Have you ever slept on your couch and woke up with an itchy feeling that some insect has bitten you? Well, the tiny and stealthy suspects are bed bugs! And, it is a complete disaster if we cannot get rid of them in our couch.
This article will let you in on some pro tips to getting rid of bed bugs in your couch. These tips require monitoring, constant vacuuming, and even hiring a professional pest control team. So, let us evaluate all of these pro tips.
What are Bed Bugs?
Few pests evoke as much fear and terror as the bed bugs, who are tenacious bloodsuckers. People are taking desperate measures to eradicate the presence of bed bugs in their homes.
Important Note: If you're tired of pests and want a reliable solution, then you should definitely consider seeking help from a professional pest control company. DIY solutions can be effective, but if you're dealing with a significant pest infestation, you don't want to rely solely on DIY methods. Pest control companies typically don't charge huge fees. You can fill out this form to receive free quotes from the top local pest control companies, and compare the quotes and see for yourself. Then, finally, your pest problems will be eliminated for good.
Some have relied on using harmful pesticides, which have little to no effect on them as far as these pests are concerned. So, what are these pests’ vampires?
There are at least 92 bed bugs species known to feed on bats, birds, warm-blooded animals, and humans!
All of these pests are wingless and feed on their prey’s blood, which is called ‘hematophagy.’
The sizes of adult bed bugs range from 1/8 and ¼ inches, and almost all of them have a reddish-brown color and an elliptical body shape.
Bed bugs are well-adapted to crawl on vertical surfaces like mattresses and couches.
These insects can survive three months up to a year of a single blood-feeding conquest. Imagine, these pests are infamous bloodsuckers, and their tinny size gives them the advantage of infesting people’s homes.
And, some people are concerned that these pests may carry harmful bacteria and can even transmit diseases to humans.
Well, let us find out if these assumptions are based on facts and research.
Should I Be Scared of Bed Bugs?
There are no documented cases or evidence showing that bed bugs transmit harmful bacteria and diseases to humans.
To be clear, bed bugs are not vectors of disease and health-related risks to people.
These bloodsuckers can only get so far in causing itchiness and inflammation sustained by people from their bites.
This stigma attached to bed bugs led to poor decisions in people to use harmful pesticides that have little to no effect on these pests.
Inflammation concerns from the bite of bed bugs can be treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids to alleviate the pain and reduce allergic reactions from direct contact with these pests.
Thus, you should not be scared of bed bugs, but it doesn’t mean you need to get rid of them.
Pro Tips to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Couch
It is an outright fact that there is no magic solution to bed bug infestation but, there are effective ways you can gradually practice getting rid of pests in your homes.
Bed bugs are drawn to your carpets and couches. They find this area suitable for nesting, breeding, and growing their family.
The question you needed to answer is this: what are some pro tips I can use to get rid of bed bugs in my couch?
Well, in this section, we have outlined some pro tips to aid you in getting rid of bed bugs in your couch. Let us check each of these pro tips.
Pro Tip #1: Eliminate Clutter
Clutter areas are the haven for bed bugs. These areas allow them to hide and even breed far from the glaring death threats of humans.
When your efforts seem to fail successively, the reason for this can be traced back from your cluttered areas inside and outside your homes.
Bed bugs would likely live comfortably in your couch because they travel from this cluttered mess in your premises.
Eliminating clutter is the first viable option you can do to eradicate the growing infestation of bed bugs gradually.
It is essential to clean all that mess and junk instantly to eliminate bed bugs at a moment’s notice.
Pro Tip #2: Add Encasements to Your Couch
Encasing your couch is crucial as it prevents bed bugs from infiltrating them. If these pests are trapped inside these encasements, they will likely starve to death.
If you have a couch in your home, it is high time to add another protective layer to that one. And, this eliminates hiding spots for these bloodsuckers.
In a practical sense, adding encasements to your couch will initially detect a growing bed bug infestation.
Also, their tiny sizes will not help these bed bugs escape from your encasements added to your couch.
If you’ve successfully trapped them in your encasements, you can eradicate their presence as early as possible and carry out necessary precautions targeting their infestation inside your home.
Pro Tip #3: Vacuuming
Thorough vacuuming will force these bed bugs out of their hiding places, such as on your couch.
Using vacuums will help reduce their populations rapidly. Ensure that when you use a vacuum, it has a removal bag to seal and discard after use.
This time, bed bugs will quickly be sucked by the vacuum’s powerful suction.
Also, scrubbing your couch with a stiff brush will help dislodge eggs and eliminate successful nests.
This will also force these pests out of cracks and corners found in your couch. Remember, you need to be consistent in vacuuming your couch and even your floors, rugs, and bed frames.
In turn, bed bugs are thrown out of their comfort zones.
Pro Tip #4: Steam Treatments
A professional pest control team carries out steam treatments. When properly applied, steam treatments will get rid of bed bugs at any stage of their lives.
Proper application should be carried with low moisture or “dry” steam while moving the nozzle at a rate of 20 seconds per linear foot in your couches.
If you hire a pest control company, make sure to ask them first they have available steam treatments for bed bugs.
Many, if not most of these companies, have steam treatments available. Applying this equipment takes a long time, but it is highly effective in getting rid of bed bugs in your couch.
Pro Tip #5: Heat Treatment
Using heat treatments can either completely control the bed bug population or significantly reduce their growing infestation.
Some pest control companies use fans with a heat source between 130°F to 140°F.
Heat treatments can potentially cause fire and even severe burns, so it is recommended to contact a professional pest control team.
This treatment works highly if clutters are thoroughly cleaned, and vacuuming is implemented in potential bed bug hiding spots such as in your couch.
Ensure that children or vulnerable adult members of the family are at a safe distance when heat treatments are carried out inside or outside your home.
Pro Tip #6: Opting for Least-Toxic Chemical Alternatives
As we have mentioned before, bed bugs can sustain pesticides when applied against them. These chemicals have little to no effect on them; hence your effort will likely fail.
But, if this is your last resort, there are some commercially-available alternatives of least-toxic chemical options you can apply without risking your family’s health.
Treat bed bugs with sodium borate and diatomaceous earth in your couch, walls, and bed frames.
Make sure that you wear protective gloves and google before applying these chemical alternatives.
If you contact a professional pest control team, insist on the heat treatment option.
This one is much more effective in getting rid of bed bugs in your couch and can even bring fewer health-related risks to your entire family.
Final Thoughts
Bed bugs are stealthy bloodsuckers! This time, you are better prepared to address their growing infestation!
But, their growing infestation can be controlled with a comprehensive strategy that incorporates a variety of monitoring, heat treatments, steam treatments, and constant vacuuming.
We hope that you’ve learned something new from this article.
The pro tips we have listed to get rid of bed bugs in your couch are essential measures you can implement to reduce and even eradicate their infestation.
So, heed our advice and start getting rid of bed bugs in no time!
Thanks for reading!
