How to fight a bedbug at home? - briefly
Start by washing all bedding, clothing, and curtains at 60 °C and vacuuming mattresses, furniture seams, and baseboards, discarding the vacuum bag afterward. Then apply a professional‑grade insecticide or controlled heat treatment and seal all cracks and crevices to prevent reinfestation.
How to fight a bedbug at home? - in detail
Bed bugs hide in seams, mattress edges, furniture joints, and behind baseboards. Confirm their presence by spotting live insects, shed skins, or rust‑colored spots on bedding. Immediate action prevents spread.
- Strip all bedding, curtains, and clothing; launder at 60 °C (140 °F) for at least 30 minutes, then dry on high heat.
- Vacuum mattresses, box springs, bed frames, upholstered furniture, and floor crevices. Empty the vacuum bag into a sealed trash container.
- Encase mattresses and pillows in zippered, bed‑bug‑proof covers; keep them sealed for at least one year.
- Steam‑treat surfaces above 120 °C (248 °F) for 20 seconds; steam penetrates fabric and cracks where insects hide.
- Apply a residual insecticide labeled for bed‑bug control to cracks, baseboards, and furniture legs. Follow manufacturer dosage and safety instructions, using protective gloves and eyewear.
- Distribute silica‑gel or diatomaceous‑earth dust in voids and under furniture; these desiccants kill insects through dehydration.
- Place interceptors under each leg of the bed; monitor daily for trapped bugs and replace as needed.
- Seal all cracks, crevices, and gaps in walls, floors, and around plumbing with caulk or expanding foam to eliminate entry points.
Maintain a clutter‑free environment, wash linens weekly, and repeat vacuuming and steam treatments every two weeks until no live insects are observed for a full month. Continuous monitoring and strict hygiene are essential to eradicate the infestation permanently.