Video:How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Organically

Transcript:How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Organically

Hi! I'm Debbie Anderson for About.com! Once bed bugs infest your home, these little hitchhikers can create a never ending battle for all those who enter your home. So today, I'm going to show you how to rid your home of bed bugs the organic way.

Materials Needed to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

For this task you will need:

• Homemade or store-bought organic laundry cleaning solution
• Vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment
• Measuring cup
• White vinegar
• Resealable plastic bags
• Steam cleaner that also has an upholstery attachment

Rid All Bedding Material of Bed Bugs

First, remove all of the bedding and any pillows, quilts, or blankets on or around the bed and wash your clothing and these items in hot water with a homemade or store purchased organic laundry cleaning solution. Once these items are dry, seal all of the clothes, bed dressing, pillows, and blankets in tightly sealed plastic bags and store them in a safe place for at least one month to suffocate any bedbugs that may have survived the washer and dryer cycles. Next, throw away any stuffed animals on the bed or else place the toys you wish to keep in sealed plastic bags for at least one month while the bed bugs living inside the toys die off from the lack of oxygen in the sealed plastic bags.

Organically Clean Mattress of Bed Bugs

Next, use the upholstery attachment on the vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean all sides of the mattress. Next, vacuum all of the surrounding floor areas near the bed. Since extreme heat works best at killing bed bugs, after adding one cup of white vinegar to the steam cleaner's solution container, fill the rest of the container with scalding hot tap water. Place the cleaning solution container back on the steam cleaner and thoroughly steam clean all sides of the mattress and the surrounding areas of the bed with the white vinegar and hot water solution. Finally, flip the mattress up on its side and allow the mattress and surrounding floor areas to thoroughly dry. With these organic tips, you're sure to rid your home of bed bugs while keeping toxin exposure to a minimum.

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