BED bugs are easy to accidentally bring into your home, causing an infestation, but are not so easy to remove.
So what can you do to get rid of the pests — and does flea spray kill them?
Does flea spray kill bed bugs?
Yes, common flea spray can be used to kill bed bugs.
It can be sprayed on a wide area as well as used to target a specific location.
As well as spraying the infected area you can use flea treatment by mixing in a large quantity to a bath filled with hot water.
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Place infested sheets into the tub and let them soak for at least 10 minutes.
Insecticides containing pyrethoids, piperonyl butoxide, imidicloprid, acetamiprid, or dinetofuran can be effective against bed bugs.
What else can be used to kill bed bugs?
Bed bugs can be killed in the following ways:
- Exposure to direct heat — If you find bed bugs on your bedding, put them straight into the washing machine and the heat will kill them.
- Vacuum clean — If you get your vacuum out as soon as you see the bugs, they will most likely die when you suck them up, but make sure to carry the vacuum outside straight away just in case.
- Steam clean — If you have a steamer to hand, steam your sheets right away and the heat will kill the bed bugs.
- Rubbing alcohol — One of the most popular ways to get rid of bed bugs is using rubbing alcohol. If you dilute some with water and use a spray bottle, the bugs will die almost instantly.
- White vinegar — You can use white distilled vinegar on the edges of infested areas and spray it on the blighters directly. However, it needs to be in direct contact with the critters and will only work on adult bugs.
- Professional treatment — To get rid of bed bugs once and for all you may need to call in a professional. They will have all the appropriate chemicals and tools to eradicate the issue.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
Although their bites can be itchy and lead to skin rashes, they do not usually cause serious health problems.
Bed bug bites are red in colour.
If you notice spots on your body when you wake up in the morning, it could be a good indicator the bugs are lurking between your bedsheets.
Expert Nic Shacklock said: "The bites will often form a straight line across a part of your body — this is a hallmark bedbug trait."
Thankfully bed bugs are not dangerous, but they can cause extreme discomfort and stress if you are bitten by them.
Baby bed bugs, known as nymphs, shed their skin five times before reaching adulthood and need a blood meal before every shedding.
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small insects from the genus Climex that feed on blood and often live on furniture or bedding.
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As they are insects they have six legs and two antenna.
They are typically brown, dark yellow or red in colour, flat and oval-shaped.
The adult insects are small — around the size of an apple seed or 5mm long.
The critters have vestiges of wings called wing pads, but they do not fully develop into functional wings, therefore they cannot fly.
Unlike fleas they do not jump either.
They are visible to the human eye but the main way to know they are in your house is if you are bitten by them.