Bedbugs in the bedroom: How to combat the nocturnal intruders

The appearance of bedbugs in a flat can become a troublesome problem. Worse yet, these pests feed on human blood—if they infest a home, we will wake up with bites. How can we get rid of bedbugs once and for all?

Bedbugs are small parasites that feed on humans. In extreme cases, when we want to get rid of them, professional help for disinfection is necessary. However, if we have just noticed the problem, we might be able to resolve it on our own.

Our grandmothers already knew a simple way to repel bedbugs. It does not require buying chemical agents and is equally effective.

Bedbugs often hide in hard-to-reach places, such as mattresses, carpets, or curtains. They can also appear in furniture—especially in antiques. If we suspect parasites have settled in our home, we should carefully inspect the mattresses from every possible side.

If bedbugs haven't spread significantly yet, a home method can eliminate them. The agent that can help is diatomaceous earth. The product should be sprinkled in every place where bedbugs might hide and left there for several days. Then, vacuum everything very thoroughly. Repeat the process several times.

Why does diatomaceous earth work so well on bedbugs? Its pure form is essentially made up of silicon dioxide particles that form tiny plates with sharp edges. Because of this, they attach to bedbugs, penetrate their exoskeletons, and lead to the pest's death. Moreover, diatomaceous earth is effective not only for bedbug problems but also, for example, for ticks.