Killing BedBugs

Killing bedbugs requires knowing where to look, making a decision as to whether or not to hire a professional or if you decide to do it yourself, buying the right products. Each of these topics is reviewed below. Be sure to check our list of experienced bed bug exterminators in your area.

Killing BedBugs Basics:

It's a good idea to understand some of these basics that will help with whatever approach you take to removing them from your home. One female bedbug will lay somewhere between 200 to 500 eggs. Each egg can hatch and develop into an adult in as few as 3 weeks. The adult can live up to 12 months. This means that if you have bedbugs, try and stop them early and fast.

Approximately 50% of bedbugs will hide in and around the bed. They look for cracks and torn fabrics to hide all day. Common hiding places include any crack near the mattress, along baseboards and the bed frame joints. Any hollow bed legs could also make for a convenient hiding place.

Bed bugs do leave behind clues that they were present. This includes brown feces marks on sheets or the mattress, old molted skin and egg shells.

Each bed bug will feed in intervals that are 3 days apart. Each meal lasts approximately 10 minutes. A bed bug can survive for 2 months to a year without feeding. Bed bugs also have a distinct raspberry type odor. This is why trained dogs are an effective way to spot bedbug hiding places.

Hiring a Bed Bug Pest Control Expert or Doing it Yourself When Killing Bedbugs:

Bed bugs can rapidly multiply, so if you suspect you have bed bugs and can afford an exterminator, we suggest using an expert.

Don't wait or the problem will get much worse and possibly more expensive to treat. We have a list of pest control companies that are specifically qualified to treat bed bugs. These companies will provide a quote at no charge to you.

Follow this link to find a qualified local bedbug exterminator near you. Please keep in mind that if the bed bugs are not treated correctly, insects missed will begin to multiply and the problem will return. Don't use a pest control company unless they have extensive experience treating bed bugs.

The downside of using an expert for killing bedbugs is the cost which often involves a fee for a home inspection ($100 - $500), with the high end expense in larger cities where a bed bug sniffing dog is used. The treatment itself can cost between $750 to $1000 depending on the number of rooms that need to be treated. When calling a bed bug pest control expert, ask the following questions:

Cost for the estimate
What chemical and non chemical approaches will be used for killing bedbugs. In terms of insecticides, pyrethrin based products are recommended for home use with professionals using sprays that contain bromophos, phenchlorphos and propoxur.
If you have children and pets, ask about safety
Is the treatment guaranteed (often 2 to 3 bed bug treatments are needed

Regarding treatment approaches, heat is one of the most effective ways to kill bedbugs. This is often used on combination with chemical approaches. Many contractors have special equipment that can super heat a room to the required 120F. This will kill all living bedbugs and their eggs.

Killing Bedbugs - the Do It Yourself Approach

There are many things you can do yourself. There are several products and needed steps. Multiple products are needed because sprays etc. that kill bed bugs cannot penetrate and kill bed bug eggs. All are described below and are conveniently available in a kit such as one offered by Dermisil for Bed Bugs.

Required Products for Killing Bedbugs:

Bed Bug Spray:A bed bug spray should be mattress safe. They contain ingredients that are designed to kill bed bugs on contact. They are sprayed into cracks, directly on the bugs and into the seams of the mattress or box spring. Sprays are usually pyrethroid based.
Bed Bug Dust: This product is naturally made from crushed fossils. it is spread around a room after treatment. Bed bugs come in contact with the dust and then quickly die.
Hand held Steamer: For the do it yourselfer, the only way to kill bedbug eggs is with high heat. Steam will superheat the eggs and kill the bedbugs.
Mattress and Box Spring Covers: Zippered covers will trap any bed bugs and bedbug eggs that are missed inside. They will eventually die. You do not have to throw out a mattress or box spring.

Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

Home remedies cannot completely eliminate bed bugs, although they can be helpful. These include:

Pull the Bed From the Wall: Bed bugs will climb the wall and then jump onto the bed. Pull the bed at least 6 inches from the wall.

Popular home remedies for getting rid of bed bugs is to buy 4 plastic bowls. Glue fabric to the outside of the bowl so that a bed bug can climb up the side. Please each bowl under a bed leg. Please an inch of rubbing alcohol in each bowl. Bed bugs will climb up the side of the bowl and then slide into the alcohol and die. This is a convenient way to both catch the bed bugs and by the number found in the bowel, you can determine the extent of your bedbug problem or if a problem still exists.

Double Sided Tape: Put double sided tap around each bed leg. The bed bugs will get attached to and avoid the sticky surface.

Step by Step Approach for Killing Bedbugs

Inspect the Room: Look for brown feces marks. As bed bugs congregate they will leave behind brownish/reddish marks and molted skin. Inspect adjoining rooms as well as bedbugs will move 100 fee in every direction, including rooms that are above and below, or any apartment that has a shared wall.

Picture of Bed Bug Hiding Places

Treat and Cover Mattresses: Use a pump spray such as Benzarid on the mattress and box spring since it is a non-insecticide spray (contains the active ingredient Benzalkonium chloride). Alternatives often contain Permethrin which has some toxic properties. Other products for killing bedbugs contain pyrethrin. Consider removing the fabric from the bottom of the box spring as their may be bedbugs hiding inside. After the mattress and box spring dries seal in zippered bed bug approved covers. If you choose to use an aerosol, do not smoke during treatment as this is a fire and injury hazard.
Wash What You Can: Wash all linens and clothes in hot water and then dry for 30 minutes. Consider washing blankets and sheets every week for several weeks. Be sure to bag any linens before removing from the room in order to avoid spreading bedbugs throughout the home.
Vacuum: Vacuum thoroughly including along the edges of the walls, along seams and in cracks. A vacuum will not pick up bed bug eggs as these are attached to surfaces with a cement like substance.
Steam: Use the hand held steamer along cracks and in spaces. Use along the baseboard and carpet to kill any eggs you might have missed.
Apply Fossil Dust to Cracks: Fossil dust can be applied around the edges of the floor and into cracks. It is all natural and will kill bed bugs that hatch from eggs you might of missed during treatment. Professionals will use products that contain insecticides such as Propoxur or products that contain chlorpheapyr.
Throw Out what You Can: Dispose of all lose papers, books and any other item that could act as a hiding space. Consider disposing of electronics as bed bugs can hide inside such as the casing of a clock or radio. Do not use liquids around electrical items. For treatments around electrical outlets use dust products.
Try Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Bedbugs: Look at the bed bug home remedy ideas mentioned above. If you trap any bed bugs, you know that you may need to repeat the entire treatment approach. It may take 2 to 3 tries.

What Doesn't Work when Killing Bedbugs

Avoid older dangerous methods of bed bug removal such as the use of flammable liquids such as gasoline. Also products such as boric acid which comes in a dust form do not work as they are not ingested by bedbugs. If treating an apartment, products that contain pyrethroids may result in bedbugs dispersing from the treatment. Pyrethroids will kill them on contact, but may cause other bugs to run away toward other rooms or apartments.

Again, the best approach is to hire a bed bug exterminator. A good starting point is our list of experienced bed bug exterminators.