Bed bugs get into homes by hitching rides on second-hand upholstered furniture, used mattresses or in luggage. Vacuum regularly and target seams, corners and other hidden areas.
Specially designed mattress and box spring encasements limit bed bug infestations. Other prevention measures include using steam cleaners and sealing cracks. Avoid consumer pesticide products like aerosol foggers, which are ineffective against well-hidden bed bugs and may be dangerous to your health. Visit https://www.benspest.biz/ to learn more.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming helps remove bed bugs and their eggs from surfaces, but it’s not a standalone treatment. It’s best used in combination with other treatments to achieve optimal results, like heat or insecticides.
When using a vacuum, be sure to use a model with a HEPA-level filtration system to eliminate spores and other pollutants. Look for a cordless vacuum cleaner that allows you to reach tight spots and corners, or one with nozzle attachments. It’s also helpful to purchase protective covers for mattresses and box springs that have a tight seal. These prevent bed bugs from escaping and can help you identify and treat problem areas quickly.
It’s important to be consistent with your cleaning routine, especially after treating an infestation. Infestations can take weeks or months to completely resolve, and continued vigilance can keep them from recurring. Keep a clean home, reduce clutter, and regularly inspect seams, furniture and floors for new signs of an infestation.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact a licensed pest control professional as soon as possible. They can advise you on your options and recommend effective, safe treatment techniques.
Treatment options can include Integrated Pest Management (IPM): this comprehensive approach combines inspections, monitoring, and targeted treatments to minimize infestations and maximize control. Fumigation: This process involves sealing off an infested space and spraying a highly potent gas that kills the pests and their eggs. It requires specialized equipment and training and is typically reserved for severe or widespread infestations.
A do-it-yourself heat treatment can be effective for some, but many do not succeed. The ideal way to do a DIY heat treatment is with an industrial-grade steamer that can maintain high temperatures for extended periods of time and has a large capacity. You can also try using a propane space heater or a fireplace, but these methods are not likely to be as successful and may even be dangerous. If DIY treatments do not work, professional-grade heat treatments are available to fully eradicate bed bugs from homes and businesses. This option is effective, safe and backed by years of proven effectiveness.
Laundry
Bed bugs are tiny (just over 1/8 inch long) blood-feeding insects that hide in creases and crevices during the day, emerging in darkness to seek out and bite warm-blooded animals including humans. Home infestations usually occur after homeowners travel to regions where these pests are endemic, bringing them back in their luggage and clothing. Although removing infested bedding, mattresses and box springs is often insufficient to eradicate an infestation because of the eggs and adult pests that are hiding in the surrounding area, washing clothes, linens and curtains can help.
Generally, laundry is one of the most effective methods for killing bed bugs. This is because the pests cannot withstand high temperatures that are generated during the washing cycle of a clothes washer or the drying cycle of a dryer. Moreover, the high temperatures cause the pests to dehydrate and die, thus eliminating them from the infested fabrics.
Laundering infested clothing and other textiles should be done promptly to minimize the chances of re-infestation. Sort the clothing and textiles into piles according to fabric type and place them into clean plastic bags before placing them into the washer or dryer. The use of bags helps to prevent spreading the insects into other areas of the home. The sorted laundry should be washed in the hottest water temperature recommended for each fabric type and dried at the highest heat setting for the corresponding fabric.
If your clothes can’t be washed or dry cleaned (such as silk garments, suede shoes and boots, lingerie, and stuffed toys), then freezing them is the next best option. This method of treatment works because bed bugs and their eggs are unable to survive in extremely cold temperatures. Place the items to be frozen into a sealable container, then put them into the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for up to three days.
Before putting your infested clothes into the dryer or washing machine, blot and rub them to remove any bed bug stains that are visible on the surface. Dab the stains with hydrogen peroxide (3%) or other enzyme-based fabric stain removers to break down any remaining food for the pests and to further dehydrate them. You should also sanitize the fabric items with a hot wash, a hot rinse and a warm-dry cycle to kill the insects and their eggs.
Insecticide Sprays
Getting rid of bed bugs requires patience and persistence, but it’s not impossible. If you are serious about eliminating them, be sure to follow steps of integrated pest management (IPM). Using insecticide sprays and traps may help, but it will take time and commitment on your part. Infestations are spread by people, not pets or plants, so vigilance is the key.
The most common method of control is a surface spray. These products work on the principle that when a pest walks across a treated surface, a thin layer of insecticide remains on their feet and legs. As they groom themselves, this insecticide enters their body and kills them. Surface sprays are a good choice for furniture, baseboards and other surfaces that are difficult to treat with other methods.
When applying these products, make sure the label is read carefully – and followed! Incorrect use of any pesticide can harm your health, damage your property or even cause a fire. Some products must be shaken before and during application so the insecticide is evenly distributed throughout the container, and some require longer shaking times than others.
It is also important to note that some pesticides have different modes of action – the way they kill or inactivate the target pest. Some are broad-spectrum, while others are targeted to certain insects. If you are using a broad-spectrum product, it is likely that beneficial insects will be killed as well, which can affect the overall balance of your ecosystem.
Some products have an additive called a surfactant, which allows the product to penetrate and kill the pest more effectively. This is especially important if the pest has a tough outer coating, such as a nymph or egg.
Foggers, or bug bombs, are another popular form of insecticide. These devices are very effective for reducing and eliminating some pests, but they do not reach the cracks and crevices where many pests hide. For this reason, foggers are not recommended for use against bed bugs.
If you choose to use a fogger, be very careful. Always read the label and follow instructions carefully, as improper use can harm your health or even cause a fire or explosion.
Interceptor Traps
Bed bug interceptor traps are passive devices that don’t require a power source to work and are more accurate than other traps that use heat, carbon dioxide or pheromone lures. Placed under the legs of beds or other furniture, interceptors rely on the bugs’ poor ability to climb smooth surfaces. They are made up of a double-walled pitfall trap with rough areas on the outside and a smooth-surfaced moat on the inside. Attempting to climb up or down the legs of the bed, the insects fall into the pitfall, where they can’t escape. In a study by Healthy Housing Solutions, interceptors caught 96% of the bed bugs in 71 apartments.
The traps are inexpensive and can be found online. Some are designed with a special lure to enhance effectiveness. If not using a lure, the traps should be filled with water, rubbing alcohol or another nontoxic substance, such as a powdered desiccant (but not pool or food grade, which can harm humans when inhaled).
Depending on the size of your home and the number of bed bug traps you’re setting up, four to six cups of interceptor trap is recommended. They should be placed under the legs of each bed in the room, as well as under the legs of upholstered furniture, such as sofas and recliners.
To keep the traps clean and effective, they should be checked at least once a week. Dust and debris should be emptied from the cups, which can be done with a dry cloth or by pouring the contents into a smooth-sided plastic tub for inspection. If the traps contain live bugs, a leak-proof container of 70% rubbing alcohol or a cup of soapy water can be used to kill them. If the bugs aren’t killed immediately, they can be taken to a county Extension agent or other insect expert for positive identification and treatment.
Traps and monitors won’t eliminate a full-blown bed bug infestation by themselves. But they will help you detect activity and track progress during a professional treatment. To eliminate the pests fully, a Terminix technician can use targeted treatments to target the entire life cycle of bed bugs: eggs, nymphs and adults. With expert inspection, proven treatment methods and follow-up as needed, the pests will be gone for good.