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Have you ever tried killing bed bugs on your own before? Bed bugs in Singapore are treated very seriously due to its bites and great number of eggs the female bed bug lays. Each time a bed bug bites, it is possible to develop an allergic reaction with itching and redness at the bitten area.
DIY methods we can use to get rid of bed bugs
Baking soda for example, is often a popular home remedy. But does baking soda works?
The Baking Soda Method:
One of the DIY method to deal with bed bugs in Singapore- sprinkling baking soda around the key hotspot areas bed bugs typically inhabit such as the mattress and around the bed. After a few days, you’re supposed to vacuum it up and repeat the process.
Why is baking soda used?
It is commonly believed that baking soda is able to absorb all the fluids on the waxy layer of a bed bug’s shell causing them to dehydrate. The small granules of baking soda can also cut into a bed bug shell and cause internal bleeding.
Is banking soda an effective remedy to control bed bugs?
There is no scientific evidence that baking soda works in getting rid of bed bugs successfully. In fact, baking soda breaks down when it comes into contact with water therefore the idea of it being able to absorb fluids is questionable. It is not guaranteed to fully remove a bed bug infestation completely.
Quick facts about bed bugs
Bed bugs in Singapore are becoming increasingly common pest problem. They are efficient hitchhikers and easily transported. An increase in global travel is also leading to an increase of bed bug cases as Singaporeans are well-travelled. Bed bugs are often found in lodging areas and can be carried in on suitcases and personal clothing.
Bed bugs may be tiny, but their impact to your home can be huge.
Known to be challenging to treat as they shelter in the narrowest of gaps such as seams of mattresses, bedframes or behind furniture, bed bugs live by feeding on blood by injecting their saliva into your skin, then sucking out blood for 10 minutes.
Bed bugs are attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide that is evaporated from human skin. One meal can last each bug about 3 days, in warm temperature but by lying dormant, it can survive for up to a year without a meal.
Bed bugs can return even after a bed bug treatment
Bed bugs can recur after a bed bug treatment or despite maintaining a spot and clean home. This is because bed bugs can travel and latch themselves on our body or belongings and drop off at any locations that they are brought in. They also can move from location to location in search for new hosts for food source. In addition, some bed bug solutions may be inadequate or carried out with compromised efficacy. For instance, inconsistent or well-scheduled treatments, missing out potential nesting area or application with incorrect dilution rate or inferior active ingredient quality. Above all, a thorough site inspection is necessary to prevent neglecting treating critical hot spots.
Find out more about the Enhanced Bed Bug Treatment Programme.
Types of bed bug control programmes for a home
There are various bed bug packages available to address your bed bug infestation concerns. These include:
- One off treatment covering either residual spray or steam treatment
- Combination of residual spraying and steam treatment with two to three services
- Integrated bed bug treatments comprising inspection, residual spraying, steam treatment and monitoring
- Bed bug inspection and outreach programme
- Bed bug treatments with different warranty periods and choice of active ingredient
You may also like: Do Bed Bugs Get Worse After Treatment?
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Learn more about bed bugs through these FAQ
Are bed bugs due to poor hygiene and sanitation?
Bed bugs attract to humans because of the warm they seek and not the environment. Bed bug infestation can occur even in a clean room because they travel and cross-infest. Nevertheless, ensuring proper sanitation like cleaning bedsheets and reducing clutter can keep bed bug numbers down through detection and removal of presence of eggs and bugs.
How do I prevent bed bug bites when asleep?
Some methods of preventing bed bugs from biting you while asleep are:
- Sleeping under layers of blankets or wearing full-sleeve pyjamas as bed bugs cannot bite through fabrics
- Regularly washing your bed sheets and pillowcases
- Vacuuming your mattress regularly
- Using a mattress encasement - an airtight covering that goes around your entire mattress
- Avoid placing your bed too near to the wall to prevent them from traveling over
- Eliminate bed bug presence by engaging in professional pest control service
How do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are tiny and small like an apple seed and measuring around 5 to 6 millimetres. They are flat with an oval-shape body and comes with reddish to brown body colour.
Can bed bugs spead diseases?
No, while bed bugs are not known to spread disease, their bites can result in infections due to the constant itching they cause. Moreover, their bites may trigger an allergic reaction in some people due to the foreign antigens present in their saliva.
What happens if my home has bed bug infestation?
It results in health hazards when your home has a bed bug infestation, as their bites can cause extreme scratching, skin lesions and allergic reactions in some individuals. They also inflict aesthetic damage because black marks are left all over the mattress by their fecal matter. More significantly, you can feel stress and anxiety knowing that your home has a bed bug infestation.
Are bed bugs only found in the bedroom or on the bed?
No. Bed bugs can also hide in cracks and crevices on the walls and floors of homes, in between gaps of sofas, among rugs and along slits and edges of curtain. In cases of extreme infestations, they lurk in electric outlets and corners of painting and household items. Bed bugs multiple and spread easily, and it is best to engage in a bed bug control specialist to resolve the infestation promptly.
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