16 Common Household Pests and How to Get Rid of 'Em

2. Bed Bugs

What They Look Like: Flat oval body with six legs, about the size of an apple seed that can be either brown or reddish brown.

Typical ‘Hood: Can be found around the world, but recent outbreaks have centered in the United States, Canada, the UK, and other parts of Europe. Bed bugs are found in environments where many people cycle through on a given day—this includes apartments, hostels and hotels, trains, buses, and dorm rooms. Some theorists suggest that recent bed bug outbreaks are due to an increase in international travel, since the bugs can easily hide in luggage, bags, clothing, or bedding.

Home Headquarters: Unsurprisingly, these pests love to hang out in and around the bed. Bed bugs’ small, flat bodies allow them to hide quite easily in seams of mattresses, bed frames, headboards, other bedroom furniture, behind wallpaper, in clothing, or any other household clutter.

Fave Snacks: Blood. Bed bugs can live for up to a year in between “meals.”

Danger Zone: Bed bugs don’t transmit diseases and are not considered a public health hazard. Bites cause itching, and dealing with an infestation can cause anxiety and insomnia. In some cases, bites can trigger a serious allergic reaction, but this is fairly rare.

How to Ditch ‘Em: Unfortunately, getting rid of these little critters is hardly a walk in the park. First, all surfaces where bed bugs might dwell (sheets, pillows, towels, clothing, curtains, etc.) need to be washed in hot water and dried at the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes. Next, scrub the mattress with a stiff brush and vacuum it and the surrounding room thoroughly, disposing of the vacuum cleaner bags immediately. Cover the mattress in a bed bug cover (available at most home goods stores) or toss it if it’s really been infested. Be careful when trashing bed-buggy items—wrap anything in heavy plastic and packing tape and label it clearly so others know it contains bed bugs. Seal up peeling wallpaper and cracks in floorboards to remove future hiding spots, and clear up any household clutter around the bedroom. Pure essential oils (cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, peppermint, lavender, thyme, tea tree, and eucalyptus) can repel bed bugs from setting up shop in the first place, so spray ‘em in your suitcase before heading out on a trip and before coming home again.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Prosecutor says two attackers stabbed NMSU student to death | Lubbock Online

ALBUQUERQUE {AP} Crime scene evidence suggests New Mexico State University student Carly Martinez struggled with two men before she was murdered, prosecutors told jurors at the trial of Jason Desnoyers. The 18-year-old student was driven to a remote Las Cruces mesa , was stabbed more than a dozen times in the head, chest, abdomen, back, thighs and buttocks, and her body was "left to rot" in the desert, District Attorney Susana Martinez said Tuesday. Two weapons were used, a single-edged knife and another instrument, said prosecutor Martinez , no relation to the victim. "Two weapons, two men," she said. Desnoyers, 24, is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and criminal solicitation. Co- defendant Jesse Avalos , 26, is to be tried separately in September on similar charges. Defense attorney Gary Mitchell contends there was only one weapon. He said Avalos wore a belt with a knife, screwdriver and other tools the night Carly Martin
Read more

Black Frame Showers – Sophisticated With Modern Industrial Flair

Image
The showers that have black frames have a very distinctive look. They are defined by clean lines and a certain level of industrial beauty combined with modern simplicity. Black frame showers are pretty unique in this sense. They can be integrated in a variety of different types of decors. View in gallery View in gallery A black frame shower can be a main feature in a guest bathroom. In this particular example, the shower’s frame matches the frame of the wall mirror and that of the painting displayed on the wall. This way the décor becomes cohesive. What’s lovely here is the fact that the black elements are complemented by a white backdrop.{found on Maxwell and company}. View in gallery A similar type of cohesion is featured here where the shower enclosure is closed off with a glass and metal wall and a door that perfectly completes the grid. The sink vanity has the same type of graphical design, featuring a thin black supporting frame .{found on diespeker}. View in gallery In a lot
Read more

Stay in a Tiny Shingled Cabin in Austria That Resembles a Bird-Like UFO

Image
Set on a hilly incline and designed by architects Peter and Lukas Jungmann, the cabin appears to hover above ground like some sort of alien object—a stark contrast to its pastoral environment and the traditional Austrian chalets that surround it.  Tiny Shingled Cabin in Austria That Resembles a Bird-Like UFO - Photo 1 of 11 -" /> Because of its irregular, otherworldly form, and how it seems to be suspended in midair, the cabin was named "Ufogel," which is a melding of the acronym UFO and "vogel," meaning bird in German.  Tiny Shingled Cabin in Austria That Resembles a Bird-Like UFO - Photo 2 of 11 -" /> Available for rent through Urlaubsarchitektur, Ufogel’s exterior is covered in rustic Austrian-style shingles, but its sharp angles and asymmetrical shape gives it a distinctly futuristic, nest-like look.  Tiny Shingled Cabin in Austria That Resembles a Bird-Like UFO - Photo 3 of 11 -" /> Within, the split-level, 485-square- foot space acc
Read more