Bed Bugs How to Kill Them
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Bed bugs how to kill them can be tricky since they hide in tight spaces
such as wall and floor cracks. The
key to killing bedbugs is to know where to look and then by having the
right combination of product available to do the job. If doing it
yourself doesn't
work, you may want to bring in a pest control expert, since they have
equipment and sprays not available to home owners.
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People often ask about bed bugs how to kill them. People often
assume it’s difficult to kill bed bugs, but it’s really not. The key is
to make sure you treat the entire infested environment and have the
right combination of products on hand. That said, we always
recommend calling in a professional if you can afford it, particularly
if you have carpets. To get an idea as to cost, contact an
exterminator network such as Service
Magic (1.877.233.1145) that provides free quotes (up to 3)
and that check local exterminators to make sure they are insured and
licensed in your area).
Bed bugs how to kill them treatment begins with a thorough
inspection. Use a strong flashlight,
and peer into all the little crevices and corners where the bugs can
hide. While bed bugs are often found on mattresses and bed frames
(hence the name, right?), they can also infest furniture such as
sofas, chairs, and even dresser drawers. They can also infest
carpeting, where they are usually found along the baseboard. Bed bugs
can
hide in any crack, so look along the seams in a mattress, between pages
in magazines and newspapers and on the back of picture frames.
Since they hide inside cracks products like sprays are needed
to reach the bugs.
Bed Bugs How to Kill Them
Most bed bugs in a
bedroom will be within a 5 foot radius of the bed. Be sure to
inspect behind headboards, inside hollow bed frame legs, inside
furniture and underneath drawers
Studies show that when thinking about bed bugs how to kill them,
approximately 80% of bed bugs are found near the bed,
since that is where the human host lives. Be sure to check the bed
frame and backboard carefully since there are cracks between every
frame joint. Even if you can spot all of the bed bugs, it is very easy
to miss the eggs as they are small, and the size of a pin head. We
provide advice below for killing these as well.
Once you’ve found the bed bugs how to kill them may take up to 3
treatments for most infestations.
Use Your Washing Machine
If you have bed bugs, you will need to wash all your bed linen and any
other washable items in hot
water. Follow this by 10 to 20 minutes in the dryer. If you
have bugs in your dresser drawers, wash all that clothing
in the hottest water the fabric will stand. If you have curtains
hanging near your bed, you should also wash those in hot water. If you
can’t wash your bed linens or clothes right away, seal them in plastic
bags until you can. After washing, dry up to 30 minutes on the highest
heat possible.
Do not carry clothes to the washer. Bag them first in the room with the
infestation in order to avoid dropping any bugs along the way.
Note that items that cannot be washed, can be placed in the freezer for
5 days. It is important to be thorough no matter which
approach you choose for bed bugs how to kill them.
Use Your Vacuum Cleaner
After you’ve laundered everything, get out the vacuum cleaner. Use the
crevice tool to get into the crevices of your mattress and the corners
of your bed frame. Of course, you can use the crevice tool of your
vacuum cleaner on other furniture as well, including the insides of
dresser drawers. Also vacuum the carpeting around any infested
furniture, and use to crevice tool to get along the baseboards.
After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum bag immediately by placing it in
a sealed plastic bag. Only remove the vacuum bag in the room with the
infestation to avoid spreading the bedbugs to other rooms. Seal the bag
with a tie wrap throw out in an outside garbage can. If you can, freeze
the bag first to kill the bugs. Garbage cans in the direct sun should
become hot enough to kill any bugs inside.
Note that a vacuum cleaner is not effective against bedbug
eggs, only the bed bugs themselves. Other treatment options
as described below are necessary for the eggs.
Steam all Surfaces
Use a Hand
Steamer to kill any remaining bed bugs and bed bug eggs. Bed
bug eggs are the size of a pin head and will not be killed by a
spray. Steam heat from a hand steamer will kill the eggs.
One way to approach bed
bugs how to kill them is a hand steamer. It generates the
temperatures required for bed bugs bed bugs and
bed bug eggs without the use of chemicals. If you want to
only use organic products, follow treatment with the application of
natural
fossil
dust (also
called diatomaceous
earth or bed
bug powder)
Bed Bugs How to Kill Them Using Sprays and Bed Bug
Dust
In addition to mechanical methods for bed bugs how to kill
them (steam,
heat), a combination of sprays and powder are necessary to do a
thorough job. Sprays needed include a mattress safe knock
down spray to kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs on contact (use Sterifab
for an insecticide based spray or Bed
Bug Patrol if you prefer organic sprays). These
sprays do not provide lasting protection. This is why a
second type of spray is also needed, called a residual spray (use Phantom
or
Bedlam, the later if you live in New York as residents cannot
buy Phantom). Suggested insecticide based products are shown
to kill insecticide resistant bed bugs, an important factor in areas
where there are large bed bug problems such as the NorthEastern United
States.
The next step in dealing with bed bugs how to kill them is to select
the correct treatment products. You can buy treatment products for bed
bugs at many hardware stores, or you can order them on line in a kit
from companies such as Dermisil
(organic kit) or an insecticide based bed
bug kit. We recommend purchasing a kit since
these contain the information you need to effectively remove the bugs
including where to look, and what treatment products to use when.
A bed bug kit such
as this one contains the combination of products needed (knock down
spray to kill on contact, residual spray for lasting protection, bed
bug dust, duster). It is a lower cost way to purchase bed bug products.
For most infestations you will need the following to bed bugs
how to kill them:
- Start by
treating the mattress. Use a mattress safe spray which
will kill bed bugs on contact .
Spray all surfaces and inside cracks to kill bed bugs on
contact. Do not soak the bed with the spray. Be
sure to follow the manufacturers directions.
After treating the mattress move it to a "safe area" outside the area
being treated so that you have access to the box spring and bed frame.
Use a Mattress Safe
Bed Bug Stray such as Sterifab.
(
Bed
Bug Patrol for Organic)
Be
sure to spray inside seams and other potential hiding places
- Treat the box
spring and bed frame. Start with the mattress safe spray
and treat the outside and inside of the box spring. You may
need to peel back the fabric or throw it out (use a plastic garbage
bag, seal it and dispose outside the home.
Follow this with a residual spray such as Phantom
or Bedlam
(New York State residents can only purchase Bedlam) . If you
are using only organic products, use a fossil
dust (bed bug dust) product in seams and tufts.
Treat the inside of
the mattress, be sure to treat around all potential bed bug hiding
places such as where the slats meet the box spring frame.
- Treat Nearby
Furniture. Be sure to remove all items from
nearby drawers and either place them on top of the box spring or place
into snap tight plastic containers. Each item should be
inspected. Where possible, either wash, freeze, steam or
dispose of each one.
Bed bugs how to kill
them in furniture drawer tracks. Be sure to spray around all
tracks, underneath drawers and the inside of all furniture.
- Treat all
baseboards, window frames and other potential hiding places.
When an infestation gets larger, the bed bugs will spread out and look
for other hiding areas. Seal any cracks and crevices in
floors and along baseboards to reduce the number of places that they
can hide.
Window frames provide
tiny cracks where bed bugs can hide. Be sure to use a bed bug
spray around the frame.
Use a residual spray
(
Bedlam
shown here) around
the baseboard. These sprays will kill any bed bugs that cross
through the treated area for several weeks.
- Cover the
Mattress and Box Spring: There is no need to throw out a
mattress or box spring that is in good condition. Purchase and use zippered
bed bug mattress and box spring covers to lock in any bed
bugs and bed bug eggs that you might have missed. Do not use
the covers until the sprays or steam treatment completely dries.
For extra protection, bed
bug powder can be applied in a thin layer inside the mattress
seams. Once covered, return the mattress to the bed from the safe area.
Bed
bug dust applied
in a thin layer can provide added protection
- Apply bed bug
dust in cracks around room. Apply a thin layer of natural
bed bug dust to kill any bed bugs that you might have
missed. If you miss any bed bugs, the dust clings to their
outer layer, causing death.
- Steam Clean
Carpets. Use a carpet disinfectant (if you have a carpet
in the room),
also to kill
eggs that may be in the carpet. Use a carpet cleaner or
steamer. As a disinfectant to the cleaning solution or water
such as PuraCleenRx
to kill any eggs and remaining bugs.
- Use Bed Bug
Traps (optional). Inexpensive bed bug traps called Climbup
Interceptors can be placed under each bed leg. When
the traps stay empty for 2 weeks, the infestation has been eliminated.
It is normal for do it yourself or professional approaches to require 2
or 3 treatments.
Hiring a Bed Bug Exterminator
Of course, you can also just hire an exterminator to come
in and treat
the house for you. It can't hurt to get a quote from a
network such as
Service
Magic,
since they know where to look for the bugs. You can compare
the price to doing it yourself. A professional will cost from
$450 to $1000 for one room or more.
Professionals also have specialized equipment, particularly for larger,
multi-room or apartment
infestations. For example, a pest control company when faced
with
the challenge of bed bugs how to kill them may have equipment that can
super heat a room to 120 degrees for a sustained period of time as an
approach for killing bed bugs.
Most
commercial
treatment products for bed bugs how to kill them contain permethrins
and/or pyrethrins. These ingredients are quite effective, although
there are reports of some bed bugs resistance, although this hasn't
been a big problem to date (insecticide based products recommended
above have been shown to kill insecticide resistant bedbugs).
Follow the directions on the
manufacturers label.
Some people use boric acid to get rid of bed bugs, but this is not
really recommended. It’s not as effective as some other products, and
it is also harmful if it comes in contact with your skin or if you
inhale it.
Look for a product that states on the label that it is safe for people
and pets. Some people prefer to use natural products in order to avoid
the risk of side effects. There are some good natural products
available, but read the product information carefully to make sure you
know what you’re getting. They aren’t all effective.
When finished, protect your mattress with a zippered bed bug cover.
This will trap any live bed bugs you missed and will keep any remaining
bedbugs from infiltrating your mattress. You can purchase one for under
$10 at
Dermisil.
As mentioned, don't be surprised if you home requires several
treatments. Also check rooms that are directly adjacent, above and
below the room where the bed bugs have been found. They don't move very
far, but can infest other rooms as an infestation grows.