Bed bugs are tough to eliminate, because they hide so effectively, reproduce rapidly, and resist treatment during the egg stage. More than one treatment is usually necessary to eradicate an infestation, but even then your success will depend on how much clutter you have, how cooperative residents of the abode are, and the severity of the infestation. Getting rid of these pests can take a period of weeks or even months, but it can be done if you methodically move through the steps.
Correctly Identify the Pest
Before you can take action, you have to make sure you’re dealing with bed bugs. The ways you can accomplish this include:
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Inspect the area.
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Take a sample to a professional, such as a, entomologist or extension agent.
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If you live in a multi-family housing complex, contact the landlord for assistance. He or she may have knowledge of past infestations.
Stop the Spread of Bed Bugs
Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can take action to stop any further spread of the pests. Take the following steps:
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Remove items from the room and seal them in plastic bags.
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Vacuum the area, and then dispose of the bag in an airtight container outside.
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If you discard furniture, make sure you keep an unsuspecting person from taking it home. Contact trash pickup representatives, and in the meantime, spray “bed bugs” on the furniture with red spray paint.
Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment
There are several steps to take to prepare for treatment, and it’s crucial not to skip this step. Preparation can reduce cost and speed the process along, so be sure to:
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Reduce clutter.
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Turn your bed into an island.
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Clean items in the area.
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Get rid of bed bug havens.
Non-Chemical Pest Control
You can use non-chemical techniques to get rid of the bed bugs, and some methods are more effective than others. For example, you can:
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Use heat: You can kill bed bugs with heat, and there are several ways to do this. You can use the high-heat setting on your dryer, you can put items in a black plastic bag and leave them in a car parked in the sun, or you can call a pest control company that uses heat treatments.
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Use cold: An alternative to heat treatments is cold techniques, because these pests can’t survive in extreme cold. To eradicate the bugs with chilly temperatures, you can bag infested items, and then put bagged items in the freezer at zero degrees for four days.
Chemical Pest Control
You can also use chemicals to kill bed bugs, but do so with extreme caution. It’s always wise to hire professional pest-control representatives to handle chemical techniques. Some tips for using pesticides include:
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Look for “bed bugs” on the label.
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Seek out EPA-registered pesticides.
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Use foggers sparingly, if at all. They are dangerous and should be used in conjunction with other techniques in order to achieve success.
After you go through all the above steps, you will need to do another inspection to see if there are still bed bugs present. If you see any sign, you should repeat treatment and/or call in the professionals. If you have tried multiple times and still no luck, the best option may be to just purchase a new mattress. You can find a wide variety of name brand mattresses at discounted pricing at Mattress.com.