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What are some cheap ways to get rid of bed bugs?
How on Earth did you get bed bugs?
Our best guess is from a hotel we stayed at where we got bit, and then they migrated into
our suitcases.
Not a fun vacation. You could start by burning your mattresses.
Then I have to pay for new mattresses. Or sleep on the floor, which is about as painful.
Start by washing all blankets, towels, clothes on the floor and pillows. Don't forget the
sheets and mattress covers.
That won't get bed bugs living inside of the bed or the floor.
Put the bed up on a frame. Cover the mattress in a sealed plastic cover to keep any insects
in, while you wash all the blankets simultaneously.
I might have to take it to a laundry mat.
That's cheaper than buying a new mattress. And washing and drying them simultaneously
prevents bed bugs from migrating into other peoples' laundry.
Wrapping the bed in plastic is one step, but bed bugs could be in other places.
You'll also need to pull the bed back from the wall, so bed bugs in the wall can't get
to you.
They'll fly over and bite me.
Bed bugs can't fly like mosquitos or hop like fleas. Put petroleum jelly on the bed's legs
and frames to deter crawling bed bugs, before spreading diatomaceous earth around the floor
and pouring it into any cracks they may be entering.
What else would help?
Wear more clothes when you sleep to make it harder for bed bugs to reach you, so that
any you miss are more likely to starve.
More things to wash.
Washing all of your clothes and bed items regularly in hot water helps kill anything
like lice, bed bugs and fleas. And you shouldn't leave clothes or jackets on the bed, where
they could crawl into clothing to get you.
I ought to just get the whole apartment fumigated.
I thought you wanted cheap! And all the solutions I gave you were organic.
It's a lot of work.
Then get a pest guy to spray the place, and you'll still have to wash all your stuff.
And get rid of your mattress.
How do I keep someone from taking the old mattress and getting bed bugs?
Burn it. Cheaper than burning down the house, which your landlord won't like, either.