cabbagehead
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The bed bug was almost eradicated fifty years ago, but it has seen a resurgence in recent years due to a combination of increased travel and restrictions on strong pesticides like DDT.
Bed bugs have flat bodies that allow them to get into cracks and crevices throughout the house. If you have any bugs or eggs left over, the population can bounce back and you'll have an infestation again. There are insecticides on the market that will kill bed bugs, but this may drive some bugs out of the area to return later, and you probably don't want to be spraying them where you sleep.
Bed bugs die at temperatures above 120 degrees F (49 C,) so the easiest way to kill them off is by using heat. Bed bugs live on fabric. Wash all of your clothes and linens in hot water. Some items that aren't machine washable can be put in a dryer for 20 minutes. A steam cleaner can be used on carpets and some upholstery, but this will only kill bugs and eggs hit directly by the steam; it's ineffective on couches and mattresses.
Bed bugs will mostly gather where they feed; your mattress. They especially like to hide inside the edge seams. If the mattress is worn, the bugs will be able to crawl into the interior through small tears, making it almost impossible to kill them off. In this case, the mattress should be replaced. Newer mattresses should be sealed with an anti-allergy slip cover to keep leftover bugs from escaping.
If all else fails, call a professional exterminator. They will be able to target and destroy colonies with tools unavailable to the public including quick freeze systems, heaters, and in extreme cases bug-sniffing dogs.
 Posted 5408 day ago
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