Itchy, inflamed skin.
Small red buttons appear, in series of 3 to 5, on the arm, the leg…
They look like mosquito bites but it’s curious, it wakes me up at night, it itches intensely like hives.
And yet, they are not mosquitoes in winter!
Yes, you have encountered bed bugs.
These are not fleas, they do not jump but they are visible to the naked eye.
Inspect your duvet, sheets, blanket.
You will notice small black dots that move quietly on the fabric!
How do I find an insecticide that is not dangerous?
Diatomaceous earth is great when it comes to controlling small invading insects and all kinds of pests.
Contents
What is diatomaceous earth?
This earth is made up of shells of dead microscopic algae called diatoms.
These sharp diatom “skeletons” form a soft rock.
Diatomaceous earth is therefore extracted from diatomite, a siliceous rock found mainly in California.
Reduced to powder, it has abrasive, absorbent, and insecticidal properties.
Its insecticidal power translates into an abrasive and fatal action to insects that taste it or approach it.
How to apply diatomaceous earth in home?
Very versatile, uncalcined diatomaceous earth falls into the category of all-rounders:
- it is deodorant (trash can, refrigerator, shoes)
- it absorbs humidity in the house
- it can absorb an oil stain
- it cleans stainless steel, copper, silverware (in paste form)
It also has its specific applications to pets and insects:
- sprinkled on the coat of a dog or cat, it kills fleas and their eggs
- deposited on the passageways of crawling insects (spiders, cockroaches, ants…), it eradicates them
- it treats bedbugs
- it protects houseplants from attacks by aphids, mealybugs, midges while feeding them
- it sanitizes cat litter
The use of food-grade diatomaceous earth is somewhat different:
- it can whiten teeth
- ingested, it eliminates internal parasites while providing trace elements
- it detoxifies heavy metals
- it fixes calcium
- it can be used as bath salt
How to use diatomaceous earth for bed bugs?
Diatomaceous earth helps treat the problem of bedbugs without harming the environment, being safe for people and animals if it is food grade.
On the other hand, its action is indirect, it does not kill instantly like a classic insecticide.
It gets rid of bedbugs in about 24 hours and if some manage to escape from the trap, they will bring the powder to their congeners and micro-sharp crystals will fatally injure them.
But first of all, you need to treat your mattress against bedbugs.
Using a steam cleaner, spray the fabric for a long time on both sides to dislodge and eliminate the bugs that are lodged there.
Next, getting rid of bed bugs means having to treat both the bed, your laundry, each room and cleaning regularly.
Step 1 – Anti bed bug equipment for the bedroom
You will need:
- 300 to 500 grams of diatomaceous earth
- 4 anti bed bug sticky plates
- 2 protective anti bed bug covers, one for the mattress, the other for the box spring
Step 2 – Eliminate bed bugs naturally
Start by installing the bed bug mattress covers (#ad) on the mattress and the box spring after the steam cleaner has been used.
Thoroughly clean the legs of the bed then put them down sticky anti-insect traps (#ad) under each foot to detect the presence of bedbugs.
Place a cup filled with diatomaceous earth on each foot to remove any that will escape the sticky plaque.
Move the bed away from the wall so bedbugs can no longer access it.
Step 3 – How to get rid of bed bugs in laundry?
We can’t say that it’s a passion for them but if they fail to bite you, the bedbugs are very likely to be waiting for you in your laundry and even more in dirty clothes.
To process it you will need:
- trash bags
The task is long, but it is the most efficient.
You must pack your laundry in hermetically sealed bags to trap the bedbugs then put each bag in the machine at 60°C or in a tumble dryer at high temperature.
For delicate pieces, the most drastic is a stay from the bag to the freezer for a week.
Do not take clothes out of the bags to put them back in place until the house treatment is finished to avoid any new infestation of bedbugs.
Step 4 – How to avoid bed bugs in home?
To treat your interior, you will need:
- 600 grams to 1 kilo of diatomaceous earth (depending on the surface)
- a spatula to push the powder into inaccessible corners
- a screwdriver
- ffp1 mask
Put on your mask first so you don’t breathe in the diatomaceous earth which can be irritating when sprayed.
Put it in all the places where they can hide: the baseboards, the sockets, the gaps in the parquet, between the pieces of furniture, in the corners.
The spatula can help you push the powder under the baseboards or the grooves of the parquet, the screwdriver to remove the sockets, and switches to deposit inside a tablespoon of diatomaceous earth.
For convenience, you can use a diatomaceous earth spreader (#ad) handy for application.
Leave these traps in place for about two weeks before vacuuming and emptying them directly into a garbage bag for outdoor disposal.
You can then put your clothes and linens back as normal.
Processing is complete.
How to know if you still have bed bugs?
After the treatment with diatomaceous earth, vigilance must remain in force.
Watch your bedding for small black dots that are bed bug droppings.
The key to success in eradicating bedbugs is to maintain impeccable cleanliness in the weeks that follow.
The steam cleaner and vacuum are your best allies to prevent the return of these vampires.
Vacuum every 3 days in every nook and cranny of the house then use the steam cleaner to treat your bedding twice a week providing the best prevention for bed bugs.
Diatomaceous earth bed bugs (#ad)
Frequently Asked Questions
What attracts bed bugs?
As for the mosquito, the bug is attracted by the carbon dioxide (CO2) that the person releases.
But it also loves smells, heat, and vibrations.
It often targets an isolated individual at the start of the infestation to finally attack all the sleepers to feed.
An invasion of bed bugs in my house, why?
Stink bugs seek warmth in the fall.
They readily hide on mattresses, underpaintings, under rugs, and in window frames.
In the spring, they try to flee your home to ensure their reproduction.
Should I disinfect my laundry if I have bedbugs?
There is no need to disinfect your laundry if you have bed bugs.
Washing is also not very useful.
Just run your dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to get rid of bedbugs.
Do bedbugs live in clothes?
As a general rule, no, they do not remain in the clothes.
Just as they can’t sting you through those same clothes.
The bedbug is looking for breath more than tissue.
It stalks you when you sleep.
Read more:
How to get rid of fleas in your house
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