April 2nd, 2018 by Chris Chapman

"Goodnight, don't let the bedbugs bite!"

We've all heard that saying before, and with good reason. As anyone who has had bedbugs will tell you, they're a serious problem. Bedbugs might seem harmless as they don’t carry any diseases, but once they infest a house they can be very, very difficult to get rid of. This means, while they aren’t dangerous, they can cause huge amounts of stress as they keep you awake, itching and irritated, with seemingly no end in sight. But what exactly are bedbugs and how do you deal with them?

What are bedbugs?

Bedbugs are tiny bloodsucking creatures of just a few millimetres in length. As the name suggests, they like to live, feed and breed in soft, warm places, meaning your bed is like an all-inclusive holiday for them! Don’t take the name too literally though – even if you kick the bedbugs out of your bed, chances are they may also have spread to other areas, like sofas, cupboards, carpets, skirting boards and even inside electrical appliances. Bedbugs are so tiny, they can enter your home any number of ways

How do bedbugs get into my home?

Bedbugs can get into your house any number of ways, most commonly through fabrics and soft things. This means luggage, clothing, furniture (especially used furniture) or even through animals. Bedbugs aren’t picky about what kind of blood they feed on! Despite the myths, bedbugs are not particularly attracted to dirt and grime. Just because your house is spotless doesn’t mean you’re immune from bedbugs!

Do I have bedbugs?

Since bedbugs are so tiny, and often strike when you’re in bed sleeping, they can be quite hard to spot. However, there are a few telltale signs you can look out for:

• Feeling unusually itchy or irritated while in bed
• Bites start appearing on various areas of your body. Bedbugs aren’t like many parasites and don’t tend to stick to one area of the body. They’ll happily tuck in wherever they can get!
• An unusual “gritty” feeling in your sheets. Bedbugs will leave eggs and droppings wherever they go, and unfortunately that means if you have bedbugs, your bed will be full of this stuff!
• Small bloody spots on your body or sheets. It can be quite distressing to wake up to bloody sheets but try not to be alarmed. This usually means you’ve squished a bedbug while it was feeding and is one of the best indicators you have an infestation
• A musty smell in the bedroom. This might be hard to spot if you’ve got teenage boys in the house though!
• Seeing bedbugs, bedbug shells and eggs in your bed. This might seem obvious, but if you spot any of the above first, you may want to thoroughly investigate your bed, headboard and frame with a bright torch

How do I get rid of bedbugs?

As with many things, being prepared for bedbugs makes getting rid of them much, much easier. We highly recommend looking at specialised bedbug prevention pillow covers and mattress covers, especially if you have an expensive mattress. These covers are scientifically proven to prevent bedbugs from infesting the core of your pillows and mattress, meaning you won’t have to throw the pillows or mattress out to get rid of the bedbugs. If you’ve got a costly mattress and you’re worried about bedbugs, investing in protection is something we’d strongly recommend. Bedbugs are usually brown if they haven't fed, or red if they have The next step is to investigate your options for smoking the bedbugs out. In many cases, the best option is to take that phrase literally with a bedbug-killing smoke generator! This is a simple and fast-acting HSE-approved method of getting rid of the critters that only takes 3 hours to take effect, meaning you won’t have to stress about getting locked out of rooms in your own home for hours on end. After the 3 hours is up, it’s perfectly safe for kids and pets to enter the affected room. Check the product page HERE for more detailed info on how to use smoke generators effectively. Another alternative is to look into an insecticidal spray. Insecticide might seem like an intimidating idea, but there’s no need to worry! As long as the product is HSE (Health and Safety Executive) approved, it’s perfectly fine for use in homes, even with children and pets. Just make sure the applied surface is dry after use.

Retreating an affected area

Before buying any products, bear in mind one of the many reasons bedbugs are so tricky to get rid of is because they lay lots of eggs wherever they can. This means retreating any affected area with a growth inhibitor spray is also a great idea. Simply treating an area with a single product and hoping for the best is a risky move as there may still be eggs that are ready to hatch and begin the cycle all over again! Products such as the Biopren Bed Bug and Flea Killer spray will prevent insects from developing to the next stage of their life cycle, meaning they can't grow up and lay eggs. HSD stocks a huge range of HSE-approved products for dealing with bedbugs, including growth inhibitors, sprays, powders and more. Click HERE to view our full range, and if you have any questions about which solution would be best for you, simply get in touch via the phone, or via our live chat function on hygienesuppliesdirect.com! Bedbugs can give you nightmares, but with a little preparation, perseverance and some professional-quality products you’ll be able to rest easy in no time! Other resources: Ten facts you need to know about bedbugs Tipsbulletin guide on home remedies for bedbugs