Bed Bugs Winnipeg

" Bed bugs Winnipeg prevention and extermination guide. According to the CBCNews the city is having an unusually large bed bug problem. According to one bed bug exterminator, calls are up 30%. The insects have been discovered in Winnipeg daycare centers and theatres. Learn about all of the bed bug resources available to you in the Winnipeg area."

According to Manitoba Health, Family Service and Housing, bed bugs are a problem in approximately 101 buildings with 95% of homes bed-bug free. The government has issued a presentation on bed bugs advising residents on how to kill bed bugs and steps for prevention.

Steps for Eliminating Bed Bugs From Your Home, Office or Apartment

We always recommend calling in a bed bug exterminator. Start by contacting a network of local pest control contractors such as Service Magic (1.877.233.1145) since they pre-screen members and only accept companies that are licensed and insured. They also provide callers (or online) up to 4 free quotes. This is important as treating a home or apartment can cost $1,000 or more.

You can also find reviews for local contractors on Angies List (there is a small fee for the service).

If you cannot afford an exterminator, it is possible to kill bedbugs yourself, although be sure to have the right combination of products which can be economically purchased as part of a bed bug kit. This includes:

Bed bug sprays:

Knock down spray to reduce the size of the bed bug population. Only buy a mattress safe spray such as Sterifab.
Residual Spray: Provides longer lasting protection. Use a spray such as Phantom.

Vacuum with crevice tool

Bed Bug Dust

Mattress and box spring covers

Step 1 - Clean the Room and Steam
Every inch of an infested room needs to be inspected and cleaned. Start by vacuuming the entire room. Use the vacuum crevice tool around the seams of the mattress, inside and outside the box spring and the bed frame. Vacuum along the baseboards. If you have a hand steamer, steam all areas where bed bugs might hide, focused in areas around the bed.

A Hand Steamer Generates Enough Heat to Kill Bed Bugs (45 degrees celcius)

Throw out any clutter to remove any potential hiding places such as books and magazines. Wash all linens in hot water followed by 20 to 30 minutes in the dryer. Empty drawers that are near the bed into plastic bins with snap tight lids. Wash what you can in the washing machine. Place drawer objects in the freezer for 5 days to ensure that objects are bed bug and bed bug egg free.

Electronics should be thoroughly inspected.

Step 2 - Spray and use Bed Bug Dust
To do a complete bed bug treatment you will need two types of sprays, a knock down spray which kills bed bugs on contact and a residual spray which will provide lasting bed bug protection and kill any bed bugs you might have missed. Only use a mattress safe knock down spray on the mattress such as Sterifab.

Picture Treating a Mattress with Sterifab

To save money , we suggest purchasing either an insecticide bed bug kit or an organic bed bug kit.

Be sure to spray inside nearby furniture, underneath drawers etc. with both kinds of spray, starting with the knock down spray.

When spray dries, spread a thin layer of bed bug dust (also called fossil dust or diatomaceous earth in any cracks and crevices.

Step 3: Cover the Mattress and Box Spring
After the bedbug sprays dry, buy and cover both the mattress and box spring with a cover designed to trap bed bugs inside the mattress that you might have missed during the treatment.

See our guide for detailed instructions on eliminating bed bugs when you have a bed bugs Winnipeg problem.