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Bedbugs are the stuff of nightmares and to have an infestation of the little critters could be cause for major worry. With lockdown for most Britons, having a bedbug infestation is the last problem anyone wants to deal with. Thankfully, Paul Blackhurst from Rentokil spoke exclusively with Express.co.uk to offer his insight, tips and the biggest smells to spot warning of a bedbug infestation.
Despite their name, bed bugs will quite happily exist outside the bedroom as Paul Blackhurst explains.
“They can travel on humans and survive in our luggage when travelling, as well as on sofas and most upholstery,” he said.
“The parasites are most commonly found in the bedroom because they are nocturnal and attracted to the warmth and carbon dioxide that sleeping humans generate.
“But the truth is that they can thrive in just about any crack and crevice, biding their time to emerge at night to feed.”
“You may also notice an unpleasant, sweet, sickly scent in the infested area.
“Bedbugs also give off a hormonal scent when disturbed.”
Other smells to spot
You could have a bed bug infestation if your bedroom smells a bit like a damp towel, it’s been revealed.
A musty odour could be caused by bed bugs, said pest control firm Terminix. The smell is caused by bed bugs’ pheromones.
While the smell may be mild during the early phases of an infestation, it can become quite unpleasant as they increase in number, it said.
If your bedroom, home or hotel smells a bit musty, you should check for bed bugs.
Other smells described include a sweet berry odour or a coriander must.
Products to soothe bedbug bites
Toothpaste’s menthol properties are said to be a good anti-itch remedy.
“Apply a generous amount to the bite to soothe the burning sensation and relieve the itching.” Advises Mr Blackhurst.
“Witch Hazel provides a mild anaesthetic effect that helps to calm the itching caused by bites
“Aloe Vera is both ‘fresh’ Aloe Vera or gel works well against insect bites. The active substances and amino acids in Aloe Vera help relieve itching and burning sensations.
“Lemon juice: This has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is also a natural astringent. Lemon juice can help dry rashes and itchiness while reducing redness and swelling.”
Smells to dispel
While people love the smell of fresh mint, bedbugs cannot stand the smell.
This makes mint one the things that you can use to get rid of the bedbugs that have been making you and your family members have sleepless nights.
The strong smell from the mint will instantly start making the bugs to feel uncomfortable.
Also, the scent of bugs affects the bedbug’s nervous system, making it easier to get rid of them.
How to get rid
Many bugs are repelled by certain smells, such as peppermint, tea tree oil, and lavender, said Pointe Pest control.
The site continued: “As such, it makes sense that bed bugs too, would be repelled by certain smells.
“While bed bugs do try to avoid certain scents, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about what those smells are.
“One known scent that repels bed bugs is the pheromones secreted by the nymphs, or baby bed bugs.
“These are meant to keep male bed bugs away from the nymphs, so they don’t attempt to mate with them.
“These pheromones, though, only work on male bed bugs, and will do nothing to dissuade females from invading a space.
“It is still however, sold in many products on the market today.
“While using these products could be better than nothing, they won’t likely eliminate the problem completely.”
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