Eliminate Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) Without Pesticides
If you have bedbugs and can’t afford treatment or do not want pesticides inside your
home, then I have another option for you.
Preparation For Treatment
- Be sure you have bed bugs. They can be hiding anywhere in sleeping areas They are more easily seen in seams of sheets, mattresses, and box springs. You can use the internet to identify the insect or take a specimen in a sealed container to a reputable pest control company. Keep in mind the size of the insect varies according to age, from the size of a fine ball point pen tip up to 3/16 in.
- You need to recognize the signs of bed bugs which include smeared small blood streaks from crushed bed bugs and small blood spots from excrement on bed mattresses, box springs, pillows, pillow cases, and sheets Learn to recognize cast skins that bed bugs shed, which are often found on the floor near sleeping areas. You can find illustrations on the internet.
- Wash and dry all washable materials including curtains in washer and dryer. Use hottest water that is safe for materials. Use highest and longest dryer temperature that is safe for materials. Items that can only go in dryer need to be dried twice. Use tied or sealed plastic bags to transfer materials from infested areas to laundry area. Discard the plastic bags immediately after placing possible infested materials in washer and dryer. Discard by placing bags into a new bag, then seal new bag, and discard in outside trash container.
- If you have freezer space, you may place items in freezer that cannot go in drier. Leave items in freezer for several days. 0 degrees F. kills bedbugs when their body temperature reaches 0 degrees. In the summer you may be able to place items in black plastic bags in a hot car. Air in the car should be above 120 F degrees for several days. Leave items in car for several days.
- Discard any items not needed in bed bug infested areas. Discard all corrugated boxes. Remember to place discarded items in sealed bags when transferring to outside garbage.
- Suck up all visible bed bugs with a wet/dry vacuum that has a collection bag inside the vacuum for safe, easy disposal. If you only have a wet dry vac without collection bag, pour hydrogen peroxide into drum of vac to cover bottom. Be sure air exhausting vac. is filtered.
- Do not use vacuum cleaner to clean carpets in bed bug infested areas. You can steam clean carpet or use wet dry vac to clean carpet and rugs that can’t be washed. Take vac outside and dispose of collection bag in sealed plastic bag and place in outdoor garbage. Wash vac hoses, attachments and drum outside if possible, if not wash in bathtub.
Treatment
- Dip rag in cold pressed coconut oil and wring out rag to avoid oil running and dripping. Use rag to wipe mattress, box springs, bed frame and legs, dresser, picture frames, floor wall junctions, electrical outlets, telephone and TV cable wall jacks, window sill joints, and any crack, crevice or joint. Cold pressed coconut oil can be purchased at health food stores. If coconut oil solidifies, place container in warm water. Do not heat oil. Bedbugs have an affinity for wood and often hide in wood cracks and crevices.
- Next dust all areas treated with coconut oil with fine talc (baby powder). Be sure baby powder is pure talc. Talc is relative safe, but wear a dust mask when applying it. Use a bulb duster to apply a very thin almost invisible layer everywhere you apply the coconut oil. Bulb duster works best when not completely filled and stem of duster is at an angle slightly below horizontal. If stem of bulb duster is to low, too much dust comes out and coconut oil becomes ineffective. Bulb type battery fillers make excellent bulb dusters and can be purchased at auto parts stores.
- It may take a few days, a week, or even several weeks for all bed bugs to die. When more bedbug eggs hatch, the coconut oil and talc will eliminate them. Inspect for live bedbugs every week, for three weeks in areas where people sleep or take naps. Then inspect monthly for three months. Let me know your results.
