How to Eliminate BED BUGS with SALT

Before we focus on how to get rid of bed bugs with salt and other methods, let’s get to know these parasites better. So are bed bugs:

Reproduction and bed bug eggs

Bed bugs reproduce through traumatic insemination, that is, the male pierces the female with his hypodermic genitalia, ejaculating inside her body. The female lays, on average, 5 eggs per week, and each one matures at approximately two weeks. Bed bug eggs are milky white and 1 mm in length.

What are bed bugs like – physical characteristics

When they hatch, the nymphs (bed bugs in their immature state) immediately begin to feed on any warm-blooded host. The bed bug goes through 5 nymph stages until it reaches adulthood. In mature age, a bed bug usually presents a reddish-brown color in his body of oval shape. They do not have wings and are between 4 and 5 mm in length, so they can be seen without the need for magnifying glasses or microscopes.

How bed bugs feed

To feed, bed bugs crawl across any surface until they reach the skin of their prey. Once placed on the host, they pierce the skin with two hollow tubes located in their mouthparts. With one he draws blood, with the other he injects his saliva into the skin. Bed bug saliva it works as an anesthetic, as it contains anticoagulants so that the living being does not feel the sting immediately and so that it is easier to obtain the blood. After feeding for a few minutes, repeatedly biting various areas of the body, the bed bug leaves the victim and goes back to hiding in its hiding place, which is usually in furniture, mattresses, clothing and cushions.

Bed bugs appear in temperate climates worldwide, being a species of about 250,000 years old. Their daily time of activity begins at sunset, but early morning is their ideal feeding time.

Bed bugs tend to lodge in furniture, as in the corner seams of mattresses and cushions. This occurs because insects are attracted to sweat and carbon dioxide from human and animal respiration. Since their activity hours coincide with the normal hours of rest of the human being, the beds and other furniture in the rooms and living rooms are their favorite hiding place.

In the same way, they are installed more easily if we do not change sheets, bedspreads and covers frequently, as these fabrics quickly soak up sweat. Likewise, it is necessary to frequently vacuum mattresses, cushions and bed bases, to avoid the accumulation of dust and dirt on beds, armchairs and other furniture.

Although during the 20th century insecticides almost completely eliminated bed bugs in the world, the toxicity of many of these insecticides caused their prohibition, for which reason in the 21st century the species has reappeared with force, developing greater resistance to non-pesticides. poisonous. But do not worry, in OneHOWTO we will show you, below, how to eliminate bed bugs from the sofa, beds, armchairs and other furniture in your home.

Of the options to eliminate bed bugs with home remedies, salt is often pointed out as the simplest and most effective way to eradicate this pest. However, it is scientifically proven that salt does not kill bed bugs. The reason? These insects only consume blood, and are agile enough to avoid grains of salt scattered on sheets, cushions and mattresses.

Therefore, the salt does not poison them. It does not dry them either, as the salt is not harsh enough to peel the exoskeleton of the bed bug, which diatomite (diatomaceous earth) does, which you can also use to kill this pest.

However, even if I don’t kill them, salt is effective in keeping bed bug infestation out of the home because they are not comfortable in an excessively salty environment and it repels them. In addition, this way you can prevent them from reproducing on any piece of furniture. Here’s how you can use salt to keep bed bugs out of your house:

• Sprinkle salt over cracks in door frames and baseboards. That will prevent the pest from taking advantage of the entry points they mostly use.
• Spread salt around furniture and bed legs. This will prevent bed bugs from climbing onto mattress and cushion fabrics easily.
• Sprinkle salt under the mattress and the seats of armchairs and furniture. This will block the typical shelters of these insects.

Although salt is not the best option to end a great plague, here we leave you other products to eliminate bed bugs, with a much higher percentage of effectiveness and to use at home without problems.

Contrary to what many people think, bed bugs are actually resistant to conventional insecticides. Although they can be easily squashed, they reproduce so quickly that removing them permanently from armchairs, sofas and beds can be a real battle, especially if the right products are not used. Here we leave you excellent options for eliminate bed bugs with home remedies.

• Lavender oil: spraying the edges and legs of beds and furniture, as well as under mattresses with lavender oil, is effective, as bed bugs hate its smell and flee the place.
• Tea tree oil– Mix with any household cleaning product to disinfect the affected room. You can also sprinkle drops of this oil under mattresses and cushions, as its powerful fragrance is intolerable to bed bugs.
• Citronella oil: Another fragrance detested by bed bugs. Sprinkle drops of this oil under the mattress and the bed bugs will be scared away.
• Sodium bicarbonate– Spread over any cracks in ceilings, walls, and baseboards to prevent bed bugs from entering your home.
• Thyme– In suitable container, burn the weed in infested rooms to decontaminate any sofa or bed. Also, a concentrated infusion of thyme sprinkled on key areas of the house will be very effective. The powerful smell and composition of this plant are ideal for quickly ending pests in the home.
• Creolin: This disinfectant helps kill this pest and other types of insects, such as fleas. In this other article we explain how to use creolin for bed bugs.
• Guava leaves: An infusion of the leaves of this plant, or even its fruits used in other ways, are powerful as an insecticide that will reduce the presence of this parasite in your home. Here you can learn how to use guava for bed bugs.

Also, take note of the following instructions to remove bed bugs and their eggs from your home:

• If you are looking for how to eliminate bed bugs from the sofa and beds, the heat It is the best alternative to exterminate this annoying pest. Wash all sheets, bedspreads and other bedroom clothes with very hot water. Then, dry it in the sun or with a dryer.
• Clean the rooms with a steam vacuum, with a temperature of 50 ° C. Any tissue will be quickly decontaminated in this way.
• Avoid clutter at home, as well as using quilts and covers with holes and for a long time (remember to change sheets, blankets and bedspreads often).
• Repair cracks on door frames, ceilings and walls. Similarly, check the structure of furniture and beds, repairing any cracks in the legs, bases and backs.
• Use anti-mite covers for mattresses, armchairs and furniture.

To finish, we recommend these other unCOMO posts in which we teach you more about How to eliminate bed bugs with home remedies and How to make bed bug poison.