Finding bugs indoors is common in the warmer months, whether fruit flies, ants, spiders, or a colourful ladybug on a windowsill. Though most are harmless, some creatures are downright unsightly, like bed bugs, which point to a bigger problem in the home. 

Bed bugs are oval, four to five millimetres long, flattened from back to underside, and have thick, well-developed legs. But despite being small, they can cause significant issues once indoors. Rentokil experts note that bed bugs remain hidden in tiny cracks and crevices during the daytime, with the first sign of bed bugs being "bites that appear on your body after you wake up." For this reason, it is important to act as soon as you notice evidence of activity.

How to get rid of bed bugs without chemicals

Several types of chemicals, including pyrethrins, pyrethroids, desiccants, and insect growth regulators, are used to treat bed bugs.

Chemical treatments generally require a long preparation period, which is why heat treatments are better than fumigation. Extreme Bed Bug Control notes that you’ll have to pack up most of your things and remove anything that could potentially be damaged.

Fortunately, natural remedies that are much safer can be just as effective in containing an infestation. Rentokil suggests beginning with a four-step method before seeking professional help.

1. Inspect

The pest control experts say that anyone who thinks they have bed bugs should check "hot spots" such as mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, along the edge of carpets, and nearby furniture (cabinets, drawers, armchairs, sofas) for live insects.

2. Wash

Remove all infested bedding and wash it at a high temperature of at least 60C for ideally 90 minutes minimum. 

3. Heat

Once washed, place items into a tumble dryer for a minimum 30-minute cycle. Bed bugs and their eggs die at temperatures above 49C, and a dryer can easily reach 60°C or more, according to pest.co.uk.

4. Vacuum

Empty your vacuum before and after cleaning the affected rooms, and make sure to target more than just the flooring. Vacuum your bed, mattress, and any area near where you have spotted bed bugs.

Rentokil suggests using the hose attachments to clean along walls and around edges. Afterwards, take the vacuum outside of your property to empty into an outside bin and seal securely, they instructed.

Households can also use a tightly woven, zippered cover for mattresses and box springs to effectively block bed bugs from entering or escaping.

Unlike other bugs, bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding, so the best way to prevent them from returning is by keeping mattresses covered for at least one year.

It's worth checking other areas in your bedroom where bed bugs can hide, like around peeling wallpaper. Repair any cracks and crevices to plug the pests. Lastly, clear any clutter around the bed to give the bugs fewer spots to hide under.

It may be sensible to dispose of an infested mattress and replace it with a new one, but households must ensure that bed bugs are eliminated from all areas of their home, or the new bed will also become infested.

For those who have taken all the necessary bed bug prevention steps and have not succeeded with DIY treatments, they will need to seek professional help. H

The risk of infestation can be significantly reduced with regular vacuuming and washing bedding weekly.