Avoiding & Repelling Bed Bugs

[digiMom]

I'm staying at Pop in October and saw some mention of potential bug bug issues there. Yes, I know they could potentially be anywhere as well. I talked to my bro who does a lot of traveling. He said you can repel them from your luggage by taking a ziplock bag, poking some holes in it and placing bay leaves in it. Apparently they can't stand it.

So this inspired me and I did a search on bed bugs and basil. I found this webpage with some good information in it. http://www.thegreenlivingexpert.com/bed-bug-bites.html

Here's the content:

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on human bloods and bed bug bites can transmit diseases. They live under mattresses and seek for food source at night. They can suck out blood for about five minutes.

Though not dangerous, the bites can cause skin irritation and rashes. They infest in any place in your bedroom. As they do not create nest, they can easily hide anywhere. It is significant to get rid of them in the initial stage, because each bug can lay four or five eggs in a day and form a big batch in a short period of time.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs

No one wants bed bugs in their bedroom. The bed bug bites can be annoying and it is important to take some steps to eradicate them, before the problem becomes severe. Though there are several insecticides available in the market, it is not advisable to use them. They contain harmful chemicals and if inhaled, they may cause breathing problems. It is safe to use some natural cleaning products to get rid of bed bugs.

• The best way to eliminate bed bugs is to wash bedding in hot water.
  
• You can vacuum the bedroom, mattresses, furniture and carpet. This helps to remove bed bugs and their eggs. You can also use some natural disinfectant while cleaning.
  
• Steam cleaning is beneficial in eradicating bed bugs.
  
• You can use organic bed bug sprays, which help to exterminate bed bugs in a safe manner. You just need to spray on the infested areas. The powerful ingredients used in these sprays penetrate the body of the bed bugs and make them suffocated within seconds. They also help to eliminate larvae and eggs of the bed bugs. They do not produce any fumes or odors and you can sleep immediately after using sprays.
  
• You can dust diatomaceous earth around the cracks in your bedroom. It is one of the best natural remedies against bed bugs. It is a naturally occurring soft white powder. It absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of bed bugs and causes them to dehydrate. It is non-toxic and safe to use in homes.

Bed Bug Bites

• You can try a homemade recipe to get rid of bed bugs. Take few drops of eucalyptus essential oil, clove oil, rosemary oil and lavender oil with a cup of water. Mix them well and pour them into a spray bottle. You can spray the mixture over infestations. It can deter bedbugs, but can cause stains in clothing and bedding. If you use this mixture, you need to avoid sleeping in the bedroom that night.
  
• You can mix dried eucalyptus leaves, rosemary, dried lavender and cloves. Put them in small bags and keep them in closets, suitcase, drawers and any other places. This helps to control the problem of bed bugs in your home.
  
• A mixture of black walnut tea, basil leaves, thyme and lavender can also help to eliminate bed bugs.
  
• Bed bugs are sensitive to heat. You can put the linens in the drier for thirty minutes, which in turn can cause the insects to die. You can also dry the linen outside, when it is extremely hot.

Bed bug bites can cause minor swelling and skin irritation. If you have infants at home, you need to take immediate steps to exterminate them. Infants are prone to scratching at insect bites and so they may get secondary skin problems. However, using chemical based insecticides can irritate the throat and lungs. Bed bug bites may also contribute to several other health problems. Hence, it is always wise to use natural cleaning products to eliminate bed bugs. ​

Some other advice I've heard is to not put your luggage on the beds and try to keep them off the floor.

I've also heard that insect repellents like OFF! don't work because they wear off by the time the little buggers are most active, which is usually around 4am to 6am.

If anyone else has advice, go ahead and continue to post...

 

[nytimez]

There's a lot of misinformation about these critters. The part about not putting your luggage on the bed may or may not matter -- the bugs could be in the bed and mattress, but they could just as easily be in the furniture, in the corners of the carpet, even in the TV.

I don't know if the bay leaf thing will work, but I suspect that while there may be a little truth to it, if it was that simple they wouldn't be so hard to eradicate.

The only lasting insecticides that kill bed bugs are not safe to spray on bedding. The stuff that's safe to spray on bedding will kill bugs on contact, but will not last -- so it won't protect you during the night from creeping crawlies.

Your best approach is good prevention -- check your room carefully, especially the bed and mattress. Use a flashlight and check other crevices. Don't put your clothes in the drawers, use bags, and when you get home unpack your suitcase carefully in the bathtub.

If you get home during the summer, and it's hot out, you might be able to kill any hitchers by leaving your luggage in your sealed car for a few days, the bugs don't like extreme heat and if it gets hot enough in there, they will die. I've heard the same said of extreme cold, but I don't know if a car in winter will get cold enough to have the same effect.

Good luck.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you fly, your luggage can pick them up from some other luggage that may have been infested with bedbugs from another location. It's not just your hotel room, it can be anywhere. I thought I just read about the Victoria's Secret Store in NYC being closed for several days while they treated the store for bedbugs.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) First Rule: Stay in room without bedbugs.
2) Second Rule: If you have bedbugs, move to a different room.
3) Third Rule: If you can't move to a different room, try a different hotel.

NOTE: You can't kill 'em, and you can fend them off. If your room has bedbugs, you will get bug bites. And, there is a good chance you will take the bugs home with you. Then, your house gets infested. Bummer.

 

[GFFAN]

If you fly, your luggage can pick them up from some other luggage that may have been infested with bedbugs from another location. It's not just your hotel room, it can be anywhere. I thought I just read about the Victoria's Secret Store in NYC being closed for several days while they treated the store for bedbugs.

I caught part of this story last week. It was on NBC Evening News. Apparently bed bugs are a big problem in New York City right now. They mentioned the Victoria Secret store, Abercrombie store and Bill Clinton's office all having to be treated for bedbugs!

 

[mrsswat]

 

[digiMom]

Maybe we can bring along this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9-s0P984pI&feature=related

 

[thumper*]

Temps over 130 degrees will kill them. I recommend washing any clothing you take on vacation w/ you immediatly when you get home.

 

[RMulieri]

The only thing that truly got rid of them was DDT , and it was banned here in the US awhile ago.Heat does work, but at high temps and it often takes more than one treatment.As others have said you have potential to pick them up EVERYWHERE.Not just hotels.Planes where luggage comes in contact and even stores are now having issues.Not sure if the Bay leaves will help, but it can't hurt.The only thing is your clothes may smell like Bay leaves

 

[Tara]

If you fly, your luggage can pick them up from some other luggage that may have been infested with bedbugs from another location. It's not just your hotel room, it can be anywhere. I thought I just read about the Victoria's Secret Store in NYC being closed for several days while they treated the store for bedbugs.

I hadn't heard about Victoria's Secret, but both Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister (the big stores in Soho) were closed due to bedbugs.

 

[Evi]

I spray my luggage inside about 10 mins before I pack with deep woods off and outside before we leave for the airport. Yes I know this stuff is potent but a friend who travels internationally swears by it so its what I do.

 

[gizfish]

I spray my luggage inside about 10 mins before I pack with deep woods off and outside before we leave for the airport. Yes I know this stuff is potent but a friend who travels internationally swears by it so its what I do.

There is no pesticide that the average citizen can purchase to repell or kill bedbugs, so Off is not going to do it.

 

[Mamu]

Bill Clinton's office also having to be treated for bedbugs!

It's been a while since I've had a good laugh.

 

[doggydoc]

There is no pesticide that the average citizen can purchase to repell or kill bedbugs, so Off is not going to do it.

Not completely accurate. While there are anecdotal reports of resistance products containing the pyrethrin Deltamethrin is considered effective in controlling bed bugs. Here is link on the Penn State Entomology website:

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bedbugs

It does warn that control should be handled by professionals but Deltamethrin purchase is only restricted in a few states. A search for Deltamethrin or product name Suspend SC will yield options for purchase.

 

[digiMom]

OK, so these are a few of the reasons I started looking into this:

1. I'm renting a reclining lift chair from a medical supplier for my mom during our stay. They gotta check and clean their equipment, yes?? Not specifically for this reason, obviously, but ...
2. My son has had some real allergic reactions to insect bites. Not epi pen for bees, but big welts from things like chiggers, mosquitoes, etc. Enough that he's on Zyrtec for the summer so he doesn't look like he has chicken pox.

I do think the best thing to do is to thoroughly check the room. I'm gonna add to that completely checking the chair. (Although I'll probably try some herbs too. I don't know that they'll help, but they can't hurt )

 

[Caiden_09]

Quite informative post on avoiding and repelling the bed bugs. Couple of months ago, I hired one of best pest control services for bed bug problem and they also provided information on how to treat bed bug bites instantly. It really helped me a lot.

 

[Hopefully]

Quite informative post on avoiding and repelling the bed bugs. Couple of months ago, I hired one of best pest control services for bed bug problem and they also provided information on how to treat bed bug bites instantly. It really helped me a lot.

This is a 7 Year Old thread. It is reposted by a first time poster