Vinegar can be used to clean a mattress (Image: Alex Evans)
UK households are being urged to sprinkle vinegar on their mattresses as a common pest makes a return in large numbers.
According to pest experts, bedbugs are back in the UK this winter as households crank up the central heating, which helps them thrive.
Pest expert James Rhoades, from heat treatment specialists ThermoPest, is now warning of a rise in infestations nationwide, leaving homeowners urgently searching for effective ways to protect their families and stop the tiny hitchhikers from taking hold.
He said: “Bed bugs thrive in consistently warm environments, and central heating gives them exactly what they need. During colder months, heating is on for longer, which speeds up their reproduction cycle. That, combined with increased travel, creates a perfect storm for infestations. Even dormant bugs can become active again when warmth returns.”
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According to cleaning experts at Vileda, there are several ways you can wash your mattress without needing harsh chemicals or expensive cleaners, including using white vinegar.
Vileda says a white vinegar solution can be mixed using a bit of water and the common household condiment before being used to blot away any bed stains and freshen up the bed generally.
It says: “Regular and thorough cleaning of your mattress is crucial for a comfortable and healthy sleep environment.
“While commercial cleaning products have their place, natural remedies like baking soda and vinegar are highly effective, safe, and inexpensive alternatives.
“Whether you’re deep-cleaning memory foam mattresses or mattress toppers (or dealing with a stubborn stain), these methods are gentle on your mattresses while leaving them fresh and odour-free.”
To make a vinegar-based mattress cleaner, mix a solution of 50% water and 50% white vinegar in a spray bottle.
Then, spray any stains and blot with a cloth, then rise with another damp cloth and leave to dry.
If you need a deeper clean to get rid of bedbugs, ThermoPest says a heat treatment works.
It adds: “When it comes to eliminating bed bugs, a specialised heat treatment is the most effective, and efficient solution. It’s quick, it doesn’t leave any lasting odours or residue, and it’s done in a single visit. More traditional methods of pest control may require multiple visits, and are not always 100% accurate in the complete removal of the infestation.
“During heat treatment, specialist heaters raise the temperature of the affected area to 50–60C for several hours, enough to penetrate deep into furniture and kill bed bugs at all life stages. After a thorough inspection, rooms are returned to safe temperatures and can be used again the same day.”
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