Flea bites will be smaller red bites. They often appear around the ankles or lower legs. If you have pets, get them checked for fleas. You can pick up a flea medication at your local veterinarian office. Bites from lice will appear in your hair. You may not be able to see them, so have a friend or family member check for you. They are red and itchy. These bites can also appear in other areas which have body hair. You don’t want to mistake other irritants for bug bites. Allergies cause similar redness and swelling, as do toxic chemicals such as pesticides or solvents. Emotional stress and anxiety can also cause similar breakouts.
Even if you cannot see the bugs in your bed, they can definitely be present. Tiny microscopic bugs called dust mites may be biting you at night. These bugs are attracted to the dead skin cells that stick to dirty sheets. Use hot, soapy water to get a deep clean on your sheets. Make sure that you let them dry completely in the dryer. Moist sheets can collect mold. If you’ve washed your sheets and you’re still finding bites or insects in your bed, buy new sheets. It’s a bit of an investment, but you’ll be thankful in the long haul. Try moving your bed frame away from the wall. [2] X Research source Even a few inches of space can be helpful. You’ll reduce the ability for bugs to move between the wall and your bed.
Remember that bed bugs cannot fly or jump. You can take advantage of their fairly limited mobility by tucking your sheets in. If you have dust mites, however, you actually don’t want to make your bed. [3] X Research source If you leave your bed unmade, you’ll remove moisture from your sheets and mattress. Eventually, the mites will dehydrate and die. Dust mites need humidity to survive, so any dry environment will kill them.
Get an attachment for the vacuum to access hard to reach places. This could include the space behind your headboard or along the tack strips at the edge of your carpet. Be sure to move your bed from its usual location. You need to clean the entirety of your carpeted floor. If you don’t have carpet, you can use a mop with soap and water to clean the area around your bed.
Drill holes in open containers, such as trash cans, that may be collecting water in them. Change birdbaths and pets’ water bowls as often as you can. These are breeding grounds for mosquitos to be laying eggs. Don’t leave pots, pans, or full glasses of water out.
For more severe cases of insect infestation, call a professional cleaning service to come to your home and eliminate the bugs. [7] X Research source Don’t take this step unless you’re confident that you have bugs living in your bed, however, as it can be quite expensive. You can invest in a mattress encasement that is designed to fend off bed bugs. This encasement wraps around the entirety of your mattress and contains infestations. Any bugs trapped within the encasement will die off.
You also want to avoid a bed with a headboard, if you can. Headboards are breeding grounds for insects, and they’ll be able to easily slip through the porous wood and into your sheets. If you need a headboard to sleep, try using a metal one instead.
Close cracks and crevices near bare plumbing or wiring. Smaller bugs can travel easily through these narrow paths. Get quality silicone or acrylic latex caulk to fill smaller holes around doors or windows. If your hole is any larger, you may need a sturdier filling, such as sheetrock or mortar. Because the insects biting you are likely very small, mesh screens on your doors and windows probably won’t do much. Keep these openings closed when you can. Improving your general sanitation can help your bug problem. Don’t leave dishes sitting out overnight and always clean up any spilled food crumbs.
Make sure that your professional is using an insecticide with d-phenothrin as its active ingredient. D-phenothrin’s major use is in the killing of small nuisance insects, such as bed bugs and ticks. It’s more than likely that these sorts of creatures are the problem. If you don’t want to pay for an exterminator, you can try doing a steam treatment yourself. You’ll have to purchase your own cleaner. Make sure that it produces a low vapor, high-temperature steam. Stand as close to the bugs as you can. Move at a rate close to one inch per 10 seconds. Anything quicker than this might become nonlethal for your pests.
A campsite on higher ground is advisable when searching for a spot. Pitching your tent on a hillside is advisable. Avoiding low, flat areas will distance you from any large stagnant bodies of water. Stick to higher ground, even if your area is fairly dry. Any rainfall, even if it is minimal, will attract more bugs to your area.
Waterproof tents, while thicker, have more breathability than a traditional tent. This means you won’t notice the larger area of protection that surrounds them. Fresh air will flow in and out easily.
You can try a free-standing mosquito net. They are basically small tents, held together by metal or plastic frames that can be easily put away. [12] X Research source You fit them nicely into a larger tent so that once you zip up the outside of the primary tent, you won’t let bugs in. If you aren’t camping with a tent, you can use a wedge mosquito net. The net hangs from two suspension points, draping over the sleeping bag or cot that you’ve brought to the outdoors. This brand of net is easy to set up and quite inexpensive.
You need to be cautious before using any bug spray. Do not spray in an enclosed area, such as your tent. [14] X Research source Only apply to exposed skin; you don’t want to spray underneath your clothing. If you want to apply bug spray to your face, spray into your hands first, and then rub the spray onto your face. Spraying directly into your eyes is a bad idea. Always check the label of your repellent before using it on your skin. Using the wrong product can be extremely toxic and dangerous. Explore more natural ways of keeping insects away by creating a natural bug repellent. [15] X Research source From lemon eucalyptus oil to vanilla extract, you can use a wide range of easily accessible products and create simple concoctions. It may take you a little while to perfect these recipes. Remember that it’s a good way to avoid releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
You can throw fresh or dried sage onto the fire. Hang them in a cool, dry area for a week to let them dry fully. Dried sage can also be used to kindle your fire. Other herbs, such as lavender and mint, can also be used for similar results.
Make sure that you’re wearing long pants while you sleep, as well as socks. Pull your socks over your pants, so bugs can’t get into the legs of your pajamas. You’ll also want to wear long sleeves, and you should tuck your long sleeve shirt into your waist. All of your sleeping gear should be tight around the ankles, wrists, and your collar. It may be impossible to completely block off your hands and your neck area, but you’ll be covering as much skin as you can. Treat your clothing with permethrin, a great bug repellent for killing unwanted insects.
