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6 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Bedbugs are insects that feed on live animals and human bodies. They can be found anywhere, whether a home or a hotel. Bed bugs cannot fly, but they can move anywhere undetected due to their tiny size. They also get transported from other places to your home due to their flat bodies which hardly would require any space to fit themselves in.
Female bedbugs are known to lay hundreds of eggs during their lifetime. Each of these eggs is the size of a small dust particle and cannot be seen easily with a naked eye. Owing to their small size, it is very much necessary to correctly detect whether your house is infested with bedbugs or not. Based on the level of infestation, the further treatments to get rid of bedbugs can be decided.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs at Home
Bedbugs are usually active throughout the night, while you are asleep. They draw blood from the body with a sharp and elongated beak. Each feed lasts from minimum 3 minutes to 10 minutes. Once they have finished their feed, they crawl away to their hiding places unnoticed. Bedbug bites are usually painless in the beginning but later turn into itchy shin irritants. Usually, it is difficult to attribute the red bites to bedbugs and is often mistaken to be mosquito bites. You have to check yourself to confirm the presence of bedbugs in the house.
Bedbugs leave a lot of tell-tale signs on the mattress or the area around them. Check for black dots, which are most likely bug excrement, or eggshells that are pale yellow in colour and only 1 mm in size. You may also see rusty stains or even living bugs. In this article, we will talk about how to kill the bedbugs and how to get rid of the bedbugs with home remedies.
Before you start on your mission of getting rid of these tiny bugs, make sure that you clean your rooms as much as possible. A clutter-free house helps in reducing the hiding places for bedbugs. Check for infestation on your garments. If the signs of infestation are positive, put them all into the laundry for a good wash. Remember to check the labels of the garments and if they need to be dry cleaned, give them to the dry cleaner. Let them know of the infestation so that they clean the clothes well. Check for crevices and cracks and clean them. Fill these holes up as soon as possible to prevent the bedbugs from hiding in them again. Below, we bring you some simple home remedies to get rid of bedbugs immediately:
1. Vinegar
Apart from its use in the kitchen, vinegar can also be used to kill bedbugs. However, it is important to remember that though vinegar can kill bedbugs by destroying their nervous system, it cannot kill their eggs. Apply white distilled vinegar on the edges of the things that show signs of infestation and then spray vinegar liberally on the bedbugs. That way, they will not be able to scurry away and escape from the vinegar sprays.
2. Diatomaceous Earth
This is considered to be most effective in treating bedbug infestations. If you are looking to kill the bedbugs easily and economically, diatomaceous earth is the best option. Although it takes quite a while to start working, it is known to kill approximately 90% of the bedbugs.
3. Baking Soda
One of the best-known home remedies for bedbugs is baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. By spraying baking soda on to the infected area you can get rid of the bed bugs. Baking soda can dehydrate the skin of bedbugs killing them instantly. But this solution would take a lot of time to give results and will be expensive also. You would need loads of powder for sprinkling. Every time you sprinkle the powder you will have to vacuum and clean the rooms to get rid of the dead bugs.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a solvent that is used in killing insects by dissolving their cells. This can be used successfully to treat the infestation of bedbugs. The skin of the bedbugs dries if it comes in contact with rubbing alcohol thus causing them to die. Rubbing alcohol does not stain garments or your furniture. Nevertheless, it would be good to test it in a small area before you start the treatment.
5. Borax
A generous sprinkling of the borax powder on your mattress or furniture or the cracks in the walls can rid your house of the bedbug infestation. You can also add some borax powder to your washing machine so that the bedbugs are completely eradicated from your home.
6. Essential Oils
Essential oils can keep these creepy crawly bugs away. They are easy to make, and can even be carried along with you in small amounts when you are travelling. Lavender, thyme, peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree are some of the oils that you can use to keep away bedbugs from biting you. If they are sprayed regularly over the bug-infested areas, they can help in killing the bedbugs. An added advantage is that they will leave your bed smelling gorgeous!
Other Remedies to Remove Bed Bugs from Home
Apart from home remedies, there are some other options that you can consider to get rid of bedbugs. Here's what you can do.
1. Vacuum Your Bed
Get some ziploc bags. Vacuum your mattress thoroughly. Next Ziploc your mattress and leave the bags for a week. This way neither will the bedbugs be able to go out nor will any new bugs come in. They will starve and die.
2. Mattress-safe Encasement
You can get various types of mattress encasements in the market that come with a hook to trap the bedbugs already sitting in the mattress. They are usually bug certified. Keeping these encasements on for a year can help you get rid of the bedbugs from your mattress very efficiently.
3. Stickers
Another alternative treatment for bedbugs is stickers. These are paper pads with glue on them. They lure the bedbugs to come out from their hiding places, and while crawling on these papers, their legs get stuck rendering them immobile.
4. Insecticidal Sprays
You can use various sprays that are available in the supermarkets to get rid of these insects. Be sure to read the label of the insecticide before you buy them. Some brands offer biodegradable bedbug spray as well.
5. Steaming
Many houses are now opting for this relatively new method of steam cleaning the upholstery and furniture to get rid of bedbugs. This is a non-toxic and healthy alternative to chemical treatments which can be harmful especially when you have children and pets at home. Bedbug steamers not only clean the house and help in getting rid of the bedbugs, but they also help in eliminating deadly viruses, germs and bacteria.
Unlike mosquitoes, bedbugs do not transmit any diseases. However, the bites are often itchy and can get infected if they are scratched. Many of us wonder that bedbugs appear if the house is unclean. Do not worry. An unclean house is not the reason for bedbugs to invade it. They come from various sources like our travels, in cardboard boxes, used furnishings. If you need to buy used upholstery or furniture, check them thoroughly for any signs of bedbugs. If bedbugs are already present in this furniture, you will risk carrying them to your house and spread the infestation.
Always remember to keep your home clutter-free as bedbugs hide in those places and lay eggs. If you notice any crevices or cracks in your encasings or the walls, be proactive enough to clean them up and fill them immediately before bedbugs make it there. If you have been staying away from home for quite some days, ensure to check your house before you enter for any bedbug infestation signs.
If the bedbug problem gets out of hand and you think that you may not be able to eliminate all the bedbugs, it would be wise to discard the furniture or the mattress and invest in a new one. However, make your house bedbug-free first before bringing in the new furniture, else the new ones will also get infected. Try out the different remedies that are mentioned in this article. If you still see that the infestation keeps coming back, consult an exterminator in this field. They are usually experts in detecting the level of infestation of bedbugs in your house and can devise a strategy to get rid of them, and also prevent your house from recurrent bedbug attacks.
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Cleaning Hacks for Giving New Look to Your Home during New Year
Essential Tips for Keeping Your House Clean
Effective Ways for Cleaning Sofa, Mattress and Pillows at Home Read more
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Is No Morning Sickness in Early Pregnancy a Cause of Concern?
You’ve either heard from different sources or have been told that morning sickness is common in most pregnancies - so often that it feels amiss if someone is pregnant and does not have morning sickness. However, not all women go through the phase of morning sickness. Some of them are genetically predisposed to have less sensitive stomachs and hence face little or no nausea and morning sickness during early pregnancy.
Should You Worry If You Don't Have Morning Sickness?
No. There is absolutely no need to worry if you do not have morning sickness during early pregnancy. 30 per cent of pregnant women sail through pregnancy without any nausea or morning sickness. The rising levels of hCG, hormones and estrogen in the first trimester are responsible for that churning feeling in your stomach leading to morning sickness. However, some women are better equipped to deal with it. If you have no morning sickness at around 6 weeks or so, be happy that you can tolerate pregnancy much better. You sure don’t want to be on the other side.
On the flip side, it is possible that you may experience morning sickness later. Most pregnant women tend to get morning sickness between 8 to 14 weeks. Also, the nature of morning sickness is that it can fade for a while before coming back for more.
Why do you have morning sickness during pregnancy in the first place? The answer lies in evolution. Since the foetus is at its most fragile state during these first few months, it is believed that morning sickness helps restrict intake of any food that may be harmful to the foetus. Most women tend to be aversive of fish, poultry, meat and eggs, food items that are most likely to be exposed and carrying bacteria. Also, strong tasting foods that have phytochemicals in high levels are likely to be avoided by pregnant women due to morning sickness. These foods are teratogenic or birth-defect-causing foods. Hence, from an evolutionary point of view, women are equipped to fight off harm to their baby by a rather strange means – that of morning sickness.
Is Lack of Morning Sickness a Sign of Miscarriage?
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine states that women you have morning sickness during pregnancy have a 75 per cent lower risk of miscarrying. Now, does no morning sickness mean miscarriage in the others who do experience it? Definitely not!
There is no concrete evidence that no morning sickness and miscarriage correlate. In fact, the study was skewed as only women who’ve had prior miscarriages were considered, which is not the whole sample size.
However, the lack of morning sickness may indicate that the hormones levels are lower than normal, which puts them at an increased risk of miscarriage. If your hormones levels are top-notch and your doctor has nothing to say about your lack of morning sickness, all you really should do is sit back and enjoy the pregnancy ride.
Instead of worrying yourself that your lack of morning sickness may indicate a miscarriage, try and find out what actually causes a miscarriage and work towards preventing those risk factors. Note that some of these may not be in your control. However, the wise thing to do is keep going to your routine checkup so that your doctor can immediately point out if something is wrong and can get you on treatment on time.
Also Read:
Tips to Deal With Morning Sickness at Night
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#SnackAttack Not So Junk Potato Chips
Potato chips in any form - the french fries, the potato wedges, or simple wafers are every kid's favourite. But as a mom, you generally tend to restrict them from having a lot of these since they are fried and are rich in fats. But be assured, these potato chips are not going to raise a battle between you and your child. Find out how with this healthy potato chips recipe.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
3 People
5 Minutes
40 Minutes
Ingredients
4 potatoes
4 tsp (teaspoon) tomato sauce
4 cups hot water to soak potatoes
4 tsp olive oil
4-5 garlic pods. grated
2 tsp salt
Method
Step 1
Heat oven to 240C/Gas 9 and arrange rack in top.
Step 2
Peel and cut potatoes lengthwise as shown in image.
Step 3
Cover potatoes in hot water and let it soak for 10 mins.
Step 4
Meanwhile, combine olive oil and grated garlic in a small saucepan.
Step 5
Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Allow the garlic to sizzle and let off an aroma.
Step 6
Remove it from flame and set aside to cool.
Step 7
Drain potatoes and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
Step 8
Place potatoes on a baking sheet drizzle with garlic oil sprinkle with 1 tsp of the salt and turn to coat well.
Step 9
Spread chips out evenly across baking sheet and roast for about 25 mins.
Step 10
Turn chips using a spatula.
Step 11
Continue to roast until crisp and golden brown on outside about 15 mins more/
Step 12
Try piercing potatoes with a fork to test for doneness.
Step 13
Remove chips from oven.
Step 14
Season with remaining 1 tsp of salt and serve immediately.
Tip: Olive oil is rich in good fats and potatoes are rich in calories. Read more
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Raspberry Orange Smoothie
The name very much describes the smoothie! It’s made of raspberries, fresh orange juice, home-made yoghurt and a hint of sweetener like honey or sugar. This beverage can be had for breakfast or as a quick mid-meal-pick-me-up snack to boost the energy levels. We recommend using frozen raspberries, as it will give a slushier consistency to the smoothie.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
2 People
10-15 Minutes
0 Minutes
Ingredients
200 ml orange juice
100 gm raspberries, frozen
2 tbsp low fat, no-fat yoghurt
4 tbsp sugar / honey
½ cup ice cubes
Method
Step 1
Wash raspberries and cut into pieces.
Step 2
In a blender, whirl raspberries, orange juice and yoghurt. Addition of yoghurt is optional.
Step 3
Addition of sugar or honey is also optional. However, we would suggest you add them since orange and raspberry, both, have a citrusy / sour taste to them.
Step 4
Lastly, add ice cubes and blend again on low speed.
Step 5
Garnish with a slice of raspberry. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
Calories
105 Kcal
Proteins
2.1 gm
Total Fat
1.1 gm
Total Carbohydrates
25.7 gm
Cholesterol
0 mg
Sodium
12 mg
Potassium
189 mg
Tip -Replace half of the orange juice with apple juice for a subtle variation in taste. Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
11 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert can i have c section at 38 weeks
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
10 mins ago
A. okay no tryf. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
8 mins ago
Q. I have my c section after 5 days right now i am suffering from cold and sore throats due to change in weather pls suggest
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
7 mins ago
A. Consult your gynaecologist take a medicine suggested by the doctor which deliver the child would be best if you go ahead with medicine suggested by your doctor only so get in touch with your doctor or general physician they set you with the medicine to start with
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
baccho mai physiological jaundice kabse kam. hota hai.. meri beti 13 days ki hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 mins ago
A. bhvc. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Mom of a Newborn child
3 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
I am feeding my newborn (12 days old) at regular 1.5 -2 hours interval still she is hungry and is asking for more feed...is it normal?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
3 mins ago
A. yes normal. see kids learn fast but don't burden them. that confuses n scares them ok. try to go slow and let child grow at his own pace for that is healthy way if growth for her comprehensive development.
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 mins ago
Q. Good morning Sir,
my kid is of 21 months and he is not gaining weight despite of a healthy diet prepared at home ...he eats well as his wish but still we are worried about his weight.
he is also not much vocal yet.kindly give ur suggestions
Read morePOOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
1 min ago
A. As long as they're meeting developmental milestones, are alert and active, and are feeding well, you likely don't need to worry. Consistent growth — not exponential growth — is the key to baby's well-being.
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Expecting Father due this month
1 min ago
Q. #asktheexpert dryness skin itching problem like arms and legs
age 1.5 yrs baby...kindly advice
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
1 min ago
A. kindly apply moisturizing lotion (any good brand like atogla, venussia, oliatum, sebamed , citaphil etc ) or virgin coconut oil on the skin 4 to 5 times per day. regular moisturizer helps in decreasing chances of dry skin as well as prevents dermatitis.
use moisturizing soap.
do not apply any type of cream lotion or powder which is causing allergy on the skin.
avoid using hard water for bdath.
moisturizing cream / lotion to be applied at more frequent intervals.
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