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Ellen Topness

Ellen Topness has been a counselor in the mental health field for over 20 years. She has a Master of Arts degree in counseling. Throughout her career, Topness has enjoyed writing articles, poems and vignettes for pleasure. She is currently compiling a book of these articles.

University of Kentucky researchers advocate using professionals to get rid of infestations. Exterminators will make use of chemicals to treat bed bug-infested areas. These products are not natural, but work best in fighting these insects. However, some natural remedies may be beneficial in getting rid of bed bugs if utilized in early stages of infestation.

The Natural Cure For website recommends remedies that are purported to have some effect on bed bugs. Black walnut leaf teas produce an astringent effect that can be used as an insecticide for bed bugs. The tea is sprinkled in areas on the bed where bed bugs hide. Other suggestions include spraying tea tree oil, eucalyptus, or lavender on bed linens, couches and the bed.

Another suggestion by Natural Cure For is the use of boric acid powder. Spread this powder around the places where bed bugs hide. Note that boric acid should not come into direct contact with a mattress or box spring. Using boric acid or any other natural remedy may help rid your house of bed bugs. However, these suggestions are based on anecdotal and folk wisdom, and not backed by research. If they are effective, it will most likely be in the brief period of time when the infestation is early and contained in number.

When treating a bed bug infestation, certain items cannot be treated with insecticides. Bedding, clothing, toys, shoes and backpacks by necessity must be treated naturally. The University of Kentucky offers several options for this chore. One is to bag and launder these items in a minimum 120-degree Fahrenheit water. Another effective treatment is to place any of these things in a clothes dryer set at medium to high heat for 10 to 20 minutes. Some items cannot be put in a washer or dryer. These can be de-infested by wrapping tightly in plastic and placing for at least a day in an area that reaches a high level of heat (hot, sunny location or a closed vehicle).

Mayo Clinic online advises taking precautions to avoid bed bugs due to the extreme difficulty in eradicating them. This website encourages vigilance when buying used furniture, making sure to inspect it completely and carefully. Launder all secondhand items before being brought into the home if possible. Ask your landlord to do preventative pest control inspections; and if you own your own home, do the same. Regularly launder bedding and clothing as an ongoing prevention tool. Lastly, repair cracks, holes and other entry ways into your walls, base boards and furniture that would be ideal hiding places for bed bugs.

Bed bugs are tiny, reddish brown bugs that can be found in beds and mattresses, and will bite humans while they sleep....

There are few natural ways to kill bed bugs that will work well on small infestations. However, these remedies are not the...

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