If reports of bed bug sightings in London following Paris’ epidemic have you itching, we feel you.
Councils have reported an ‘alarming’ number of calls reporting bed bug sightings. The main issue seems to be that bed bugs are becoming resistant to the pesticides that have historically been used to kill them.
Thankfully, Nigel Bearmen, owner of cleaning company Daily Poppins, has shared the cheap household item you can use to get rid of the pests for as little as 65p — baking soda.
‘The small granules of baking soda can also cause internal bleeding due to the fact that they can cut into a bed bug’s shell,’ said Nigel.
All you need to do is sprinkle some baking soda on your bed and around your mattress, and anywhere else you suspect the critters are hiding, and wait.
The baking soda will dehydrate the bugs, killing them.
How to spot bedbugs
According to the NHS, signs of bedbugs in the home include:
- Bites – often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck and arms
- Spots of blood on your bedding – from the bites or from squashing a bedbug
- Small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bed bug poo)
To treat bed bugs with this DIY method, sprinkle baking soda around the mattress and the area around the bed, where bed bugs usually live.
Another option is lavender oil, which you can mix with water to deter bed bugs.
‘To use it, in a spray bottle, combine 10 to 15 drops of lavender oil with 50ml of water,’ said Nigel.
‘Then spray it directly into the areas where bed bugs are present.’
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