Bed Bug Treatment:

Why You Should Call a Pro to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Oh, no! You’ve found signs of bed bugs in your home! But don’t panic.

A professional bed bug exterminator can provide a bed bug treatment to wipe out these nasty, blood-sucking pests.

 

two bed bugs on human's skin

Bed Bugs

 

 

Trying to find bed bugs yourself is a daunting proposition because they naturally live in nooks and crannies out of human sight. It takes a veteran pest control specialist, sometimes with a dog trained to sniff out bed bugs, to adequately examine a home for all bed bug nests.

The first step is inspection to locate the troublesome creatures. Then there are two basic bed bug treatment methods: chemicals and heat.

 

  • Insecticides

 

The most common method of bed bug treatment used by professionals is a liquid or dust spray containing insecticides. A specialist will put these chemicals in all areas where they find bed bugs or suspect they have been crawling. These chemicals are safe, and will eliminate the need to fumigate the entire home.

If you’re worried about the effects on humans or pets; don’t be. The chemicals used will put an end to bed bugs, but they don’t harm the occupants of the home.

 

  • Heat Treatment

This is a non-chemical alternative. Bed bugs die at temperatures above 120 degrees, so some exterminators use thermal remediation techniques. They place high-powered space heaters in your home to bring it up to the necessary temperature.

This is definitely a job for professionals because the heaters used are very powerful. So, precautions need to be taken to ensure that the home doesn’t become too hot, and damage anything. Instructions have to be followed carefully. Obviously, items that will be damaged by high temperatures need to be removed away from the heat as well.

 

bed bugs stain on the edge of a box spring

Bed Bugs Infestation on a Mattress (Photo Credit: Rest Easy Pest Control)

The Next Step for a Bed Bug Treatment

Having bed bugs is stressful, but it is a solvable problem. Also, it can be remedied without throwing everything away, dry cleaning, and washing everything you own. Here are the next steps:

  • Most of what you read on the internet are the worst cases. However, in reality it is the opposite of what we see as professionals.
  • Most of the time the problem is not that bad, and is remedied within 30 days with minimal impact to a customer.
  • Hire someone you can trust. Either a referral from a friend or a highly positive reviewed bed bug exterminator.
  • We offer a low preparation approach where 99% of the time our clients do not have to bag up all of their belongings or empty all of their closets.
  • Our treatment kills all cycles of a bed bug, from adults to young to pregnant females.
  • We also provide encasements for the mattress and box spring. There are numerous encasements on the market that claim they are bed bug “proof” but most are not.

 

illustration of a bed bug

“Pesticides can definitely be effective when you apply them to your mattress and box spring,

but only as part of a more intensive treatment plan.”

–Rest Easy Pest Control

 

Some Non-Chemical DIY Bed Bug Treatment Methods

There are several do-it-yourself methods which don’t involve chemicals that you can try on your own. Sometimes just cleaning up clutter around your home can help.

  • Vacuum: A simple approach, just make sure that you don’t use a brush attachment because bed bug eggs can get in the bristles, and move elsewhere in the house.
  • Steamer: You could find steamers on the market designed with bed bug eradication in mind.  Quality steamers come with a series of attachments to treat not only furniture, but small spaces and crevices too where bed bugs might be hiding. Keep in mind though that you’ll need to be diligent and spend some time on this method to make sure they’re all gone.
  • Bed Bug Traps: These are designed to capture bed bugs to be disposed of later. There are active and inactive versions. An active trap will lure bed bugs in, and keep them there, while an inactive trap is positioned under the legs of a bed, and when they go in to feed they get stuck inside.

 

What Doesn’t Work As a Bed Bug Treatment

Just because you bought a reputable brand of insecticide doesn’t mean it’s actually going to work. Poisons can work extremely well with certain bugs, but bed bugs are expert hiders. They can remain hidden in all sorts of cracks and crevices in your home while you’re spraying. Also, they can often survive up to a year without feeding. So, waiting for them to come out to feed in order to spray them isn’t an option.

The same goes for bug bombs. Many homeowners use these to get rid of an infestation of bugs in one fell swoop. But again, with their ability to remain hidden, these bombs are largely ineffective against bed bugs.

Boric acid is another long thought effective treatment for bed bugs. However, a recent report from North Carolina State University showed boric acids are only beneficial on killing bed bugs only if they actually ingest the chemical. The researchers found that bed bugs that consumed boric acid at concentrations larger than 2% died instantly while those that ate the chemical at concentrations below 2% suffocated slowly. Also, it has the opposite effect if bed bugs have external contact with the chemical.

 

 

icon of an insecticide spray

“Even when exposed to high concentrations of boric acid

more than 85% of the bed bugs in the experiment endured the exposure.”

–Rest Easy Pest Control

 

The Dangers of DIY Bed Bug Extermination Products

For one thing, bed bugs are difficult to locate and eradicate. They are probably one of the most challenging jobs exterminators face. Even professionals use specially trained dogs to pinpoint their exact locations.

So, you might follow all the label directions of the product, but never actually reach any of the bed bugs you’re trying to kill. There’s also the issue of safety. DIY extermination products can be very dangerous if used improperly; pesticides are not something to play around with.

The cost of making a mistake could result in not only monetary loss, but more importantly putting the health of you and your family in jeopardy. Unless you’re expertly trained in the use of insecticides consider these dangers; both financial and physical.

Bed Bug staining and eggs

Bed Bug staining and eggs on a piece of furniture

Most off-the-shelf extermination products don’t have the residual strength to permanently eradicate bed bugs. A majority of them are a waste of money. Even when following label instructions it’s easy for an amateur to make a mistake in the application.

Another major error DIY enthusiasts tend to make is in trying to think of a creative solution. But there’s no room for experimentation with these kinds of products. If you don’t follow the label exactly you’re asking for trouble. Never try to mix up your own bed bug “cocktail” or treat areas that aren’t specified on the label.

 

Calling On A Professional Bed Bug Exterminator

Unless you’re highly familiar with extermination products and procedures, your best move is to call a professional pest control company who is trained, and has experience in dealing with bed bugs. Get help as soon as you suspect a bed bug problem. A professional will be able to locate and eradicate them permanently.


rest easy pest control logo

 

 

Related Articles: