There are numerous signs that your home could be harboring bed bugs. These small, brownish insects are known to cause severe itching, skin breakouts, and stains.
Bed-bugging is more common than you think; however, not every pest will leave traces of its presence after an infestation. If you don’t want your home to suffer from another invasion, it’s essential that you start taking the necessary precautions soon after spotting the first signs of a potential problem.
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are about the size of an apple seed, flat, reddish-brown in color, and can live for a year without feeding.
There are three common types of bed bugs:
- The common house spider which resembles a spider but is actually an unrelated arachnid;
- -The brown dog tick is also called an American wood tick because its feeding habits resemble that of a dog; and
- The blood-sucking bat bug is often mistaken for a spider or another type of pest due to its appearance. It feeds on bats and other mammals, such as dogs.
The Life Cycle of a Bed Bug
In order to understand how to get rid of bed bugs, it’s important first to understand their life cycle. Bed bugs have a life cycle that is similar to the one of a cockroach.
The life cycle of a bed bug is relatively short. They begin as eggs maturing through three stages of development in egg, nymph, and adult.
First, an adult bed bug will lay its eggs in the furniture folds or on the walls, leaving behind a sticky substance called frass. The eggs are oval-shaped and can be yellow or brown in color. At birth, a bed bug is translucent and lighter in color than an adult; however, it becomes darker with age as it becomes more developed and prepares itself for adulthood: The older it gets, the darker it becomes.
After about five days, larvae will hatch from the egg and begin to feed on a host’s blood for about three weeks before maturing into adults and moving on to another host. This can lead to infestations in areas such as the bedroom or living room with the potential for multiple generations.
This means it’s important that you check your home for signs of bed bugs after any excursion, even if you think it was just someone else’s problem in your home. As soon as you first notice signs of bed bugs, you should start treating your home for all signs of their presence.
A bedbug infestation can start in numerous ways: through a discarded suitcase or bag, where they take up residence after being brought in by visitors, or even through your furniture and mattress.
Signs that You Have Bed bugs
Signs you have bed bugs may include:
- Bed bug bite on your skin.
- Dark, reddish stains on your bedding or furniture.
- Bed bug Excrement and/or fecal matter in your bedding or furniture.
- Unexplained bites that don’t match the pattern of a bite from a human or animal.
What is Vinegar?
Vinegar is an acidic liquid commonly used in foods, pickling, and cleaning. It’s a very popular household item, especially in the United States.
Vinegar is usually made from fermenting any of three types of alcohol with a bacterium called Acetobacter. Acetobacter eats the alcohol, producing vinegar as a waste product. Vinegar is a safe and effective home remedy for bed bugs.
Does Vinegar Kill Bed Bugs?
Vinegar is a safe and effective home remedy for bed bugs. It works well to eliminate the problem of insects without any harmful side effects. Vinegar is made from fermented fruit, vegetables, or grains, which are beneficial for removing unwanted microbes from your home. It’s an inexpensive way of bed bug control.
It’s worth noting that vinegar does not kill bed bugs on contact; it must be applied for a few minutes to the affected area to work its magic. Soak the affected area in water with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing off with a wet cloth or sponge.
The Problem with Commercial Solutions
Commercial solutions for bed bugs are often expensive, ineffective, and dangerous. Commercial treatments can also be harmful to your health because they may contain harsh chemicals that could potentially cause allergic reactions. Commercial treatments often rely on toxic chemicals and can cause irreversible damage to your home or your health.
Home remedies are better because they don’t cost as much, are safer to use, and can be customized to suit the needs of your family. One such remedy is vinegar.
Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial agent that helps with bed bugs treatment at home in a safe and effective manner.
It is cheap and easy to find at any grocery store or market, which makes it an effective solution for those who have a hard time affording more costly options like chemical-based treatments.
Vinegar is also inexpensive enough that you shouldn’t worry about getting rid of the excess after using it on bed bugs; you can dispose of the used vinegar according to the instructions on the packaging.
Pros and Cons of Using Vinegar to Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Vinegar is a surprisingly effective and safe home remedy for bed bugs. However, there are some cons to using vinegar and other safety precautions, such as wearing gloves when you’re cleaning your home.
Pros of Using Vinegar to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Vinegar leaves no scent or toxic residue on surfaces, so it’s a great way to get rid of the evidence without having to worry about any traces left behind that could be accidentally ingested by children or pets.
Cons of Using Vinegar to Getting Rid of Bed Bugs
Vinegar is a strong acid and can cause severe skin damage if handled improperly, so special care should be taken when using this remedy.
Another downside to vinegar is that it might not eliminate all stages of a bed bug infestation. You will have to keep up with regular maintenance, such as vacuuming up eggshells and feces left by the bugs in order to maintain control over the problem.
In addition, it can take several weeks for vinegar to kill adult bed bugs and eggs because these insects are hardy and tough.
Home Remedies for Bed Bugs with Vinegar
How does vinegar kill bed bugs?
The smell of vinegar is enough to deter these pests from coming near your home for a good few weeks. It can be mixed with water or directly poured on the insects. It also has some natural components that make it even more effective in killing them:
- Acetic acid dissolves the waxy coating found on their cuticle. It irritates the bed bugs’ exoskeleton, which causes them to dehydrate, die, and possibly rupture.
- Alcohol which causes their respiration to fail;
- Organic acids lower their pH levels and cause damage to their exoskeleton. These acids are found in many different plants such as tomatoes, oranges, lemons, and limes;
- Carbolic acid renders them immobile due to its toxicity i.e. it kills them by causing a stupefying effect. This is found in coal tar creosote or wood creosote as it is commonly called;
How to Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
- Simply mix one part vinegar with two parts water in a spray bottle and apply that mixture to the infested area.
- Another option is to use a mixture of borax and water. Combine 2 tablespoons of borax with 1 liter or more of water in a bucket or container. Then stir well until it turns into an opaque liquid.
- Then sprinkle the mixture over your home, concentrating particularly on any cracks or crevices where bed bugs are likely living. The borax will kill the bugs when they come into contact with it, so make sure you coat every inch of your home with this mixture.
What to do After Using Vinegar to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
1. Throw your mattress, bedding, and furniture outside in the sun.
2. Sterilize all surfaces you have touched with the vinegar.
3. Use a vacuum cleaner or insecticidal dust to eliminate any remaining bugs.
4. Wash your belongings with hot water and soap.
5. If there is still a problem, call an exterminator.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
Bed bug bite is itchy and red. They can be slightly swollen and discolored, which is why it is not uncommon for people to mistake them for mosquito or flea bites.
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, which means they feed on the host while they sleep. You may find some of their fecal matter on your bed sheets, mattress, or in your pillowcase in the morning when you wake up.
There are three types of bed bug bites:
- The first type of bite is a raised bump that looks like a pimple from the outside but feels like a slight pinch on the skin. This type of bite comes from the parasite’s feeding tube as its proboscis sucks the blood out of you.
- The second type of bite is small puncture wounds that have a clear liquid being exuded from them.
- Finally, there is a third type which produces an ulcer that is usually circular and filled with blood (this type usually occurs if you scratch or pick at the skin around the bite).
- Using Soap and Water to Treat Bed Bug Bites
The first step in treating the bites is to wash the affected area with soap and water.
If the bites are very itchy or uncomfortable, then use hydrocortisone cream or natural ointment. In case you notice swelling and redness at the site of your bites, then it’s an obvious case of bedbug bites.
- Using Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat Bed Bug Bites
You can also take apple cider vinegar and apply it to the spot where you were bitten. Vinegar will act as a disinfectant and kill any pathogens that might have been left lurking on your skin after being bitten by the bed bug.
Alternatively, you can dilute white vinegar with water to make a thin paste which should be applied on the site of your bite so that it starts dissolving immediately to cleanse any traces of waste material that might have penetrated your skin during the biting process.
It is advisable not to apply this remedy if you are allergic to vinegar, as there’s a chance for you to have an allergic reaction.
Insect bites from bed bugs usually itch for 24 hours after they get infected with bacteria from their saliva; however, some people may only experience itching for 12 hours after getting bitten: In such cases, try rubbing some Vicks vapor rub on the affected area(s) before going to sleep so that you can get rid of these irritating feeling when you wake up in the morning.
Conclusion
Bed bugs have become a major problem in the United States. Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that are nocturnal and feed on humans. Bed bugs are not only unpleasant but also dangerous. Bed bugs can cause skin rashes, inflammation, and infections.
These little bugs can make you sick and even cause you to be allergic to your own bedding and clothing. If you are unfortunate enough to be bit by a bed bug, be sure to treat the bites immediately. If you are experiencing a bed bug infestation, you should try to treat the problem as soon as possible.
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to get rid of bed bugs naturally. If you want to learn more about pests, please read the other articles we have a lot of other remedies for you. Thanks for visiting!
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