Bed Bug Bites Are More Than What They Appear To Be
They are there though, and if you want to eliminate them or keep them under control, there are a few things you can do to cut down on the problem.
The thought of going to sleep every night in a bed filled with creeping, crawling bugs may be enough to give you nightmares. As disturbing as it might be, this is exactly how most people sleep.
Your first defense is to wash your bedding at least once a week. Buy sheets that can be washed in hot water and put in the dryer.
Also, include pillowcases and comforters when washing bedding. The mattress should be vacuumed once a week when you change the bedding, which helps pull allergens out of the fabric.
Since you cannot throw your mattress into the washing machine, you have to find another to remove the skin flakes bed bugs feed on. That, and while taking care of the actual bugs and other dust particles that can cause itching and lead to an unsettled night of sleeping.
Vacuuming is the best solution for this.
Essential oil sprays are also a great way to cut down on bugs in the bed. Certain scents detract bugs of all kinds, so if you mix a few drops of essential oil with water and spray a light mist over your bed in the morning and at night, it will cut down on the buggy buildup.
You may also want to apply the scent to your body before settling in for the night with lotion. This reduces your skin’s flaking while you sleep and adds extra strength to the unappealing bug scent.
A lot of people like to sleep with their pets in bed, but keeping them on the floor will cut down on bug potential. While bed bugs may love chomping on human skin, other bugs thrive on the coat’s of animals and they will be hopping into bed if you let Fido or Fluffy on your sheets.
Helping your animals sleep comfortably may require a little effort, but hopefully, you can train your favorite pet to sleep beside the bed on comfortable bedding of their own. If this does not work, keep them out of the bedroom a few weeks until they get used to the idea of not joining you in bed.
Finally, keep your bedding off the floor. Some people will see this as an obvious solution, but through a long night of tossing and turning, others wake up to find their sheets and blankets tossed onto the floor.
This is especially true if you typically sleep with a lot of bedding, pillows, and quilts. If your bedding ends up on the floor, launder it before using again if possible, and if not, at least give it a few good shakes before covering up with it again.
Remember, bed bugs are not the only creatures who will be looking for a dark, warm place to settle in for the night.
