Can I Prevent Bed Bugs Naturally?
Natural prevention of bed bugs has been shown to reduce the risk of getting bed bugs, however, these methods are not strong enough to tackle an active infestation. With that in mind, implementing at-home remedies as part of your regular home maintenance is an excellent move to prevent bed bugs! Some common methods include:
- Diatomaceous earth
- Essential oils
- Peppermint
- Petroleum jelly
- Dryer sheets
- Baby powder
All-Natural Bed Bug Repellents
There are several reasons why property owners attempt all-natural remedies as a first step to address bed bugs. With that in mind, these approaches range in effectiveness, and none have been shown to eliminate an active infestation.
- Spreading diatomaceous earth around infested areas can absorb oils and water from the bed bug exoskeleton. This dehydrates the bugs and will eventually kill them.
- Essential oils may deter some bed bugs but do not work as an effective repellent for bed bugs.
- There is no recorded evidence that dryer sheets, baby powder, petroleum jelly, or other items will prevent or kill bed bugs.
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Does DIY Bed Bug Treatment Work?
While some of these methods may assist in repelling the bed bugs, this will not cause them to evacuate your property, nor would it cause them to be terminated. Bed bugs need an aggressive, lethal treatment often administered by a professional. Whether a heat treatment or insecticide, all the bed bugs need to be removed in order to control an infestation. While all-natural remedies provide several benefits, it’s important to know their limits.
How to Keep Bed Bugs Away
There are several steps you can take to help prevent bed bugs from taking over your home:
- Conduct inspections of common bed bug hiding areas periodically. Knowing the signs of bed bugs can help you to act fast. For example, bed bugs leave small, dark fecal spots on upholstery and mattresses. Their bites can also leave behind a small blood spot on bedding and the bites are itchy marks on your skin.
- Should you bring second-hand items into your home, inspect the items for signs of bed bugs.
- Take away the top hiding places for bed bugs by covering your mattress with a protector and covering power outlets.
- Should you travel, inspect your hotel room when you arrive and inspect your suitcase when you unpack after your trip.
Preventing Bed Bugs Naturally vs. Professionally
Knowing the signs of bed bugs is one of the best ways to prevent them from infesting your home. All-natural remedies are just one of the ways you can deter bed bugs, but it is usually not the final solution once an infestation has taken over. At this point, it is recommended you consider a bed bug control expert who can guide you through prevention and treatment methods in your Flushing NY home!