I’m a pest control pro & bed bugs are the hardest to kill – the secret spot they’re hiding & breeding, it’s NOT your bed
WHETHER we like to admit it or not, sometimes we get all sorts of critters invading out homes.
And now a pest control expert affectionately known as ‘Pigeon Paul’ has revealed bed bugs are the worst to get rid of if you do end up with an infestation.
Speaking on the podcast Joe Marler’s Things People Do, Paul said: “Bed bugs, one of the toughest pests to shift because they’re so resistant to pesticides we use and they way they hide themselves.”
Paul revealed that most bed bugs around the size of an apple seed, but you generally don’t see them as they are nocturnal and only surface when people are in the room as ‘they want to feed on you’.
Often, you’ll know if you have a problem as you’ll wake up with a group of ten or so bites around the ankles or wrists.
Paul recalled one particular case that left him horrified regarding an old woman.
He said she had moved downstairs as her bed was infested and she was getting bitten.
She decided to sleep on the sofa, but unfortunately had brought the bugs down with her causing them to spread across her entire home.
The worst part about bed bugs, the pest control expert said, was that they will hide in any crevice they can, even if it’s not soft furnishings.
“They go in plugs, behind skirting boards, light fittings,” he added.
Another grim fact about them was that they are usually clear but turn a dark mahogany colour as they eat your blood.
Not only do you have to get your entire house exterminated – you’ll also have to take all of your clothes and put them in a launderette on a high wash to kill any that have attached themselves and kill off the eggs.
And if you’re someone who likes finding a bargain with second-hand furniture, you might want to think again.
Paul revealed that often bed bugs get into the home because people buy off eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
“You don’t know form Adam where that’s coming from, yeah it looks great, you bung it in your room, three months later you get a massive infestation of bed bugs,” he added.
To get rid of bed bugs, the NHS has a few notes on what you can do.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.
You should wash affected bedding and clothing on a hot wash (60C) and tumble dry on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
You should also put affected clothing and bedding in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for 3 or 4 days.
Clean and vacuum regularly – bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early.
And of course, get a professional in so they can get rid of them at the source, this may mean saying goodbye to your mattress and other furniture.