Bedbugs – familydoctor.org

Bedbugs can be a terrible nuisance, but they have not been shown to spread disease.

If you have bedbugs in your home, wash all of your clothes and bedding in hot water. The water temperature must be at least 120F to kill the bedbugs. Then, dry them in a hot dryer. If possible, avoid taking your laundry to a public laundromat or dry cleaner. This can lead to a bedbug outbreak.

Vacuum all of your luggage and furniture, including your mattress and box springs. If anything is infested, either replace it or cover it with plastic. Dark plastic works better. Then, place it in a dry spot with direct sunlight. The hotter it is the more bedbugs will die from the heat. Keep the item in sunlight for at least 24 hours. Afterward, fix any cracks in your furniture. Fill and seal any cracks or holes in the walls or floors.

If it is cold outside, you can freeze the infested items instead. Place them in a dry, shaded spot outside. Freezing will take 2 to 4 days at 0F and about 7 days at 20F.

If your infestation is severe, you may need to contact a pest control professional. Ask questions about what chemicals they use. Be sure to keep children and pets away during the treatment.

See the rest here:
Bedbugs - familydoctor.org