars.

So I read and searched and came across a few forums where people were talking about getting rid of the little buggers yourself and it not costing an arm and a leg. I figure I want to be proactive and either make sure I know how to get rid of them if I get them because they seem to be everywhere, or at the very least prevent the little beasts from taking up residence if one or two happen to hitch a ride on a shoe or pant leg. *This stuff is scary*

I started reading people saying they got rid of bad infestations by using Fresh Step Crystals Kitty Litter. It sounds crazy but according to them it will kill most insects because it dries them out from the inside out...it's a desiccant and dries their little ugly buggy butts out.

Save your money for things that work and don't give money to pest control companies that use chemicals that don't work. Bed bugs are immune to so many of the chemicals that are used by pest control but they keep using them and charging you hundreds of dollars.

Using Kitty Litter or diatomaceous earth which is a desiccant and dries bed bugs out, some tape and vaseline...you can rid your house of these pests yourself, but you have to be vigilant and get the kitty litter into all the little spots in your home. It really does work and it's easy and cheap, what do you have to lose before you spend hundred's or even thousands of dollars on a pest control company?

I got a bag of the Fresh Step Crystals and a coffee grinder. I ground up some of the crystals and sprinkled it around where I usually get ants and crickets coming in along my living room wall. It killed the ants and they stopped coming in. I didn't have half as many crickets as I'd had the year before and...now get this, I actually found dead bugs in the kitty litter lines along my walls. Bugs like beetles, water bugs and rolly polly's. Did you know that bed bugs even attack pets? I didn't either so here's how to get rid of them.

I also read on some forums that if you spread vaseline on the feet of your beds and furniture, you can prevent a lot of bugs from getting on them because they get stuck in it and can't walk through it, makes sense to me.

I now buy bags of diatomaceous earth because it's already in a powder form and easier to use than grinding up the kitty litter and it gets rid of all the bugs. I just sprinkle it everywhere, along the walls, in the cabinets, along the window sills, under my bed, in the closets..everywhere. Then every 6 months I vacuum it up and sprinkle some more. I find dead bugs in the powder, ants, beetles ect. You will need to sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on your hanging pictures, drapes, inside of electrical outlets, inside all cabinets, and on all furniture. Turn furniture over and sprinkle the underside as well. Then check each week to see if there are any bed bugs on the furniture.

If you already have bed bugs you may need to throw away some of your furniture because they can hide in the small areas that you can't get to. On your bed take strips of duct tape, place it on the bed and pull it off, Any bed bugs that are there will be ripped up with the duct tape. After doing that, sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on your bed and rub it in. Then replace your sheets with new clean ones. Rub vaseline all over the feet of your bed so that more bugs can't climb up the feet. You can kill bed bugs on your clothes by putting your clothes in a hot dryer for 30 minutes.

You'll have to check your bed, couch, chairs ect for bed bugs and use the duct tape to get them off if you see them. A mixture of 2 parts rubbing alcohol 1 part water if sprayed on them will also kill them.

It can take up to 6 months to totally irradiate them.

19 comments:

  1. Hi! Visiting from A-to-Z! Very interesting post and I love the practical, inexpensive and logical solution to the problem! Hope I never have to give it a try, but like you say, better to be prepared than caught unaware! Happy Blogging!
    Elaine @ spontaneoussputterings.blogspot.com

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  2. Anonymous6:01 AM

    Great tips Mary..
    Nighty Night,dont let the bed bugs bite.yeucch..I hate that

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  3. That is a great tip, I hope I never ever get those suckers though and if I had to use kitty litter, the cats may think they can use it to go haha

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  4. Elaine, I've seen a few ants around and it worked on them too. Hopefully we'll never have to use it on actual bed bugs.

    Trishnugentwriter, LOL My mom used to say that to me every night. Who comes up with those things for kids, right?

    Pat, The cats might find it useful..lol

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  5. I was just about to lie down for my afternoon nap. Now, I've changed my mind, even though I'm feeling very sleepy. But I'm sure I can find something to do until I calm down.

    If the little critters got into this apartment building, the managers would have to clean everyone out, and have the whole place done. That's 100+ apartment units. Wouldn't that be fun.

    Blessings and Bear hugs, nonetheless!
    Bears Noting

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  6. Rob, when I found out about the Kitty Litter I decided to make precautions and grind some up and spread it all over the place. You can never be too careful and it's kept away most of the ants and crickets.

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  7. Thanks for the note! Now, if people could de-bug computers that easily, life would be so delightful!

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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  8. How very interesting! I don't think bed bugs are a problem over here but I know what to do if they do become one!

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  9. D.J, Thanks for commenting. Hope they never become a problem for you.

    Rob, you are very welcome. Debugging computers would be nice. Hate those things :)

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  10. Fascinating...although I hope I don't have to use it any time soon (or ever). I am slightly tempted to just see what's crawling around.

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  11. andrea, Thanks for stopping by. I have bug-o-phobia, so I find ways to keep the bugs out. lol Although I do like spiders.

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  12. Wow, I did not know that at all! This will certainly save somebody a lot of money.

    - T'Laina (usuallyboring.blogspot)

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  13. T'Laina, Thanks for coming by.

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  14. Good tip, thanks for sharing

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  15. I'm lucky to live in the high desert! There aren't any bed bugs, or even fleas up here. Unfortunately, we have a ton of annoying ants.

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  16. Oh no bedbugs D: I've been lucky enough to avoid them so far and I hope it stays that way.

    Maybe vinegar would work for bedbugs. I know for ants it basically burns them alive, so perhaps spraying vinegar everywhere you have bedbugs could kill them.

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  17. Mike, Thanks for visiting.

    Kristin, I live in Las Vegas and people are reporting them in this desert so I hope they don't get where you are.

    Villyne, I'll look into vinegar. I didn't know that would kill bugs.

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  18. I'd heard that bed bugs are becoming worse. Hubby is in pest control, but personally I prefer the kitty litter way :)

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  19. Wow! Didn't know that, thank you for the helpful tips! www.sandysanderellasmusings.blogspot.com

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