If you recently found bed bugs in your home, try not to panic because there are steps you can take for successful bed bug elimination.
Many homeowners plagued by bed bugs spend much longer than necessary trying to resolve the problem. This is because they don’t take the proper steps necessary for successful bed bug removal.
To help with this, we’ve created a list of our top 7 tips for successful bed bug elimination. If you want to get rid of the bed bugs in your home in the fastest possible way, continue reading.
Bed Bug Elimination: Things to Consider
Before jumping into our list of tips for bed bug elimination, there are some things to be aware of.
The first thing is that bed bugs are difficult to detect, which is why identification is at the top of our list. It’s unlikely you will be able to confirm the presence of bed bugs based on appearance alone since they are hard to find.
Behavior
Bed bugs don’t behave as other pests do. They don’t have one localized nest like other pests. Instead, they tend to wander alone and in several locations (your bed, couch, and even in your walls).
This abnormal behavior makes it difficult to know you even have an infestation at first and it can take months before you’re aware there’s an issue.
Elimination
The second thing is that it is challenging to get rid of bed bugs. It’s a long and difficult process due to the odd behavior, rapid reproduction, and resistance to pesticides.
In most cases, you should plan for at least 2 professional treatments to really get rid of them. This entire process of bed bug elimination can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks or more.
As long as you understand these two things, you should proceed with the process of bed bug removal.
1. Monitor for Signs of Infestation
The first sign of infestation will likely be those tiny marks they leave on your skin from their bites. The bite itself is typically painless, but you’ll notice small red welts where the bite occurred.
These tend to form in a jagged pattern and may become itchy or blistered.
You also may notice small brown or red spots on your sheets. Since bed bugs feed on humans, their droppings consist of digested blood.
Finally, in more severe infestations, you may notice a musky smell. This is an odor caused by a pheromone released when a cluster of bed bugs is disturbed.
2. Wash Everything
Any fabrics that can be put in the washing machine should be washed. This includes all bedding, clothing, rugs, soft toys, etc. Wash these at high heat before drying thoroughly.
If other items can’t be washed in the washing machine, consider whether or not they could go through a drying cycle in the dryer. Heat is one of the best ways to kill bed bugs.
3. Deep Clean What Can’t Be Washed
While you can’t fit bigger furniture like your mattress or couch in your washing machine, that doesn’t mean they can’t be deep cleaned. In fact, this is an essential part of how to kill bed bugs.
For this part of bed bug elimination, use a brush with stiff bristles and brush along all surfaces. Pay special attention to the corners and seams so you can remove any eggs hiding. Finally, vacuum all over.
Now that those bed bugs are trapped inside your vacuum, seal your vacuum in an airtight bag (keep it outside of the house) for at least a few days. This will ensure the bed bugs suffocate.
You also have the option of buying air-tight bed bug cases for your mattress and other furniture. This is highly recommended.
4. Clean the House
As we said before, bed bugs are difficult to find, so you need to deep clean the entire house. This means decluttering, cleaning the carpet, and filling in cracks in the walls.
Bed bugs hide in an infinite number of places. It’s even worth considering removing your wallpaper to thoroughly check your walls for holes and openings that could hide pests.
Consider using a steam cleaner throughout your house. As we said earlier, heat is one of the best ways to kill bed bugs. You can do this routinely after professional treatment as well.
Pay special attention to baseboards, windowsills, and any other crevice that a bug could squeeze in to.
5. Seal Everything Else
Now, it’s time to address everything else. “Everything else” includes things that can’t be washed, scrubbed, or vacuumed. For example, books and chairs.
These types of belongings should be sealed off in bed bug-proof bags. This prevents the bed bugs from escaping as well as suffocates them.
Once everything has been deep cleaned or packaged and sealed, it’s time to bring in the professionals.
6. Call-In Pest Control
Since bed bugs are so difficult to get rid of, it’s worth bringing in professionals. These bed bug companies will treat your entire house thoroughly after everything has been initially cleaned by you.
This process takes upwards of 6 hours to complete, so plan to have all family members and pets out of the house for the entire duration.
7. Schedule Inspections Regularly
The final step in bed bug elimination is maintenance through regular inspections. Being proactive and pre-scheduling your routine inspections is going to save you a lot of hassle later on.
This is one of those common bed bug services offered by most pest control companies and should be easy to schedule.
Bed bugs have a lifespan of 6 to 12 months and you should plan to treat your house at least twice with regular inspections. Continue monitoring for any signs of bed bugs thereafter.
Get Started on Your Bed Bug Elimination
Now that we’ve reviewed all of our tips for successful bed bug elimination, you should feel well prepared to get started.
The process may be involved and it may take a while to completely irradicate all bugs, but if you follow our tips, you will be successful.
To ask questions or receive a free service estimate, contact us today.
