Killing Bed Bugs
Stressful, but possibly enjoyable killing bed bugs
Killing bed bugs is a difficult, time-consuming task but with a little bed bug information and advice the job can be done. Bed bugs can invade any home or business where they have access to places to feed. Businesses most often infested would include hotels and clothing stores as they provide places to hide and victims. When a business becomes infested they should call an exterminator who is trained in the procedures necessary to ensure the bed bugs are completely removed. Homeowners have that option as well but many prefer to attempt to handle the problem on their own. A homeowner should never be ashamed of admitting they have been invaded by bed bugs, these pests are equally as happy in clean homes as dirty and are no reflection on a persons housekeeping skills. So it is obvious why you want to begin killing bed bugs when you have them.
Bed bugs are small, flat pests that feed off the blood of humans and other mammals, such as pets. They hide during the daylight hours and feed at night, normally in the few hours just before dawn. The bites are small and often painless, the average person will not know they have been bitten until they get up the next morning. The bites often become inflamed and red, itching and stinging are common as well. Bed bugs live in groups, finding hundreds or thousands in one home is not unusual. An area where bed bugs are living can be identified by the dark brown stains and lumps they leave behind, sometimes there will also be a foul smell.
What Else Needs To Be Done When Killing Bed Bugs
Cleaning must be detailed and complete. Missing only a few bugs can lead to a re-infestation. Any cloth or fibrous area in the home can be a hiding spot for bed bugs. In and under the mattress is the most obvious choice but they can also reside in couches, rugs, carpets, dressers, bedding, curtains, and pet beds. Additionally, they often crawl into the cracks of furniture, between floorboards and along baseboards, behind hanging pictures, and inside smoke detectors and televisions. Any snug, dark space can hide a bed bug. Since mattresses are typically where an infestation begins, and are often to worst affected, it is typically necessary to dispose of the mattress and buy a new one. If the mattress is completely free of tears, rips, and holes it might be salvageable but once the bed bugs are inside of a mattress they are basically impossible to remove. You will find it tough to start killing bed bugs. A fully sealed mattress cover can be used to inclose a mattress for short-term relief during cleaning but it is not a long-term solution. Bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding and attempting to starve them out is almost impossible.
Once an infestation has been verified there are several techniques used to eliminate bed bugs. The most common and useful method is pesticides. These come in both powder and spray forms, sprays typically being in an aerosol. The powders are used on carpets, under couch cushions, and under mattresses. The sprays are used in harder to reach areas, such a cracks in furniture and in box springs. There are numerous pesticides on the market and research must be done in each case to determine which ones are safe for the home they are to be used in. Some are quite toxic and cannot be used around pets or children, and the instructions should always be carefully followed. Once the pesticides have had an opportunity to work the dead bugs can be vacuumed or swept up and removed. It’s also a method some determine as killing bed bugs naturally.
Any item in the house that can washed at a temperature of at least 120F can be cleaned in that manner- such as bedding, clothing, and curtains. 120F is the minimum temperature necessary to ensure that both the adult bugs and the eggs are killed. Any hard surfaces or non-porous items can be cleaned with hot water as well, such as tile floors or plastic toys. These are unsuitable environments for bed bugs but still must be cleaned to ensure no eggs have been transferred by contact with an infected area. If an item cannot be washed but can be safely heated to over 120F a useful technique to to inclose in in a plastic bag and place it in the sun. The temperature must be monitored with a thermometer of some sort to insure it rises high enough inside the bag. This technique works well for a majority of the year in most climates. Freezing bedbugs is possible but they must stay below 32F for several days straight making this technique is impractical for most.
Steam is another effective way to kill bed bugs. The high temperature kills on contact and the lack of chemicals makes it a more natural method. Once the bed bugs have been steamed the area can be vacuumed to collect the dead bugs. That’s a great way of killing bed bugs. This method is often favored by those concerned about using chemicals due to a sensitivity to them or because of having children and pets in the home. A professional steamer can be purchased or rented but care must be taken, steam is very hot and dangerous. Make sure you understand how to use the equipment properly or severe burns could result.
If these methods fail to work a homeowners time has not been wasted. Any pest control service will need the cooperation and help of a homeowner to insure a successful removal of bed bugs, and many of these techniques will be employed alongside the methods used by the company.
