Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: How to stop bug bites at home
• Part 2 of 3: Taking far-reaching preventive measures at home
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing bites in the wild
• Tips
• Warnings

If you've ever woken up with bug bites or go to sleep in an area with lots of bugs, there are a few things you can do to avoid getting bitten in your sleep. To avoid being bitten by insects while you sleep in the house, you should thoroughly clean and replace your bedding, kill any insects present in the house and seal your house to prevent further infestations. To avoid getting bitten by insects while camping, build your camping spot as far away from insect nests as possible, use insect repellent spray before going to bed, and thoroughly seal the area in which you sleep. Whether you sleep indoors or out, you can keep the bugs at bay without too much effort.

To step

Part 1 of 3: How to stop bug bites at home

1. Determine what bites you. You can prevent future bites if you know what insects you are dealing with. Bed bug bites, which are especially common indoors, are large and blotchy. Bed bug bites are very similar to mosquito bites.
   • Flea bites are smaller red bites. They often appear on the ankles and lower legs. If you have pets, check them for fleas. You can buy flea repellants from your vet.
   • Lice bites will appear in your hair. You probably can't see them yourself, so have a friend or family member check on you. They are red and itchy. These bites can also appear on other hairy areas on your body.
   • Don't confuse irritants with insect bites. Allergies and toxic chemicals such as pesticides and solvents cause similar redness and swelling. Emotional stress and anxiety can also cause such outbreaks.
2. Change your sheets. To avoid insects in your bed and biting you at night, wash and change your sheets often. Dead skin cells will build up in your bed and those cells will attract insects. Washing your sheets every other week is not bad, but a weekly cleaning is ideal.
   • Even if you can't see the bugs in your bed, they can still be there. Tiny microscopic insects called dust mites can bite you at night. These insects are attracted to the dead skin cells that cling to dirty sheets.
   • Use hot, soapy water to wash your sheets thoroughly. Make sure to dry them completely in the dryer. Damp sheets can become moldy.
   • If you've washed your sheets and you're still getting bitten in bed, get new sheets. It costs a bit, but you will benefit in the long run.
   • Move your bed away from the wall. A few centimeters can be enough. This way you make it more difficult for insects to move between the wall and your bed.
3. Put your sheets between the mattress and the box spring. Most insects will forage in any opening you leave for them. It is therefore better to remove places where they could possibly nest. Don't let your sheets hang on the floor.
   • Remember, bed bugs cannot fly or jump. You can take advantage of their fairly limited range of motion by tucking in your sheets.
   • If you have dust mites, you shouldn't make your bed. If you leave your bed open, you will allow moisture to disappear from your sheets and mattress. Eventually the mites will dry out and die. Dust mites need moisture to survive, so a dry environment will kill them.
4. Vacuum thoroughly and regularly. It's not enough just to exterminate insects on your bed itself. You need to use a vacuum cleaner to kill any leftover insects. It is also good for removing debris from your carpet. Dirt residue will attract insects. Vacuum often to make sure your carpet stays free of nasty creatures in the future.
   • Use a suction attachment to reach hard-to-reach places.This is, for example, the space behind your headboard or along the baseboards. Make sure to move your bed off its place. You need to vacuum your entire carpet.
   • If you don't have a carpet, you can use a mop with soap and water to clean the area around your bed.
5. Remove standing water from the vicinity of your home. Even if you don't have a pool or other water supply near your home, you can still attract insects to your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs near water sources and will take advantage of any moisture that may be found in your environment.
   • Drill holes in open containers, such as waste containers that can collect water.
   • Change birdbaths and pet water bowls as often as you can. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
   • Do not leave pots, pans or full glasses of water outside.

Part 2 of 3: Taking far-reaching preventive measures at home

1. Have your blankets and comforters professionally cleaned. Taking these larger items to the dry cleaner for a full clean can help prevent future contamination. Inform them of your intentions. Many dry cleaners employ certain processes and use relatively safe chemicals to discourage insects from settling in the fabric.
   • For more severe cases of insect infestations, you can call a professional cleaning service to come to your house and control the bugs. However, do not take this step until you are sure there are pests living in your bed, as this can be quite expensive.
   • You can invest in a mattress cover designed to repel bed bugs. This cover encloses the entire mattress and seals in pests. Insects trapped in this will die.
2. Switch up your bed frame. Only do this if you suffer from a large number of bites. Insects often hide in wooden enclosures, so swapping them for a metal enclosure can remove them from your bedroom. Wooden casings are also closer to the floor, which makes it easier for insects to get off the floor and into your bed.
   • If possible, it is also better to take a bed without a headboard. Headboards are nesting nests for insects, and they will easily slip through the porous wood between your sheets. If you need a headboard for sleeping, try a metal one instead.
3. Close your house well. If you can prevent insects from entering your home, you can prevent them from biting you at night. You therefore avoid having to spend a lot of money on new furniture or professional cleaning.
   • Seal cracks and crevices in plumbing and wiring. Smaller insects can easily get in through it.
   • Buy a good quality silicone or acrylic latex grout to seal smaller gaps at doors or windows. If the hole is larger, you may need a firmer filler, such as cement.
   • Since the bugs that bite you are likely to be very small, mesh panels for your doors and windows probably won't be of much use. Keep these openings closed as much as possible.
   • Improving your overall hygiene can help with your bug problem. Do not leave dirty dishes overnight and always clean up any spilled food crumbs.
4. Seek help from a professional exterminator. If you are unable to resolve your insect problem permanently, you can call a specialist. Professional insecticide companies usually use a combination of steam treatment and insecticide. Starting with a steam treatment works best; the insecticide will kill insects that have not been killed by the steam.
   • Make sure the professional uses an insecticide with d-phenothrin as the active ingredient. The main use of d-phenothrin is in killing small insect pests such as bed bugs and ticks. It is more than likely that these types of creatures are the problem.
   • If you don't want to pay for an extermination company, you can try performing a steam treatment yourself. You then have to buy your own cleaner. Make sure it produces low-steam, high-temperature steam.
   • Get as close to the insects as possible. Move at a speed of about 1 inch every 10 seconds. If you go faster, it won't kill the insects.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing bites in the wild

1. Find a camping spot in an insect-free environment. Find out where insects traditionally gather. You may be able to avoid them that way when you're outside. Although insects can be everywhere, they usually reside near standing water. When camping in a place with a warm, humid climate, avoid pools of standing water and lakes.
   • A camping pitch on higher ground is recommended if you are looking for a place. Pitch your tent against a hill too. By avoiding low, level areas, you stay away from large, standing water.
   • Move to higher ground, even if your area is quite dry. Any rainfall, no matter how small, will attract more insects to your environment.
2. Invest in a waterproof tent. In a traditional tent without protection, insects get in quite easily. A waterproof tent, although more expensive, is a good way to keep out insects. This will reduce the number of bites you get in your sleep.
   • Waterproof tents are thicker but also more breathable than traditional tents. This means that you will not notice the greater amount of protection. Fresh air flows in and out easily.
3. Buy mosquito nets. In addition to a waterproof tent, you can invest in a preventive mosquito net. These nets are a good protection against insect bites during the day. They fit well around a hammock. This will help you rest better during your nap.
   • You can try a freestanding mosquito net. This is basically a small tent held together by a metal or plastic frame that is easy to store. You can easily set it up in a larger tent so that when you zip up the first tent, you don't let insects in further.
   • If you are not camping with a tent, you can use a wedge-shaped mosquito net. The net hangs from two suspension points and falls over your sleeping place. This type of net is easy to hang and quite inexpensive.
4. Apply an insect repellent before going to sleep. Make sure to use a product that is safe for your skin, as certain repellants are made for the environment. Products with the active ingredients DEET or picaridin are often the most successful.
   • Be careful when using bug spray. Do not spray in an enclosed area, such as your tent. Only apply it on bare skin and not under your clothes.
   • If you want to use bug spray on your face, spray it on your hands first and then rub the spray on your face. Spraying directly to your eyes is not a good idea.
   • Always check the label of your repellent before using it on your skin. It can be extremely toxic and it can be dangerous to use the wrong product.
   • Explore more natural ways to keep insects away with a natural insect repellent. You can use a variety of readily available remedies, from eucalyptus oil to vanilla extract, to create simple traps.
   • It may take you a while to perfect these recipes. Remember, this is a great way to avoid introducing toxic chemicals into the environment.
5. Burn sage. Just before going to bed, throw a bunch of sage on your campfire to repel insects. Most people find the scent relaxing and it is a good alternative to chemicals around your pitch.
   • You can throw fresh or dried sage on the fire. Hang them in a cool, dry area for a week to dry completely. Dried sage can also be used as a starting material for your fire.
   • Other herbs, such as lavender and mint, can also be used for a similar result.
6. Cover your body. Do not expose your skin when you are in the woods. This invites large numbers of insects to bite. Mosquitoes in particular will feed on supple flesh. While the heat can keep you from wrapping up in layers of clothing, you'll be grateful if you don't have to scratch painful bites.
   • Make sure to wear long pants and socks while sleeping. Pull your socks over your pants to keep insects from getting into the legs of your pajamas.
   • Wear long sleeves and tuck your long sleeve shirt into your pants.
   • All your sleeping clothes should be tight around the ankles, wrists and your neck. It may not be possible to completely seal your hands and neck, but still cover as much skin as possible.
   • Treat your clothes with permethrin, a good insect repellent to kill unwanted insects.

Tips

• If you're currently experiencing bug bites in your sleep, see a dermatologist and entomologist to determine which types of bugs are biting you. This will also help if your problem isn't the result of bug bites. Sometimes an allergic reaction to the type of bedding you use can result in reactions similar to insect bites.

Warnings

• If you've treated duvets or blankets with chemicals, don't let them make contact with your skin while sleeping. While some of these chemicals are mild and non-toxic, it is better to avoid the possibility of an allergic reaction.