Households urged to sprinkle vinegar on mattress as infestation bites

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.