Discovering the presence of pests in your sleeping quarters can transform a peaceful night into a horror scene. One might wonder about the origin of these uninvited guests, particularly the ones known as bed worms.
In this guide, we have provided the solutions, exploring the origins of bed worms, their potential dangers, and comprehensive strategies for their effective elimination.
What Are Bed Worms
Bed worms also known as mattress worms are not a specific types of pests. It is a group of pests and their larvae that infest your mattress and best in your home. Unlike the adult version of bedworms, the larvae are not developed properly into an insect. Its appearance is an exoskeleton and looks like a worm.
Some of the worms are also a parasite and remain in the form of worms throughout their entire life. Remaining of the insects that appear in your home are worms likely to have pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms.
If you see them crawling on your bed while sleeping then there is a possibility that they are bedbugs, fleas, carpet beetles, or roundworms in a larvae form.
Damages Caused By Bed Worms
Bed Damage
Bed worms can be any larvae of carpet battles, moths, or insects that feed on the natural fibers of bed, mattress, and clothing. They are attracted to the materials of your bed like silk, cotton, and feathers.
The larvae of these insects feed on these items and leave behind small holes, thin patches, and distorted edges of the materials on your bed. As time passes these activities of the larvae can badly impact the condition of your bed by damaging them.
These larvae of the insects can also expose you to allergic reactions in some people. As they change the skins of their body while growing, the remains of the skins and tiny hairs on the bed turn into airborne which has the potential to cause issues in respiratory.
The side effects of these can be sneezing, coughing, and even asthma attacks in sensitive people. Also, if there is direct contact with the bed worms by the individual then it can cause irritations to the skin which are not so tolerable.
Food Contamination
Some worms are the larvae of the pantry pests like Indian meal moths or flour beetles. They can get infested on food storage space making them contaminate food like grains, dried fruits, nuts, and other pantry items.
While feeding on your space these larvas leave webbing, and frass. and shed skins which make the food unedible to eat. The contamination of these larvas not only makes makes the food being waste but also tends to risk your health if the contaminated food is consumed without prior idea.
It is better to keep food items sealed in an airtight container or refrigerate them according to the food items. Else it is recommended to avoid consuming food stored for a long duration in an open area.
Bed worms can spread rapidly from their original location to the part of your house. These larvas can shift from your mattress to nearby furniture, carpets, or closets if available. Once they are adopted to the new place they can do further damage to the clothing and stored fabrics in your home.
This spread of the larvas increases the difficulty of removing them requiring more equipment and increasing costs of their removal. It is recommended to take action quickly as soon as possible if there is any sign of an infestation of the bed worms to save your expensive pest removal from your residence.
Sleep Disruption
If there is the presence of bed worms in your home then it can result in psychological distress to you. Being aware of the presence of larvae in your bed usually causes anxiety, stress, and discomfort, making it difficult to sleep and relax on your bed normally. The sleep disruption you face can hurt your health.
Without proper sleep and rest in your body, you will start to feel fatigue, and irritation impacting your productivity. The emotional impact that you face while dealing with bed worms including potential health risks can make bed worms a serious topic for homeowners.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Worms
There are a few efficient ways to eliminate unwanted bed worms in your mattress or bed, but you need to be persistent. The first step is to identify their location and define the species.
The sure signs of a worm present are egg clusters, blood stains, or dark specks on the bed surface or your pillow, sheets, and mattresses. Then, it is time for the action of extermination!
1. Eliminating the host infestation
First, you should look for the infestation source. It is always in some dark and humid places, like unventilated and dirty spaces, closets with old clothes you never use, potted plants, and bird nests in the attic.
The next thing to do is to eliminate the host infestation and identify and remove eggs and adult bugs before they are prepared for reproducing. Finally, it is time to get rid of the host adult infestation in the bed and the entire house in a few highly efficient ways.
As the old proverb says, cleanliness is half health. Therefore, you should regularly clean your home, throw away old, broken things, and wash dirty pieces. Be aware that a cluttered environment is a paradise for worms to thrive, so you should get rid of things that are potential hiding places for these horrible creatures.
Take things and clothes out of drawers, wardrobes, and cabinets and thoroughly clean them inside and outside. There is no need to keep old clothes and shoes you haven’t used for years. Just toss them!
3. Vacuuming the bed
Vacuuming bed bugs is a convenient way to eliminate these menaces from your bed physically. Stand up the mattress and thoroughly clean any adults and eggs in the bed frame, box spring, headboard, and around moldings.
Pay particular attention to seams and possible cracks. Then, keep going with vacuuming the bedroom from the floor to the ceiling, including areas around and behind the furniture, inside the wardrobe, and each dresser drawer.
Since high heat quickly kills bedworms, one of the best and simplest methods of getting rid of them is to run your dirty laundry and bedsheets through the dryer. Then, wash them in the washing machine at the highest temperature that a particular type of material allows.
Another option is to soak laundry and clothes in soapy water and let them sit for approximately 30 minutes. Then rinse and air-dry them before ironing. You can also apply the secret that is to regularly expose bed sheets, blankets, and pillows to the sun during the summer. It is an excellent natural way to disinfect them.
5. Freezing
It is an efficient way to eliminate adult bed worms and their eggs, particularly from items you can’t expose to high temperatures. Pack your pillows, blankets, and clothes made of leather, feathers, wool, or fur in vacuum-sealed plastic bags and put them in the freezer.
Let them stay there for at least 72 hours to kill bedworms, and then wash your items in the washing machine at the permitted temperature. It is necessary because eggs sometimes survive temperatures below freezing point.
Some worm species can survive for several hours. In other words, you need to use a steam cleaner providing a temperature of at least sufficient to kill them immediately. Since a steam cleaner develops a temperature of 130 to 325 F, it is a highly efficient option for killing bedworm eggs and adults in your bed.
Hot water vapor will clean and sanitize fabric deeply, but you can use this device only for items resistant to water and high temperatures. Otherwise, you will do more harm than good. For instance, almost all synthetic materials, memory foam, and even some organic materials can’t stand hot steam.
7. Dry-cleaning
Calling a professional dry-cleaning company is the quickest and most reliable way to clean your house of bedworms. These professionals will clean all pillows, rugs, and dog or cat beds. Though it may be costly to you the burden you get while having bed worms is more than the value of your costs.
It is recommended to hire the best dry cleaning services available in your area for better results. Also, it will be better if you aware the dry cleaning staff regarding the presence of bed worms in your materials by which they become more conscious of invading them overall.
Look for cracks and hidden crevices in the house, like those on the walls and baseboards, and spray them with an appropriate insecticide. Be careful with different materials and always check what chemical is safe to use in advance.
It is recommended to fill in cracks around door frames and windows with foam insulation if possible. Then, repair existing gaps on the floor with mastic caulking. Call for a maintenance service to renovate your home by correcting the cracks and gaps present in your home.
9. Treating pets for parasite infestations
Since pets spread some bedworm types, you need to eliminate spreading parasites through their hair and feces by cleansing them of parasites regularly. Besides, always apply a particular insecticide to their beds and favorite spots.
It is recommended to keep away them from your bed materials and room just in case you don't get infestation from the bed worms. Though it may not be a desirable choice the best alternative is to make your pets healthy and unexposed from these larvas.
When the situation gets out of control, it is time to consider asking for professional help. Exterminators will find and destroy the infestation source, even when you have a problem doing it yourself. The procedure includes contacting a pest management professional and several professional visits.
Unfortunately, most infestations require more than one treatment. Look for experienced professionals and always check the company reviews before hiring them. Search for the better companies or consult your friends and family.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Worms Naturally
Some people desire to use natural ways as some may have issues applying other methods. If you are willing to use natural ways to get relief from these bed worms then here is the information we have provided to you.
Essential oils
Spraying essential oils on mattresses and around beds can help eliminate bedworms. The best options are neem seed oil, peppermint, lavender oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, eucalyptus oil, and cinnamon oil. Always start with peppermint or neem spray and spray it over the bed, including the bed frame and cracks existing around it.
Some oils are also excellent repellants, so you can spray your mattress regularly. The procedure includes mixing the chosen oil with water in a spraying bottle and its regular use to repel or kill eggs and adults. Be careful with essential oils because some are highly toxic for cats and dogs.
You can use this powder containing the fossilized algae remains to naturally kill bedworms by absorbing fats from their exoskeleton and causing dehydration. The best option is to spray all areas around the bed and existing cracks.
Do this frequently unless the bed worms are completely invaded from your house. Check the presence of any leftover bed worms then repeat the same process. Try doing the steps repeatedly making sure they can regenerate again.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Worms Chemically
Chemicals are the fastest way to get rid of bedworms, so you can solve the problem by buying a reliable agent to kill eggs and adults.
Be careful and pick out only those registered for use on particular insects and strictly follow the label instructions. The best options include products such as:
Pyrethrin-based insecticides
These products based on chrysanthemum flower compounds efficiently destroy numerous insects, including bed worms. Nowadays, you can find them in two forms that is aerosols and liquid concentrates.
Fortunately, these chemicals are non-toxic and safe for homes with children and pets when used according to instructions, but be careful and check the spray label before using it. Since not all come with the same formula, applying some products can irritate the skin and become harmful when inhaled.
This synthetic insecticide paralyzes bedworms’ nervous systems and kills them eventually. It is registered for outdoor use to control ticks and fleas, but you can apply aerosol spray on bedding, carpets, and furniture. Unfortunately, this chemical is toxic to pets and moderately toxic to humans, causing eye or throat irritation.
Use eyeglasses, gloves, and a mask before applying the chemical over the bed worms in your house. Make sure the windows and door are sealed properly to avoid escape of these larvas. Wash and sanitize your body after use.
Neonicotinoids
This insecticide also paralyzes bedworms’ nervous systems and fast-acts on eggs, larvae, and adult parasites. Besides, you can expect long-lasting residual action when using aerosol. It is an effective method to remove bedworms from your home.
However, consider using the proper kit before applying this chemical over the bedworms in your house. Wash and clean the materials present in your room after the process is completed. Also, wash and sanitize your body properly when you complete the task.
How To Prevent Bed Worms
The best possible solution is to avoid waiting for bed worms to appear in your home. Therefore, do your best to prevent their existence by:
Vacuuming the house thoroughly according to the schedule
Removing unnecessary clutter
Washing clothes and linen at high temperatures
Regular essential oils application and keeping lavender bags in the closet
Using plastic bags to put away seasonal clothes
Sealing your luggage when traveling
Using mosquito nets
Buying a mattress encasement
Applying silicone or acrylic latex caulk to seal the cracks if any
Types Of Bed Worms
Different types of larvae and bugs make a way into your bed making you discomfort and also have a potential health risk. Some of them are bed bugs, carpet battles, and dust mites which are described here.
Bedbugs are bloodsuckers that depend on humans and animals for feeding. Their color of body is reddish-brown without any wings with size of an apple. Their shape of body is usually flat and oval Young bedbugs, or nymphs, are smaller and can appear translucent or yellowish.
If nymphs have not been recently fed, due to their coloring, they can be almost impossible to spot. Bedbug eggs are tiny and white. They also hide in cracks and gaps in furniture, including beds, and can be difficult to invade with the support of a professional.
Carpet Beetles
The larvae of carpet battles are small in size and have hairy bodies that feed on natural fibers present in carpets, beds, and mattresses. Adult carpet beetles are not as harmful as their larvae. The larvae can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions to the sensitive skin. The larvae of the Carpet Beetle can take on many appearances, depending on the specific species.
However, these larvae usually measure four or five millimeters in length and have coarse little hairs on their bodies. The small hairs distinguish them from other types of insect larvae. Often, Carpet Beetle Larvae are carrot-shaped or oval-shaped and can be brown, tan, or white.
Dust Mites
These insects are adapted to environments with humidity and warm temperatures. Dead skin cells of humans and animals are their source of food. They don't bite people but can cause allergic reactions and asthma in sensitive people.
The body of these insects are small in size and difficult to observe. They don't bite or sting the people. Instead, it can affect people who are sensitive to the dust that comes from their urine and decaying bodies.
