Bed Bugs Pest Control

"Bed bugs pest control can be achieved through the combination of several methods. This includes the use of insecticides and other approaches such as the use of heat. Newer methods are constantly being developed given the growing number of infestations around the world."  

There are many products available to help control bed bug infestations. If you are planning to do it yourself, then a set of products such as a spray, dust and steamer should take care of smaller infestations. The advantage of calling a pest control professional is that they have access to a broader range of insecticides and other non-chemical approaches such as the use of heat.  Kits can cost from $100 - $200.  

A bedbug extermination expert can cost up to $500 for an initial inspection and quote (particularly if a dog is used) and then $500 to $1000+ for the treatment itself.  

Types of Bed Bugs Pest Control

As mentioned, there are several types of products and approaches you can use to attack a bed bugs pest control problem.

Cleaning: Inspecting and cleaning every surface in the room is a good start. Recent studies show that as many as 80% of the pests can be found on or near the bed. To start try and vacuum all surfaces and use a crevice tool to vacuum seams and tight places. Dispose of the vacuum bag when done (outside of course). Inspect the vacuum to make sure all the bugs went into the bag.

Don't be afraid to wipe up bugs with a rag. You'll be able to kill bugs you pick up just by squeezing them inside the rag.

Dispose of any items in the room where bugs can hide. Objects next to the bed, particularly magazines and newspapers should be thrown out. Bag before carrying from the room to avoid dropping any bugs.

Buy Mattress Covers made for bed bugs pest control:

Since most bugs are found near the mattress, sealing it in a zippered bed bug proof cover will trap any bugs you miss. Covers are available in bed bug kits or a cover can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Wash Linens and Blankets:

All blankets should be removed from beds and washed in hot water and then placed into a dryer on a high heat setting. When removing clothes from a room, be sure to bag before removal to avoid dropping bugs throughout the house. A normal hot water wash cycle followed by 30 minutes in a dryer should kill all bugs.

Products for Bed Bugs Pest Control:

These are some of the most popular pesticide ingredients. See our complete guide to bed bug pesticides.

• Pyrethoids (pyrethrin) - These products kill the bed bugs when the bug comes in contact with the poison. These products are made from chrysanthemum flowers (pyrethoids). They are not always effective since they can work as an insect repellent, so instead of the bed bugs entering the area treated, they might avoid it. There has also been reports of bed bugs developing a resistance to this product. For most problems, using pyrethoids will be an effective method when deciding how to kill bed bugs. Products that contain pyrethrin usually come in the form of a pump or aerosol spray (565 Plus XLO, Bedlam, Cb 80 Extra brand).
  
  
• Chlorfenapry: Another product, chlorfenapry, might be a better choice since it doesn't have repellent properties. This type of products comes in a liquid form (Phantom brand).
  
  
• IGR (Insect Growth Regulators): These types of products interfere with the bed bugs reproduction. They work slowly by making sure that the bed bugs you have cannot reproduce. Because of this, you often see an IGR mixed into other types of products. These products come in a dust form. A good safe dust product is available from Dermisil for Bed Bugs.

Note that not every bed bugs pest control product is mattress safe. Examples of products that cannot be used of mattresses include Demand, Dragnet, Talstar One, Onslaught and Gentrol.

Heat/Steam: Bed bug eggs are resistant to sprays and will not be picked up by a vacuum since they are bound to surfaces with a cement like substance. A hand held steamer can be used to heat the eggs and kill them.

If you believe that a suitcase has bed bugs, you want to starve them out. Park your car in the sun and leave the suitcase in the trunk for a day.

If you have a carpet you might want to steam clean it. Consider adding a disinfectant to the steamer's water to kill any eggs in the carpet.

 

Picture of Bed Bugs in Mattress

Other Approaches to Bed Bugs Pest Control

Fogs or Bombing: A fog of insecticide is used to kill large bed bug infestations. The problem with this approach is that fogs have been shown not to enter smaller cracks in the room, thereby missing some bugs. This approach might be used in conjunction with others. Treatments last for a few hours. Consumer or professionals can use this approach to treat a single room or more.

Fumigation: Bed Bug fumigation is similar to fogging, but is more intense and lasts for 1 day. A high dose of insecticide is used to not only kill bed bugs, but the eggs as well. Vikane is one brand commonly used. This approach requires have a pest control license and special equipment. All bed bugs will be killed with this approach and is used to rid an entire building of pests. The advantage of fumigation is that it is effective, while negatives include cost and having to leave home. Note encased plastic mattresses cannot be fumigated. Another fumigation approach is to place belongings into a container or truck which is then fumigated to ensure that all bed bugs are killed, such as a mattress.

Heat Treatment of Bed Bugs: Some bed bugs pest control companies believe in the use of high temparatures to kill all bed bugs in a room. Heat treatment invovles the use of special equipment which super heats a room or entire building to kill bed bugs. The only drawback to heat is that it will miss any bugs that may be hiding in an insulated wall space. That said, it will kill most. Heat chambers or trucks can also be used to superheat items from a room such as clothes or furniture to kill all bed bugs. Heat may be a good approach on its own or in combination with other treatments.

Cold Treatment of Bed Bugs: Another alternative used by bed bugs pest control professionals is to "freeze" bed bugs. Some firms freeze the bugs using CO2.

Biosensory Nightwatch Bed Bug Trap: This product simulates the presence of a human host to lure the bed bugs out of hiding into a trap. The product came out in November 2008 and is being tested by some professionals. As further research on this type of bed bugs pest control becomes available we will update this page.

 

Share Your Bed Bug Experience With Others

Do you have a great story about bed bugs? Share it!

Help Others With Your Bed Bug Story

Tell Us Your Bed Bug Story! [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!... Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload A Bed Bug Picture (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help Do you have a bed bug picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

What Other Visitors Have Said About Bed Bugs

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

---