What can you do to prevent bedbugs?

I came across some really good information about natural means to prevent these troublesome creatures, especially since they seem to stay in the news.  With people moving about and migrating as they have been in recent years, it is bound to happen to even the best of us.

Here's what to do to prevent an outbreak.

Tighten up!

Seal up cracks in all possible hiding places such as cracks in baseboard molding, or around windows, etc. Keep your linens from touching the floor since this allows direct access to your bed and you. 

Another great piece of info is to lightly coat the legs of your bed with a thin coat of petroleum jelly.  This can stop the buggers for climbing.

If you do detect their presence, clean your mattress with soap and  hot water and buy a mattress and pillow covers to seal it all up  (Unless you want to buy a new mattress).This can kill anything that you didn't see. Check closets, shoes racks for further signs of their presence.  Wash clothes with very hot water.

When shopping

Inspect all bags coming into the house from clothing stores, particularly if you shop secondhand or if receiving hand-me-downs for the kids.

When traveling

 

When traveling, inspect the hotel bed and linen for signs of bedbugs. Shake out all items of clothes and check the corners of your luggage for any signs of the critters once you get home.

Source:

Barker, Elizabeth "Don't let the bedbugs bite" Natural Health Magazine