WITH bedbugs being spotted in the UK, and causing an epidemic in Paris, people are desperate to know how get rid of the pests if they spot them at home.
Some have been taking to social media to share their own “hacks”, with one suggestion involving making a mixture of essential oils – such as peppermint – and rubbing alcohol.
GettyA pest control expert has warned not to try a popular hack to deter bedbugs[/caption]
GettyThe hack involves mixing essential oils, such as peppermint, with rubbing alcohol and spraying it round the home[/caption]
The concoction is said to deter the bedbugs, as various studies have shown that the oils can repel the critters.
But pest control expert Mark Thomas explained that the essential oil mixture just “isn’t going to be enough”, because the bedbugs are so resilient.
In addition, the hack could actually end up being dangerous – because the mixture is just so flammable.
“Bed bugs can live for months without feeding on their host, while essential oils could repel them for a short period, the effects would wear off before they would die,” he told RaffleHouse.
“Bed bugs are also prolific breeders and can lay up to 500 eggs in your home over a period of a few weeks, so when you notice a problem you need to act fast.
“While the hack isn’t proven to work, the biggest problem with the hack is that it’s dangerous. You need to consider that bed bugs don’t just settle in your bed.”
The bedbugs are notoriously hard to kill, and can get absolutely everywhere.
Despite their name, they can live in your furniture and, in fact, any cracks and crevices around your home – which means you’d have to saturate your entire house with the mixture if you wanted to fully repel the bugs.
“When spraying this mixture around your home, you are going to saturate the product into your fixtures and soft furnishings,” he added.
“This is very dangerous, essential oils and rubbing alcohol are extremely flammable and can light from just a small spark, producing explosive results.
“If you cover your home in this flammable liquid you could start a fire that would spread rapidly endangering everyone’s lives in your home.”
Instead of trying these hacks, Mark said the best thing is to hire a pest control expert who knows what they are doing – as it often takes products that you can’t get over the counter to get rid of the bugs once and for all.
According to the NHS, the bugs can be dark yellow, red or brown.
The critters are oval shaped, around the size of an apple seed, and have six legs and two antenna.
They cannot fly, but often live on furniture or bedding.
They cannot live on your body.
You can identify adult bedbugs by their size as they are around 5mm long and there will be spots from their waste like little ink splats.
After they have fed, bedbugs bodies will swell and turn a reddish colour from their latest meal.
GettyDespite their name, bedbugs can live on any furniture in your home, but spraying everything with the essential oil mix could end up being a huge fire risk[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
