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 atComfy Bedshave 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.
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.
How to get rid of bed bugs
Worried about bed bugs? Don't worry, we're here to help
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The NHSadvises contacting your local council or a pest control firm that's a member of the British Pest Control Association or National Pest Technicians Association to deal with an infestation.
But if you suspect you’ve been infected, the first thing you need to do is strip your bed and wash the sheets and blankets in 60C water, before tumble-drying for at least 30 minutes – or bin them all together.
You can also try a steamer on mattresses, couches, and other places where bedbugs hide.
You can read more on how to get rid of bedbugs here, but if you're worried about the critters, there are also some products that can help remove the pests:
- Zero In Bed Bug & Dust Mite Killer, £6.99 – buy here
- Rentokil RKLPS136 Insectrol Insect Killer, £6.89 – buy here
- NOPE Bed Bug Killer Spray Treatment, £12.99 – buy here
- Persil 3 in-1 Laundry Washing Capsules, £9.50 – buy here
- Karcher Steam Cleaner, £159 – buy here
- Lakeland Mattress Vacuum, £49.99 – buy here
“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.”
