Amazing Ways - Using Isopropyl Alcohol For Bed Bugs

by: Nathan Shepard

Of all the beasties i have had to cope with, Bedbugs have got to be the most sickening. I hate the little blighters! There are several species of Bedbug but this article will deal with the Common Bedbug ( Cimex lectularius ), as it's the most plentiful, being found in most temperate climates around the world.

The Common Bedbug feeds off human blood and doesn't discriminate between blood groups. The adult has a flat reddish-brown oval body and measures roughly 4-5mm in length. During feeding, their abdomen fills up with blood and expands leaving the bug resembling an apple seed with legs.

Bedbugs are even less widespread than they used to be but have been making a little bit of a comeback recently. While big infestations may still happen, it is more customary to cope with infestations of tiny numbers of bugs. Bedbugs can enter the home via used beds, sofas and curtains and can even be transferred in luggage after visiting hotels, guesthouses, and so on.

A revealing Bedbug bite is a string of bites close together and blood spots on the bed sheet. The Bedbug doesn't actually bite, as it doesn't posses biting mouthparts, more exactly it uses two hollow tubes and injects its victim with an analgesic and an anticoagulant. This means that the victim is unaware of the bite until sometime later with the onset of serious itchiness. Bites frequently happen in a small row. Some will suffer from a hard sore, white in colour with a reddish swelling and secondary infection is always a risk with folks scratching the itch. Revealing signs of Bedbug activity are tiny spots of blood on your sheets.

In contrast to popular misconception, the cleanliness of your house has no impact on whether or not you are in peril from a Bedbug infestation. Should Bedbugs find their way into your residence, they will look for shelter often in the stitching of mattresses, settees and curtains. Openings behind wallpaper and skirting boards could also harbor bugs. Regular vacuuming of these locations can remove the tiny suckers. An inexpensive anti-bug barrier can be built by wrapping double-sided sticky tape around each leg of the bed.

Remove all bedding and clean up it by washing on a hot wash ( fifty Centigrade or 120 Fahrenheit ). You can deal with the mattress with a portable steam cleaner that are to be had from many retailers. If you have got a divan bed, be certain to go over the base completely with the steamer. A stiff brush is handy for dislodging any eggs and shed skins from seams. If you can dismantle your bed frame, do so, as this can show up any hiding bugs. So use this as an excuse to carry out a severe spring-cleaning of your room. Seal any cracks and holes in the fabric of the room with an acceptable sealant - a caulking gun and silicon gel is good for this reason.

So what about the pros ' should you just take the simple route and pay for them to solve your problem? Well if you do, they will come along and tell you to strip the bed so they can start using isopropyl alcohol for bed bugs to the mattress and bed frame / divan base. If they're intensive and know their business, they should also look for possible harbourage across the room and treat these areas too. You are still going to need to deal with sanitizing your bedding, so you must weigh up whether you would like to pay for the spray or the cost of a steam cleaner.