These are pests that have been in the news in recent days: bedbugs. While infestations have declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of cases is increasing with the resumption of population movements, particularly due to travel and mass tourism. “We have not reached the plateau, that is to say we are in the exponential phase”, precise to Current wife Jean-Michel Bérenger, entomologist and bedbug specialist. So, how do you know if there are bedbugs in your home and what can you do to get rid of them? We take stock.
How do I know if there are bugs in my bed?
It can be difficult to spot bedbugs, as they prefer dark places to settle. “Bedrooms and living rooms with sofas are the main targeted rooms. These insects are small and especially their larvae (1 to 2 mm). It is difficult to spot them, because they can creep into the smallest spaces. Additionally, they feed at night,” underlines Public Health France. Bedbug bites are painless for a majority of the population and do not wake us up at night, making their detection all the more difficult.
Certain signs can indicate the presence of bedbugs:
- bites grouped together on the skin,
- small black spots on the mattress, the sheets or even in your armchairs or sofas,
- streaks of blood on the sheets.
Bedbugs: what to do in case of an infestation?
If you have noticed the presence of bedbugs in your home, it is not impossible to chase them away. The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion recommends a series of actions to get rid of it.
Clean fabrics at 60 degrees Celsius
Firstly, it is recommended to clean the belongings 60 degrees Celsiusthen the dry for at least 30 minutes in “warm” mode. This allows you to eliminate both adult bedbugs, but also younger ones and eggs. “The laundry is transported from the bedroom to the washing machine in a closed bag. Linen and clothing washed in this way must be kept in sealed plastic bags until the infestation is over. underline the health authorities.
Freeze your belongings at -20 degrees Celsius
Another way to get rid of bedbugs is freezing objects (at least at -20 degrees Celsius), during 72 hours minimumespecially for items that cannot be washed in the washing machine.
Clean surfaces using a specific device
It is possible to clean objects or furniture with a dry steam device whose temperature reaches at least 120 degrees Celsius. Likewise, it is advisable to clean the surfaces using a vacuum cleaner, which allows the eggs to be sucked up. Afterwards, the vacuum tube should be cleaned and the bag sealed and then discarded. It is also advisable to clean surfaces with a brush, dry or with a surface cleaner. This step is not enough and must be coupled with “a major cleaning of the floor”according to health authorities.
Throw away infested furniture
For infested furniture that can no longer be kept, it is recommended to throw it directly into a recycling center. Products must not be usable or recoverable to avoid further infestations.
Additionally, it is possible to contact a qualified and trained company for the detection and treatment of infestations.
If you have any questions: you can contact 0806.706.806
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Read also :
⋙ Bedbugs: tenant or owner, who should cover the cost of treatment?
⋙ Bedbugs: the very simple tip to eliminate them from your mattress
⋙ “They are everywhere”: what are the impacts of the resurgence of bedbugs in France?