Tips for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Naturally

A few clouds on the morning horizon. Looks to be a great day.


People are starting to talk about bedbugs. You can hear the fear in people's voices. Some anxiously want to know how to avoid them; others are in panic mode - how to get rid of them? Before you reach for toxic bombs, let's talk about naturally getting rid of bed bugs.

There are lots of websites about bed bugs so I won't go over the basics about them. But just to put some fears to rest, bed bugs do not carry diseases. They bite for sure (yes, they suck your blood - ick) and people vary in terms of their reaction. Some don't react at all while others welt and itch like crazy. Oh, and they do not fly, and that's good news. You are not a dirty person nor a bad house keeper if you get bed bugs, you're just darn unlucky.

So, what are some things to do if you think you have bed bugs? Here are some tips and sensible ways to prepare yourself for battle:

1 - Have a vacuum ready before you begin searching. That way if you find any bugs, or suspicious eggs, you can suck them up immediately.

2 - Upon finding any, first vacuum. Then deal with whatever it was they were on. Mattresses, take out side and continue to vacuum if you can.

3 - Wash bedding, all of it, in hot water - it will kill them. Also dry in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes. (tough for me to suggest using a dryer, but I do hate bed bugs) The heat will kill them.

4 - While the mattress is off the bed, wash down the entire bed frame. If your mattress is directly on the floor, go get yourself a bed frame.

5 - If your mattress was heavily infested, get a new mattress and follow prevention.

6 - If you have recently traveled, vacuum, clean and wash anything associated with your bags.

7 - Think about gutting your room, apartment and house if you are infested. Vacuum and clean every corner starting where you found them and then working away from that point. Using vinegar and hot water is fine. Let it set for a few minutes (good dwell time) before wiping off.

8 - Cold kills bed bugs. If you happen to have winters that get below 25 degrees F, putting your stuff and mattresses outside will kill them.

9 - Throw out the vacuum bag after you suck them up.

Now for the prevention of bedbugs - naturally.

1 - Grease the legs of your bed's frame. That's right, right out of the dark ages but this really is great prevention. You can put petroleum jelly up and down the legs (do not miss a spot). Or you can place the legs (all of them, you might have some in the middle of the bed if it is big) onto a saucer or in a tin can and put petroleum on, around and inside either. This really works and is the best prevention for your bed. The bugs can not walk through it and might even get stuck. Consider greasing sofas and chairs too if you are surrounded by infestation.

2 - Keep the bed away from the wall, several inches.

3 - Herbs can be used as a repellent. They do not like lavender, thyme, rosemary or eucalyptus or mint. (at least that is what I have read) You can either used dried herbs in a sachet, which is great for traveling, or in your drawers. Or you can use real essential oils and create an herbal spray. Be careful with the oils, they can stain. You can spray door thresholds and perimeters of rooms. There are some articles that do say these do not work and to go to a professional exterminator. Herbs are meant as a deterrent only. (so maybe they'll find another home)

4 - Check and clean all fibers attached to the ground - meaning chairs, sofas, clothing, bedding in closets, etc.

5 - Keep clothing off the ground.

6 - When traveling, do not put anything on the ground. Keep your bags up high, maybe on top of a TV, or in the bathtub.

For more information about bed bugs, good photos and all the information you may or may not really want to know, here are some great bed bug links:

EPA Bed Bug Summit

Harvard's Bed Bug Info

Bedbugs by Wikipedia

I grew up hearing "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." I also used to say it to my children. (well, not one of them since she was terrified of bugs) Unfortunately this fun, old, little good night ritualistic saying has taken on a new meaning. Who would have guessed?

Let me know if you have any ideas to add so others may benefit from your advice.

14 Tips for Dry Skin - Naturally

Cccccold, sunny and still.


Dry skin is pretty common up in this neck of the woods but it is beatable. Here are some tips for beating dry skin, naturally.

1 - First, make sure you feed the skin from the inside. Have good nutrition, fresh vegetables and fruits for vitamins that take care of the skin. Good fats are important too, flax seed and walnuts. Make sure you are not allergic to anything. Get plenty of fiber and water.

2 - Avoid temperature extremes which unfortunately includes a super hot shower.

3 - Use a highly fatted, good quality soap, preferably all natural (plant) based (check for nut allergies) devoid of unnecessary chemicals. (see previous blog on real soap)

4 - Use a humidifier - keep that moisture in the 40 to 50% range in the winter.

5 - Make sure the clothing that is contacting your skin is agreeable. Skin often prefers natural fibers vs synthetics. Be mindful of wool allergies.

6 - Make sure your laundry soap is non irritating. Look for non-detergents and low ingredients. Charlie's soap is one of the most recommended soaps on the market and gets rave reviews from mothers (and babies) using cloth diapers. Mothers have been known to travel miles to get it.

7 - Showers are better than baths. This is important so you can do the next step.

8 - Soap last ... barely rinse and get out. It is always tempting to soap up when you first get in the shower and then stand there for many more minutes while the soap sheds off. If you still need to do that, fine , but end your shower using your fatty soap or oil based liquid soap or soap containing shea butter, and rub it into your skin well. Have a quick rinse and get out. The whole idea is to leave a slight layer of oil on your skin.

9 - Pat your skin dry, do not rub. Again, make sure the towels have been laundered with skin agreeing laundry soap.

10 - For cracked hands, the first thing is to protect them against water use and extreme temperatures. Wear gloves when washing. Use fatty soaps and rinse lightly. Lotions are okay (make sure they have no alcohol or other unnecessary drying chemicals in them) but balms are the best. If your lotion isn't working, try balms which are oil/plant based without all the extra stuff that creates lotions. Of course you could do what Italians have been doing for centuries and that's just taking your cooking olive oil and spread it around as needed.

11 - Gloves, when all else fails, is the final line of defense. Slather your hands with a balm, put on the gloves and wear all night while you sleep. Try cotton or bamboo gloves. Voila...new hands. Really!

12 - For those cracked heels, do all of the above and do the same as far as balm and sleeping at night - in socks. Again, the gloves and socks should be laundered with gentle soap. Use balms during the day as well. Do not use petroleum,or Vaseline. These are products from the bottom of the barrel (literally) and form a barrier so that your skin can not breath. (which is fine when you are on top of Mt. Washington in January in a sub-zero 60 MPH wind and need protection)

13 - For Facial Dryness, use a fatty soap, an oil based liquid soap and/or anything with natural shea butter in it. For difficult Eczema, a tried and true product is Trillium's Daily Face Polish, an organic salt scrub, that has worked miracles on many a face. If your soap is high quality and truly oil based, then you shouldn't have to follow with lotions. If you still want to use lotion, remember to avoid alcohol and other irritating ingredients, or you risk undoing all your efforts.

14 - Be Patient. Skin takes a few days to heal and slough off the top dead layer, so give these dry skin tips a few days to work. They really will work..naturally.