The biggest problem with bed bugs is getting rid of them! These little blood suckers just refuse to go without a fight which can make the process of exterminating them a frustrating task. However with a little know how it need not be impossible!

The most critical thing when it comes to exterminating bed bugs is taking action very quickly on finding an infestation. If you do this it is usually possible to deal with the extermination of the bugs on a "do it yourself" basis. The big question is how do you go about exterminating bed bugs?

Follow these steps and you should succeed.

1. Positive Identification.

Start by doing some detective work to determine that bed bugs are indeed the problem. If you awake each morning to bites on your body this is one sure sign however you should take your search a little further. Check the mattress of your bed and your bedding, quite often you will find blood smears on sheets or faecal marks on the mattress. Check the WHOLE room especially the more weird places that bed bugs like to hang out like smoke detectors, light switches etc.

2. Battle Lines Drawn!

Now that you are certain what the problem is you can begin exterminating bed bugs.

First, remove all clutter from the room in sealed plastic bags and dispose of it. Vacuum the room from top to bottom. Literally everything from soft furnishings to furtniture. By doing this not only nymphs and adult bugs will be removed but also eggs and larvae.

Secondly following the same systematic approach steam clean the whole room. Bed bugs cannot withstand high temperatures and a steam cleaner is the best weapon you can have. The huge advantage is that heat will kill bed bug eggs which a lot of chemical treatments don't.

The final weapon of destruction is a bed bug spray. This is not essential after steam cleaning but it will act as an insurance policy against any escapees. There a number of such products on the market but for a house with children and pets an organic, non toxic spray is probably the best choice.

On the face of it, it all seems straight forward and simple - in reality it is a lot of hard work which may have to be repeated before the bed bugs finally roll over and die.