How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Carpet

by | Sep 13, 2018 | Bed Bug Detection, Bed Bug Treatment

carpet

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Carpet

We all know the obvious place where you can find bed bugs. But you may be surprised to know your carpet can also get infested.

bed bug in carpet

If you know about bed bugs then you know they are by far one of the most annoying, and aggravating pests one can ever come across. Not only do their bites itch, but they also leave red marks all over your body while you sleep through the night.

Do Bed Bugs Live in Carpets? 

Now we all know that bed bugs stay in our beds, and maybe our bed frames too. But what most of us are unaware of is that bed bugs cling onto a lot of surfaces.

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You can find bed bugs in any upholstered or cloth-liked textured surfaces.

The Bed Bug Inspectors

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This includes curtains, wallpaper holes, sofas, couches, and even carpets.

Carpets are one of those tricky spaces that are hard to clean and remove bed bugs. But it is possible with the right methods. Although it might seem like a simple task, the wrong move can spread bed bugs to the rest of your home instead of killing them.

The Wrong Methods for How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Carpet

Before knowing the right ways, it is important to be educated on the wrong methods. You need to know what NOT to do. 

If you have or suspect you have bed bugs do NOT sweep the area. Brushing and sweeping will only spread the bed bug eggs and their larvae all over the home instead of getting rid of them. You will only end up sweeping them onto another upholstered surface somewhere else in your home.

Also, do NOT just shake out your carpets outside. They will find their way back in. The key is to get them away from your permanently by exterminating them for good.

The Proper Methods for How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Carpet

What you need to do is vacuum the carpet, so no egg is spread, but rather taken away from any other surface. Clear your floors of everything from pet feeding floors to plants to other objects like pillows and shoes.

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Clear away anything bed bugs can get into before applying any treatment.

The Bed Bug Inspectors

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Before applying your treatments on the carpets and rugs, seal them, and then remove them from your home before you do it. You can take it out to your lawn to give it a wash or heat treatment. If you are washing it in a washer, make sure to use the highest levels of setting for both the washer and the dryer.

If you are doing the cleaning at home by yourself, opt for carpet cleaners instead of your regular clothing detergents. Carpets can also be steamed as a safe method of bed bug removal.

 

Other Methods for How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Carpet

  • Borax Powder

Borax powder is another good option for how to get rid of bed bugs in your carpet. Throw it liberally all over your carpet, and let it sit for a few hours. Give it time to sink into the carpet. The powder is very sharp (almost glass-like), and is great at killing insects. The sharpness gets through the bed bug’s bodies and rips their exoskeleton thus dehydrating it from the inside.

Make sure to not do this in your living room because you may risk contaminating your home with a hazardous element.

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When using borax powder make sure you get food grade, so it does not harm you as well as the bed bugs!

The Bed Bug Inspectors

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  • Diatomaceous Earth Powder

If your home hosts a lot of pets and children, then opt for diatomaceous earth powder instead. Borax can be harmful and irritating to children and pets if they come into contact with it accidentally. However, you can follow the same steps for diatomaceous earth powder as you would for borax. Both serve the same function for getting rid of bed bugs from your carpet.

  • Vacuum Cleaner

No matter which powder you use, to follow up with vacuuming your whole home to get every bed bug that may have escaped extermination. Put some borax or diatomaceous earth powder into your vacuum bag before you start to vacuum. This way any bed bugs that survive will be sucked into the vacuum bag and killed there once exposed to the powder.

Vacuum cleaners with bags are recommended more as they are easier to get rid of. We cannot stress enough on the importance of proper care, and disposal when it comes to bed bugs. Even if one escapes, it can make its’ way back into your home, and multiply re-infesting your home again.

All these methods and processes will simply go down the drain and be of no use in the end if you are not careful. Be cautious and precise when it comes to disposing of bed bugs. You do not want to be careless with them.***

 

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