Bed Bug Prevention Resources in U.S. and Canadian Cities
"This guide to bed bug prevention resources provides specific information on the government resources, exterminators, news and laws in your area. This information can help you determine your rights as a tenant (always consult a lawyer), and what to do if you own your home. The bottom of the page lists specific product recommendations. We always recommend that tenants notify their landlord in writing when requesting treatment, as this serves as legal notification. It is also recommended that homeowners hire an exterminator, however, due to the high expense, we also provide recommendations for products that kill insecticide resistant bed bugs, and the steps for killing bed bugs. "
Bed bugs are spreading at a rapidly increasing rate around the world with a recent University of Kentucky/National Pest Management Association study indicating that we are on the verge of a national pandemic. The press and exterminators that specialize in removing bedbugs from homes are located in many towns and cities where the problem exists.
We always recommend that home owners use pest control experts
when fighting a bed bug infestation. We suggest contacting
several firms given that each company has their own approach to killing
bedbugs and costs vary between companies.
- Start by calling companies that have been pre-screened by a national network such as Service Magic: Service Magic (toll free phone is 1.877.233.1145) is a network of local independent pest control companies that had to meet a strict set of standards in order to join the network. They will provide up to 4 free quotes.
- Check our Director of Experts: Search our database of local bed bug pest control companies here.
Experts use a combination of experience and even dogs to find bed bugs in the home, offices, dormitories and even cruise ships. Dogs are becoming more popular since bed bugs give off a distinct odor that can be detected by a dog's keen sense of smell. Dogs are also helpful because bed bugs can cling to any surface and fit into small cracks.
If you live in an apartment, or want to learn about bed bugs in your area, we suggest exploring our guide to local bed bug prevention resources.
We also supply information for those who want to get rid of bed bugs themselves.
Local Bed Bug Prevention Information:
Canada Information on Bed Bug prevention
This is an excellent summary of Canadian landlord tenant bed bug laws. Specific information by city can be found below:
United States Information on Bed Bug prevention
Connecticut Bed Bugs - All Cities and Town
Georgia Bed
Bugs
Bed
Bugs Las
Vegas
Bed
Bugs Reno
Binghamton
Bed Bugs
New
York City Bed Bugs
Pennsylvania
Bed Bugs
Texas Bed Bugs
Bed Bug Prevention Tips
Bed bugs are spread when they hitch a ride on a traveler or a used item, and then are carried into the home. They can also spread in an apartment building from unit to unit through cracks in the walls and openings for pipes. Some general tips are to:
- Learn how to inspect items brought into the home for bed bugs.
- Never bring used furniture, mattresses, box springs or upholstered furniture found on the street back into your home.
- Alway check rented furniture or furniture that has been stored in a storage facility for bed bugs
- When
you travel, leave your suitcases closed, do not unpack and leave
suitcase on a raised item such as a desk or luggage rack.
Consider storing luggage in a Ziploc
big bag. Only pack clothes that you can machine wash or bring
directly to a dry cleaner.
Bed Bug Prevention when traveling is helped by keeping luggage elevated and away from walls and furniture. Ziploc big bags can protect smaller pieces of luggage or used inside the luggage to protect clothes. - If you were at a friends house that had bed bugs, remove clothes and place into a plastic bag as soon as possible before entering home (do it in a garage or just when you enter). Wash on hot water.
- Seal all cracks with caulk.
Getting Rid of Bed Bugs is a Multi-Step process:
Even if you don't have a bed bug problem, understanding the
steps
used to treat a problem can help a homeowner create their own bed bug
prevention program.
Step 1- Clean Thoroughly
- Throw out clutter such as newspapers and magazines. Bedbugs can hide in the pages.
- Remove, bag and wash anything you can. After washing in hot water, place in the dryer on hot for 20 minutes. This includes sheets, blankets, bed ruffles and all of your clothes if you can. For non-washable items consider storing in a sealed container for 14 months (starves any bed bugs to death), or treat in a heat chamber such as a PackTite.
- Vacuum all areas and use the brushless crevice tool to get into hard to reach places such as the edges of the walls, and bed frame. When done seal vacuum bag and dispose outside.
- If a room is carpeted, use a carpet cleaner and add some disinfectant such as PuraCleenRx. Test in a small area to avoid staining.
Step 2 -Treat all Surfaces
Several types of products are needed to properly and safely treat a room for bed bugs. It is significantly more cost effective to purchase all of the products described below in a Bed Bug Kit. These products include:
Bed Bug Sprays such as Bug
Patrol (organic) or Sterifab
(insecticide)- These sprays will kill bedbugs and bedbug eggs on
contact, "knocking down" the bed bug population. They
should be lightly sprayed along seams, tufts and labels on
the mattress and box spring.
Bed Bug Mattress Treatment should only involve the use of sprays that are labeled mattress safe. After treatment, apply bed bug dust into seams as a bed bug prevention measure, and to kill any bed bugs you might have missed during treatment. The ideal approach is to used a bed bug mattress and box spring cover after treatment to trap any bed bugs and eggs you might have missed.
Steam
the mattress and box spring after
spray. Steam other cracks and crevices around the room. Heat
at
113F will kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs.
Spray Cracks,
Crevices, Headboard, Bed Frame and Baseboard:
Use a bed bug spray that has a residual or lasting killing action in
addition to the "knock down" sprays mentioned above. Good
choices
are Bedlam
and Phantom.
Spray Along Baseboards to Help Keep Bed Bugs From Entering from Adjacent Apartments or Rooms. If you live in an apartment, spraying the baseboards can help with bed bug prevention as the insects will be killed when they try and move from adjacent apartments into yours.
Spread a natural fossil dust product around the room in a thin layer in all cracks and crevices when all of the above have been completed. Use a duster to apply the dust. The dust will attach to and kill any remaining bed bugs that try to move back into the area treated. This is necessary since there are usually remaining eggs that will still hatch, even after cleaning. Once the bed bug is born, the dust will stick to them and kill the young bedbug.
Step 3 - Seal the Mattress and Box Spring
Since 80% of bed bugs can be found near or around the bed, sealing the mattress and box spring with a zippered cover can both kill bugs trapped in the mattress and keep new bugs from hiding. A inexpensive zippered cover is included in the kit mentioned above or can be purchased from Amazon.com or WalMart. You do not have to throw out your mattress as a bed bug prevention measure.
Step 4 - Call in the Bed Bug Pest Control Professionals (if needed)
Expect to treat any room from 2 - 3 times since it is very
difficult to find all of the bugs. When all else fails, professionals
have access to pesticides and natural treatment options (such as
sealing and heating a room) that are not available to consumers.
Consider a company that is experienced such as the members of the Service
Magic Network, since they will know where to
look.
It can take an entire day for a professional team to take care of the
problem. Even a professional may have to return multiple times.
Future
bed bug prevention involves being careful about what is brought into
the
home. If in an apartment check with neighbors on each side of the
infested room, including one floor up and below your apartment.
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