IF you’re worried about bed bugs in your home, this DIY hack might be the answer.
Experts have revealed the gardening item that can help protect your home from the pests.
Once you have an infestation in your mattress or furniture, it can be a nightmare to get rid of them.
Tackling these vermin is made all the more difficult as they are almost invisible to the naked eye.
They can also reproduce quickly, meaning you have to act quickly if you do spot them.
And with bed bug season peaking in the warmer months, now is the perfect time to take action.
Experts at Comfy Beds have shared their go-to solution for tackling these unwanted visitors.
They recommended investing in a bag of diatomaceous earth, which retails for £3.79 from eBay.
Adeel Ul-Haq, owner of Comfy Beds, explained why this fine natural powder made from fossilised algae can help.
“Diatomaceous earth works by drying out the bugs when they walk across it, it damages their outer later and they dehydrate and die,” she said.
“Unlike other treatments it’s also chemical-free and safe to be around.”
Adeel recommends sprinkling the powder around the areas where bed bugs are likely to travel.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Secret mosquito ‘sixth sense’ lets them easily find your skin – avoid bites by changing how you dress” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6360892922112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]And since they can hide in your mattress, headboards, sheets, carpets, and everywhere you have furniture.
“Sprinkle it lightly around bed legs, skirting boards, mattress edges, and even inside the joints on your furniture,” said Adeel.
“Don’t sprinkle too much as the bugs will see it and won’t cross the powder, so a fine dusting is all that is needed.”
You can also add diatomaceous earth to your cleaning routine as it can easily be vacuumed up and reapplied every few days.
And if all else fails, crank up Billie Eilish on your speakers.
“Bedbugs can take up to 2 weeks to hatch so you may not initially realise you have a problem, but using deep vibrations you can cause the bugs to hatch early so you can remove them,” she explained.
“Sound waves can mimic vibrations of a host moving nearby, tricking the eggs into thinking it is time to hatch, you can use this to your advantage by playing songs with a heavy bass near the affected area.
“Songs like ‘You Should See Me in a Crown’ by Billie Eilish or ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars are a good starting point.”
And even if you haven’t seen signs of bedbugs you should still be proactive in preventing them from infesting your home.
“If you have travelled recently or have purchased second-hand furniture you are at a higher risk of a bed bug infestation,” said Adeel.
“I would highly recommend using a small amount of diatomaceous earth as a first line of defence.”
