Where do bed bugs appear in an apartment and how can they be eliminated at home with folk remedies? - briefly
Bed bugs concentrate in mattress seams, box‑spring joints, headboards, furniture crevices, baseboard gaps, and behind wallpaper. Applying steam, sprinkling food‑grade diatomaceous earth, and laundering bedding in hot water are effective DIY methods to suppress them.
Where do bed bugs appear in an apartment and how can they be eliminated at home with folk remedies? - in detail
Bed bugs tend to concentrate in areas where humans rest or store clothing. Typical sites include mattress seams, box‑spring corners, headboards, and the underside of bed frames. They also hide in upholstered furniture, sofa cushions, and behind picture frames or wall hangings. Cracks in baseboards, floor joists, and wall voids provide additional refuge. Personal items such as backpacks, luggage, and clothing piles can serve as temporary shelters, especially when left near sleeping areas.
Eliminating the insects without professional chemicals relies on thorough physical removal and natural agents. The following steps are recommended:
- Heat treatment: Wash all bedding, curtains, and removable fabrics in water above 60 °C (140 °F) and dry on the highest dryer setting for at least 30 minutes. Place infested items in a sealed plastic bag and expose to direct sunlight for several hours; temperatures above 45 °C (113 °F) are lethal to bugs and their eggs.
- Steam application: Use a handheld steamer delivering steam at 100 °C (212 °F) to treat mattress seams, couch crevices, and baseboard cracks. Move the nozzle slowly to ensure penetration for 10‑15 seconds per spot.
- Vacuuming: Employ a vacuum with a HEPA filter, focusing on seams, folds, and hidden crevices. Immediately discard the vacuum bag or empty the canister into a sealed bag and dispose of it outdoors.
- Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle food‑grade diatomaceous powder in thin layers along baseboards, under furniture, and in wall voids. Reapply after cleaning or after the powder becomes damp. The abrasive particles damage the insects’ exoskeleton, causing dehydration.
- Essential oil spray: Mix 10 ml of tea tree oil, 5 ml of lavender oil, and 5 ml of peppermint oil with 500 ml of water. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap as an emulsifier. Transfer to a spray bottle and mist infested areas, focusing on cracks and seams. The oils act as repellents and may impair feeding.
- Silica gel packets: Place unused silica gel sachets in drawers, closets, and under furniture. The desiccant lowers humidity, creating an unfavorable environment for the pests.
After applying these measures, monitor the situation for at least four weeks. Set up intercept traps—small containers with a light source and a sticky barrier—near suspected hideouts to detect surviving insects. Repeat heat, steam, and powder treatments if new activity appears. Maintaining a clutter‑free environment and regular laundering of fabrics reduces the likelihood of reinfestation.