It takes one night of sleeping in a bed bug infested apartment to know how much discomfort they can cause. You’ll be consumed by thoughts on how to get rid of these tiny insects forever. Also, bed bugs multiply fast and the more you stall on getting rid of them, the more infested your apartment becomes. 

If you're wondering how to get rid of bed bugs in your apartment, you're in luck. This article has some great tips you need to keep your apartment free from these insects. 

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are tiny wingless insects. You're most likely going to spot them crawling around surfaces like beds, beddings, sofas and other furniture. Like most crawling insects, they are flat. The larger part of this insect is oval and reddish-brown. However, some species and younger bed bugs may be lighter in colour.

Bed bugs are not easy to spot  because they are tiny and do not fly or jump. In fact,  you may only notice that you have bed bugs in your apartment when you see red bumps on your skin or spot blood stains on your beddings.

Where Do Bed Bugs Hide

Bed bugs are about a quarter inch and can easily fit into most crevices in an apartment.  They stay  in tiny holes, furniture and beddings. They get comfy in mattresses, headboards, curtains, drapiers, wallpapers, luggages and clothes.They can stay anywhere as long as it’s cool and big enough for them to access.  You’ll probably never find one when you search for them. 

However, if you see rusty blood stains on your beddings,  pillows, pillowcases, duvets, comforter or bed cover, it is probably a sign that there are bed bugs in your apartment. 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in an Apartment

Getting rid of bed bugs in your apartment can be challenging and it may difficult to make your apartment completely bed bug free. Thus, it is not a one off thing and you have to constantly eliminate the bugs to prevent an infestation.

You may need to engage licensed and trained professionals to do so. One popular method of inspection is the use of dogs that smell bed bugs. Well trained scent dogs can find bed bugs from almost anywhere in the house, offering early detection and peace of mind for homeowners. However, if you’re working with a tight budget, there are also some DIY ways to get rid of bed bugs. Here are some great tips for getting rid of these insects.

Declutter

If you have piles of clothes, toys, books, utensils or any or any other items that you barely use or move around, you may have created a comfortable nest for bed bugs in your apartment. Thus, you should declutter your apartment thoroughly and discard items that you will no longer use. 

You can arrange most items in organisers, closets  or wardrobes that have been disinfested. 

Use BedBug Proof Beddings

Beddings are the primary nest for bed bugs and you can minimise bed bug infestation in your home by making sure you use bed bug proof beddings. These beddings prevent bed bugs from breeding and nesting on them. To find out if a bedding is bed bug proof, check the description on the pack as It is usually specified on the pack. 

If you  constantly find bed bugs on your bed, you should change your bed cover and other beddings to bed bug proof ones. 

Fumigation

Over-the-counter pesticides are often a great way to treat bed bugs. It is usually specified on the instruction manual or container if a pesticide kills bed bugs. However, it is best to hire an expert if you want to use this method. Chemical substances are usually toxic and may affect other living organisms in your apartment. Thus, you need an expert to confirm that the pesticide is safe. Experts also comply with all safety guidelines and instructions.

Apart from hiring a professional, you also need to stay away from your apartment after fumigating for the prescribed hours on the instruction manual. Better still,  you should fumigate when you are going to work, going out for a long time or taking a short trip. Depending on how long it takes for the pesticide to wear off,  you may need to stay away from your apartment  for a couple of days. 

If you do not want to stay out of your apartment and the pesticide is not too toxic to keep you out, you can create a space in your room to stay. It could be an enclosed space or a room that you will not be fumigating. However, ensure that you comply with the safety guidelines and consult a professional where necessary.

Heat Treatment

Bed bugs have weaknesses too. One weakness is that they cannot cope when exposed to high temperature. Thus, heat treatment is an effective way to eliminate them from your apartment.  Bed bug heat treatment entails increasing the temperature of your apartment  to 52 degrees celsius to make the atmosphere uncomfortable for the bed bugs.  However, it’s advisable to hire an expert for this. 

You should also seal all open spaces like windows, door cracks and floor openings to seal the heat in. You should also ensure that the heat gets to the cold spots in your apartment. You can do this by placing a hot box close to the cold spots.