Bed Bug Extermination Tips

Bed bugs are small parasite insects that feed on human blood. While the majority of bedbugs have been eradicated in the 1940s, the little critters are making a come back in many metropolitan areas in the US. It is notoriously difficult to kill bed bugs and in this article we will cover the various methods of bed bug extermination.

Bed Bug Detection

Bed bugs are very difficult to spot because they are small and also nocturnal. They like to nest near where you sleep in places like small crevices in your mattress or creases in fabric. Aside from bite marks on your body, another common sign is smears of blood on your sheets. One other way they can be detected is through their distinct smell of almonds. There are even trained bed bug detection dogs that are trained to find infestations.

How to get rid of bed bugs

Bed bug extermination usually requires both pesticide and non-pesticide approaches. There are several pesticides that have been known to be effective on bed bugs including pyrethroids, dichlorvos, and malathion. Using these methods some bed bug exterminators claim they can eliminate your bed bug issue in one visit, but it often takes longer.

Disadvantages of pesticides

Using insecticides on your mattress requires your room to be fully ventilated for several days before the mattress can be used again. Even after a lot of ventilation, many people have allergic reactions to these chemicals, not to mention the other risks including cancer.

Non-pesticide remedies for bedbugs

Throwing out your belongings that are infected with bed bugs, such as your mattress, box spring, and couch is another solution that many turn to. This is expensive and also does not usually solve the issue as bed bugs can re-infest in your new furniture quite easily. Isolating bed bugs using bug proof covers and other devices. These methods can only be effective if your bed is already free of bed bugs. Another method is freezing or heat treatment. Bed bugs can not survive in extremely cold or hot temperatures. Many bed bug exterminators have equipment that can be used to kill the pests through cold temperatures. The downside to this is that the cold may not reach bugs that are burrowed deep into furniture or walls. Heat in the form of steam is also effective in killing bed bugs, but this can often cause damage to your house and still will not work in the hard to reach areas. Washing cloths and linens in hot water and then drying them at high temperatures will work well to kill bed bugs. Vacuuming out areas that are infested will also help to reduce the population but will not rid you of the problem altogether.

Bed Bug Exterminators

Because it is so difficult to exterminate bed bugs I would recommend both hiring a professional and working on the issue yourself by vacuuming where you can, and washing anything that may be contaminated at very high temperatures. It should be easy to find exterminators that use traditional methods on bed bug infestations such as Orkin or Western Exterminator Company.

There are a few companies that offer natural remedies for extermination that are pesticide and insecticide free solution that claim to work on bed bugs as well as other insects. Natural Ginesis is probably the most well known company that offers organic pesticides.

In summery, bed bug infestations need to be taken seriously as they can spread and become worse if they are not taken care of quickly. I hope this article has helped you understand more about bed bugs and how to take care of a bed bug problem. If you liked it - check out my article on traditional and natural methods of stink bug control.