Rubbing alcohol kills bed bugs, but it doesn’t kill them all. You need to know why. And you need to do something about it!
Bedbugs are everywhere in your home. They hide under the beds, in the corners of cabinets, behind furniture and even on the walls.
If they aren’t killed immediately with a good spray of bug killer or chemical bait, they multiply rapidly and eventually become a big problem.
You don’t have to worry about bed bugs because you live in a nice house. But if you do get bitten, there’s nothing worse than getting bit by a bed bug while you’re trying to sleep.
That’s when the nightmare begins…
The CDC estimates that one out of every four Americans will get bit at least once during their lifetime. Most people don’t realize that bed bugs are found in many different places: hotels, motels, apartments, schools and daycares, nursing homes and hospitals.
Bed bugs can spread diseases such as malaria (malaria is transmitted through bites) and typhus (which causes death from malnutrition). They can carry bacteria like salmonella which cause food poisoning.
And they can transmit viruses like hepatitis A and human papillomavirus (HPV), both of which lead to cancer.
Hotels are breeding grounds for bed bugs because people travel back and forth from all over the world and bring these little demons with them in their luggage and clothing. It only takes one person to bring a hotel infestation to your home or office.
So how do you protect yourself?
You can start by making your home less appealing to these pests. Hang up all your clothes when you first get home and inspect them thoroughly before you wear them. Check the mattress and box springs in your bed. If you see any signs of bed bugs, call a professional to treat the problem.
It’s also important to check for bed bugs when you’re staying somewhere else. Check the mattress first, then the windowsill, then any other furniture or objects in the room.
If you find signs of bed bugs anywhere, immediately report it to hotel staff and check out of the room.
When you get home, make sure to vacuum all carpets and upholstery thoroughly, and wash all linens and clothes in hot water.
You can also use pest strips to ward off bed bugs from your luggage when you travel. Just be sure to place the strips inside your suitcase and not in your bag so that the chemicals do not damage your clothing.
Do you have bed bugs? How can you tell?
Search for signs of bed bugs that you should look out for.
Bed bugs are oval-shaped and come out at night to feed on your blood. If you suspect you have these pests, don’t waste time guessing.
Be safe and check immediately. Step 1: Locate the Bug(s) Bed bugs do not typically travel far from their hiding spot, so if you find one bed bug, there are more within a close proximity. Start by visual inspection. Gently lift up your mattress as well as mattress pad to look for signs of the pests along the seams and in the folds. Use a flashlight if it makes it easier to see. Bed Bug Eggs Look for tiny brown dots that stick to the fabric. These are bed bug eggs. The eggs are only the size of a pinhead, but should be fairly easy to see if you’re looking closely.
Bed bug bites can also cause tiny red bumps on your skin that may itch. If you believe you’ve been bitten and see signs of bed bugs or their eggs, there is a good chance you have an infestation.
Step 2: Examine Your Bedding Remove your mattress from the bed frame and place on a flat surface such as the floor or a table. Carefully remove the bedding from your bed frame. Examine the mattress for signs of bed bugs, their eggs, feces, or skin shed. This can help you identify a problem area that needs treatment.
Look on and around your box spring for signs of bed bugs or their eggs as well. Step 3: Examine Other Furniture Carefully examine the seams of your sofa and bed frame.
Use a flashlight if needed. If you find any signs of bed bugs or their eggs, the infestation is in your home and will need to be treated.
Step 4: Report Your Findings If you’ve found signs of bed bugs in your room or home, report your findings to the hotel manager immediately. When you check out, remind the receptionist that you had a bed bug problem.
This will help protect other hotel guests from bringing bed bugs into the establishment in their luggage.
Bed bugs are resilient creatures that can survive up to a year without feeding. They’re also nocturnal, so you may not see them during your stay.
However, they can be identified by their telltale signs if you know what to look for. Step 1: Look For Black Fecal Matter Bed bugs are nearly microscopic in size, so it can be difficult to see one without a magnifying glass. Adult bed bugs are brown and about the size of an apple seed. If you’re able to identify a bed bug or see any sign of its black feces, you may have a bed bug infestation.
Step 2: Look For Bites Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of animals or humans. They typically feed at night while you’re sleeping.
If you wake up with itchy bites, there’s a chance bed bugs could be infesting your room. Check your mattress, box spring, and bed frame for signs of bed bugs or their feces.
The best way to avoid bringing bed bugs into your hotel room is to be aware of how they spread. By taking steps to protect yourself and following the guidelines above, you can help keep these pests out of your life and off of your vacation.
Sources & references used in this article:
Effectiveness of alcohol as a do-it-yourself treatment to combat the bed bug, Cimex lectularius by O Ferguson – 2015 – kb.osu.edu
Controlling bed bugs with solvent vapors by BC Black, SN Sheth, LA Varanyak, KW Johnson… – US Patent …, 2014 – Google Patents
Bed bug insecticide by WL Williams, WM Stephenson – US Patent 8,105,620, 2012 – freepatentsonline.com
How & Why to Do Nest Replacements for Purple Martins by K Kostka, JRI Hill – Purple Martin Update, 1999 – purplemartin.org
Controlling Bed Bugs with Solvent Vapors by BC Black, SN Sheth, L Varanyak… – US Patent App. 14 …, 2014 – Google Patents
Method of treating bed bug infestation and preventing transmission thereof by AC Watson – US Patent App. 14/753,825, 2016 – Google Patents
Bedding insecticide composition by S McClanahan, G Hill – US Patent 10,314,314, 2019 – Google Patents
Scabies and bedbugs in hospital outbreaks by M Sfeir, LS Munoz-Price – Current infectious disease reports, 2014 – Springer
