Bed,Bug,Infestation,And,Treatment,Service.,Bugs,Extermination

Bed Bugs

How to prevent bed bugs coming into your home after travelling.

When staying away

When you arrive have a check around for any bugs in the carpet and in the bed before unpacking, look for reddish brown bugs, white eggs and dark spots with is normally their faeces. If you feel there are bugs consult the staff asap.

Keep your luggage of the ground, use the luggage rack which is normally provided to keep your bags off the floor, bed bugs do live in carpets and keep your bags and cases off the bed or chairs.

When you return home

When you return from a stay away from home, do not take your suitcase upstairs and unpack it on your bed, this is literally the worst thing you can do, if a few bed bugs have found their way into your case they will jump straight into your bed and start to multiply.

Instead unpack your bag on a hard floor in a well lite area, this way you can see any bugs that may have come along on the ride with you.

Pop your clothes straight into the washing machine, add a laundry cleanser or white vinegar and use the hottest cycle you can, if you do notice bugs when unpacking keep the clothes you aren’t washing in the case or a sealed bag and pop in the garage or shed until you are ready to wash them.

Once your clothes have been taken care of, use a torch to thoroughly check your luggage, check the pockets and seams for bugs and eggs.

Vacuum inside your luggage and spray the inside with a disinfectant spray.  Be sure to empty the cannister into an outdoor bin to prevent captured bed bugs from re-infesting your home.

 If you have a hard-shell case, you can wash this over with hot soapy water and if you have a soft case break out the steam cleaner and give it a blast with hot steam.

How to prevent them in your bed

Keep your bedroom clutter free, these bugs love dark cluttered spaces and can easily hide in clutter.

If you keep your laundry hamper in your bedroom ensure you give it a regular clean, they love the smell of dirty clothes and have been known to lay eggs in laundry hampers.  Fabric hampers normally come apart and can be washed and plastic ones can be washed over with hot soapy water.

Regularly wash your bed sheets and use a high temperature 60 degrees plus.

When you change your sheets, vacuum the mattress and surrounding frame.

Keep your mattress clean deal with any stains as and when they occur, hydrogen peroxide is the best mattress stain remover as it is a natural bleach. Then a few times a year deep clean your mattress using an upholstery cleaning tool or a steam cleaner.

Try not to use the underneath or your bed unless you have an ottoman bed as a storage solution, this will create clutter for them to live in.

Avoid wearing shoes in your bedroom.

Vacuum your carpet and rugs regularly at least once a week.

If you suspect you have got bed bugs, it’s crucial to address the infestation promptly. You may need to consult with a pest control professional to properly eliminate the problem. Early detection and action are key to preventing a full-blown bed bug infestation.

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How to clean walls

We all know that with kids and animals around the house, it can be really hard to keep walls clean and mark free.

Here are some tips on how to clean walls broken down into categories

INK

It’s always such a joy when little ones begin to express their creativity through drawing, colouring, and painting – unless, of course, they decide to do it on the walls. 

  • Spray some hairspray onto a Cloth then rub it gently over the ink mark.
  • Try some rubbing alcohol/surgical spirit onto a cotton ball and dab it on the ink stain until the stain is gone.
  • Apply some toothpaste to it, leave it for 10 minutes, then wash off with water (this method is also great for wallpapered walls).
  • Apply some eucalyptus oil to some kitchen roll and rub directly on the mark.

CRAYON

Another waxy material the kids like to apply to our walls is crayon you can use Magic Erasers to get rid of crayon without taking off the paint or you can make your own using a dampened sponge dipped into some bicarbonate of soda.

DIRTY FINGER MARKS AND SCUFFS

To get rid of dirty fingerprints, mix equal parts of white vinegar with warm water and wipe down the walls. Another option is eucalyptus oil on a cotton ball rubbed on the fingerprints.

GREASE MARKS

The same vinegar/water solution as above but also add in some lemon juice. Lemon juice is a great degreaser and will shift those stubborn grease marks.

For a general clean and freshen up of your walls you can use sugar soap diluted with warm water, to reach up high use a flat headed mop, but don’t forget to dry dust your walls first of all. Sugar soap helps to improve adhesion and give a better finish when decorating and will effectively remove nicotine marks so a great product to keep in your cleaning cupboard.

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News Years party clean up

New Years embrace new beginnings – a chance for everyone to begin fresh and fun and in most cases It is bound to start with a celebration of some sort which will probably get a little messy.

If you have hosted here is a little round up of how to clean up that mess quickly.

Before going to bed.

Get ahead start by having a little tidy up before locking up and going to bed, trust me you will appreciate this in the morning.

  • Put any uneaten food in plastic containers and place it back in the fridge. If you leave it lying there all night, it could quickly rot and start to smell. By doing so, it will stay fresh longer, and you might not have to cook the next day.
  • Seal or re-cork bottles of wine that haven’t been entirely emptied yet. You can use some cling wrap to cover the top if you can’t get the cork back in. 
  • Act on any urgent matters such as stains and spills. They are easiest to remove when treated immediately. for any clothing stains soak pre treat using a stain remover and then soak over nights. In the morning you can add to the wash. For any carpet stains spot treat these using a solution of warm soapy water and a splash of white vinegar, gently dab and then blot to dry using a clean white cloth.
  • Clear out any clutter you see. The last thing you’d want is to navigate a maze full of empty cans and bottles in the middle of the night during those times when you are in desperate need of the loo or get up in the morning to a sea of mess. Grab a heavy duty bin liner and get filling. But remember too recycle.

In the morning

You may be feeling a little hung over so before you start with your big clean up give you some a little TLC, drink plenty of water and have a good breakfast. If you are running on empty you will tire quickly and have to come back to it another day, start the new year fresh and get on with the job at hand. The end result will be worth it.

  • Start by clearing surfaces and dealing with any sticky patches from spilt drinks or dips.
  • Run the vacuum around so you are not treading food crumbs throughout the rest of your home.
  • Throw open those windows and let some fresh air in to get rid of any horrible smells.
  • Start doing the dishes. Fill the dishwasher with bowls, plates, and glasses and hand wash items that won’t fit in.
  • Gather your fabric tablecloths and napkins and give them a quick cycle in your washing machine. Use a good quality detergent and add in a stain remover to pick up any stains. You can also start washing items you have applied stain removers to the night before.
  • Wash or steam the floors
  • Refresh the sofa by giving it a good vacuum and spritz with a homemade fabric refresher.
  • Do not forget to inspect the toilet premises. Everyone tries their best to be hygienic, but once alcohol is flowing and actions are impaired, there can be a few misses. Wear rubber gloves and start wiping the areas with disinfectant, remember to spray and leave the product to work to get the full benefit and kill those germs. Change over the hand towel and wipe over the sink area.

Congratulations you are now a step closer to bringing your home back to normal state.

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How to clean your mattress

I make a point of giving my mattress a deep clean every season, in-between I give it a regular vacuum when changing the sheets on clean sheets Sunday.

Your mattress needs a little TLC because it can harbour dust mites, dead skin, dirt, bodily fluids, and other debris, it is important to give your mattress a regularly clean, particularly if you suffer from allergies or allow your pet onto the bed.

Once a month I will give it a quick steam clean. Steam cleaning breaks down odours, remove allergies and removes surface dirt and will give your mattress a fresh clean feeling.

If you have a mattress that you can flip over, do this every time you change your bedding but if your mattress is non flip, rotate instead and this will help keep the comfort fillings evenly distributed, which will improve the lifespan of your mattress.

A good quality thick mattress protector will also help prolong the life of your mattress, these can be removed and washed easily giving your mattress the best protection from bodily odours and allergens.

Cleaning your mattress may come across as a big cleaning job but it is far easier than you may think.

Start by vacuuming your mattress, use the upholstery attachment and go over the entire surface, including the sides, make sure you pay attention to the seams as this is were hidden dirt may hide and dust will settle.

Next spot clean any stains, make up your own a mattress stain cleaning solution using hydrogen peroxide, washing up liquid and water.  ¾ fill the spray bottle with water, add in 20 ml or hydrogen peroxide and a drop of washing up liquid.  Shake really well and then liberally spray the stained area.  If the stains are bad, leave the product on for a while to work.  Use a damp microfibre to gently scrub into the mattress and then using a separate white cloth blot dry.  I always suggest using white cloths because this way you can see the stain being lifted out.   Try not to use too much water if you have a memory foam mattress as they aren’t supposed to get too wet.

If you have a carpet cleaner with an upholstery tool, and your mattress is not memory foam then use this to penetrate the mattress and pull out all the dust, dirt, and debris.  

If you don’t have a carpet cleaner or your mattress is memory foam, then use some bicarbonate of soda.  This acts to dry clean your mattress.  Sprinkle a layer over the top of the entire mattress and then leave for several hours, the bicarbonate of soda will break down acid and absorb any remaining moisture and odour.  The longer you can leave the bicarbonate of soda the better.  Keep the room well aired during this process, open the windows, and let the sunlight and fresh air through.  The sun’s UV rays will act as a natural disinfectant.

Vacuum away the bicarbonate of soda and then spray with a fabric refresher spray, choose your favourite, or make up your own.  I make mine using bicarbonate of soda and lavender essential oil.  ¾ fill a spray bottle with water, add in a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and 10 drops of essential oils, shake well and spray all over.  I choose lavender as it helps to aid sleep and is a relaxing essential oil.

Cleaning the mattress will extend its life but all good things do come to an end, after 8 years it is time to consider investing in new, body impressions and sagging will indicate that it no longer providing the support you require.  Waking up uncomfortable or sleeping badly are signs to move on.