Nontoxic bedbug removal. Please help!?

Question

I discovered some bedbugs in my mattress after finding bites on my legs. We have a ten-month-old who sleeps with us. Does anyone have suggestions for non toxic ways to get rid of the bugs (either do it yourself or a service I can hire in San Francisco). I don't want to spray a lot with a little crawler. Thanks. It's a stressful situation.

Concerned Mom

Answer 1

I would hoover the base buy a new mattress and pillows and use pillow and mattress protectors n also deep clean the carpet

Answer 2

Jennifer,

What you need is a product called BedBug Terminator by Kleen-Free.

This is a non-toxic chemical free (unless you count sodium lauryl sulfate which is an ingredient in most shampoos) product that kills bedbugs on contact.

You would want to buy a spray bottle of the premix and also a larger quantity  that you can pour into the bottle when it is empty - probably another 3 gallons depending on the size of your place as you need to spray everywhere that the bedbugs are and everywhere the could be hiding. And you do this everyday for about a month or more.

Since it is non-chemical it is safe aroudn kids and pets etc and has a clinical study that shows it works.

They ship from Alabama if my memory is correct and can do express shipping if needed.

And kudos to you for choosing the safer option!

Answer 3

If you’ve positively identified your problem as a bed bug infestation, it is time to sanitize the affected areas. If you can spare money for another mattress it would be a good idea to throw your old one out. If you can’t afford another mattress, vacuuming the mattress and applying a sealable cover should be sufficient. Meanwhile, all clothes, linens, and bedding should be washed in hot water, and the immediate area vacuumed thoroughly.

Insecticides are not an option to get rid of bed bugs, because insecticides should never be applied to an area where you sleep. Sticky traps, like those used for mice, are a good way to capture rogue bed bugs that have managed to escape your domestic exorcism.

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TOXIC PART (only if Really Needed)

Some insecticides like Boric Acid might be used in areas around the bed, but never on the mattress itself.