Which Bed Bug Treatment is Best?

It’s common agreement that bed bugs are extremely difficult to exterminate without professional help. In most cases, this is true. Regardless, do-it-yourself bed bug treatments may be effective if you’re dealing with an early-phase infestation.

Here are some different treatment methods for DIY and professional bed bug control. 

Here’s which bed bug treatment is the best in your specific situation.

Do-It-Yourself Bed Bug Control

While it is recommended that only a professional be used to treat infestations, there are times when people cannot afford to professionally treat their homes. If you are not an owner of a property that has a non-delegable duty to promptly rid a location of dangerous conditions and cannot afford professional treatment, other than potentially losing time and some money, there’s no harm in trying to get rid of bed bugs by yourself.

However, make sure your lease does not require you to promptly inform the landlord about the bed bugs. If you are required to report the infestation to the landlord or are worried about it spreading, you should immediately report it to your landlord and let them determine how to handle the situation.  

The step-by-step DIY bed bug treatment is as follows:

1. Determine infected areas: Inspect the entire house to make sure whether or not bed bugs have spread to multiple rooms. Using a flashlight, look for brownish spots, eggs, and eggshells, as well as pale yellow skins. If there’s an infestation, it may be on your mattress, bed frame, and bedding. If you aren’t confident in what you are looking for, you should consider contacting a licensed exterminator. 
2. Isolate pests for treatment: Bed bugs also nest in drapes, curtains, carpets, and other furniture, so check them as well. Remove and bag everything that you can wash at high temperatures. Isolate furniture from the rest of the room and the floor by placing bed bug interceptors under all feet. If you are still worried about the situation, you should consider contacting a licensed exterminator. 
3. Treat furniture and rooms that are in close proximity: Washable items can be treated for bed bugs with tumble drying for 30 minutes on high, washing in hot water for 30 minutes, or dry cleaning. Alternatively, you can leave them bagged for 2 to 5 months. For the rest of the infested furniture, you’ll need a strong pesticide. If you are not confident in how to handle this process, it would be best to contact a licensed exterminator.

Bed Bug Insecticide Treatments

Unfortunately, the magic formula for exterminating bed bugs is yet to be invented. A recent study conducted at Rutgers University has found only two pesticides to be highly effective against these pesky insects – Bed Bug Patrol™ and EcoRaider™.

Other popular insecticides and chemical bed bug treatment solutions such as desiccant dusts, low toxicity contact sprays, and pyrethroid sprays will successfully kill bed bugs on contact but will likely not eradicate an infestation in its entirety. 

How Do Exterminators Treat Bed Bugs With Insecticides?

Exterminators may use insecticides as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to eliminate bed bugs. Here are some common ways that they might use a pesticide:

Residual sprays: Exterminators may use chemical sprays that are applied to surfaces in the infested area. These sprays leave a residue that can kill bed bugs for several weeks or even months.

Dusts: Insecticide dusts may be used in cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide. The dusts will cling to the bugs and kill them over the course of 2 to 3 days.

Aerosol sprays: Aerosol sprays can be used to treat specific areas where bed bugs are present. The sprays can kill bed bugs on contact, but they don’t have a residual effect.

Insecticide strips: Exterminators may use insecticide strips that release a vapor that kills bed bugs over time.

It’s important to note that insecticides should be used judiciously and in combination with other methods to eliminate bed bugs. Bed bugs have developed resistance to many types of insecticides, so it’s important to choose the right one and apply it cautiously. Ultimately, prior to using any chemicals, you should consult with a licensed exterminator. 

Whole Room Heat Treatments

Bed bug heat treatments are one of the most effective options for removing an infestation. 

A bed bug extermination company will treat your house with special heating equipment in order to kill the pests and eradicate the infestation using high temperatures. This is efficient because bed bugs and their eggs will die within 90 minutes at 118-122°F (48-50°C).

Whole room heat treatments usually work with temperatures as high as 145°F (62.7 °C) and thus require a professional to handle them. This is not an approach you can take on your own, nor should you attempt to do so without the assistance of a professional.

How Exterminators Treat Bed Bugs With Heat

Here’s how the heat treatment process typically works:

Inspection: The first step is to conduct a thorough examination of the infested area to identify all the bed bug hiding places.

Preparation: The area to be treated must be prepared properly. This includes removing all bedding, clothing, and other items from the room and placing them in sealed bags or containers. Electronics, such as TVs and computers, should be unplugged and removed as well. Furniture should be moved away from walls to ensure that the heat can circulate to all corners of the infested rooms. 

Heat treatment: Exterminators use specialized equipment to raise the temperature in the infested area to 120-135 degrees Fahrenheit. They use heaters and fans to distribute the heat evenly throughout the space. The process typically takes several hours, and the temperature is monitored continuously to ensure that it remains at a lethal level for these pests. 

Follow-up inspections: After the heat treatment is completed, the exterminator will conduct follow-up inspections to ensure that all the bed bugs have been eliminated. They may use other methods, such as insecticides or vacuuming, to dispose of any remaining bed bugs in sight. 

Heat treatment can be very effective in killing bed bugs, but it’s important to hire a licensed professional who is trained in its proper use and application. Additionally, it’s important to follow the exterminator’s instructions for preparing the area to be treated, as proper preparation is essential for the treatment to be effective.

How Bed Bug Injury Law Can Help

Our lawyers may not be able to exterminate bed bugs from your home, but they can potentially assist you in taking legal action for your troubles. Contact Bed Bug Injury Law for an expert consultation today!