If you find yourself to be the victim of a bed bug invasion, you must aggressively take steps to remove the infestation....
Case Studies
Bed bugs do not discriminate. They can be picked up virtually anywhere, from top hotels to cinemas, clothing stores and offices, and they are willing and able to hitch a ride back home. Getting rid of them is not impossible, however people whose dwellings are infested must act aggressively to get rid of a bed bug infestation.
If you suspect that you have bed bugs, there are clear treatments that health officials and bed bug experts advise, from identifying the bed bugs to reducing clutter and cleaning the infested rooms and finally, calling a qualified bed bug exterminator.
"If you don't do all of those things," said Steve Anderson, owner of SDA Pest Control, "you are not likely to solve the problem."
If you think you have bed bugs, check your mattress, box spring, headboard and all around the bed for evidence of bed bugs. Use a flashlight to look for live bugs and black or brown spots, which are bed bug droppings. If you do find them on the bed, check baseboards, cracks in the walls, furniture and anything else in the bedroom.
Take all of your bed linens and carefully put them in a plastic bag and wash them in hot water and then put them in the dryer for 30 minutes.
Discard any clutter in the affected room that you can. Be sure to put it directly into rubbish bags and then dispose of the bags. Anything that you don't want to get rid of should be placed in plastic, not cardboard boxes, with tight-fitting lids and stored in a remote location.
All clothing and other washable items should be washed and dried on high heat and stored in closed plastic bags until the bed bugs are gone.
Other items, including furniture, should be emptied, vacuumed and then steam treated and / or stored for the long term. Bed bugs feed on human blood, but can live for up to one year without food, depending on the temperature. They live longer in colder temperatures and anything that is sent to long-term storage should stay there for one year to be on the safe side.
Even if you think you removed any bugs from furniture with a vacuum, the eggs can be very sticky and the furniture should still be removed. Baseboards, floor cracks and carpets should all be inspected and thoroughly cleaned. Even pictures should be taken off of the walls.
The bugs like to feed at night, which is why they gravitate to the bed (although they can also be in couches, armchairs and just about anywhere else). The headboard, mattress and box spring should be thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum and the bed should be pulled away from the wall. If you have a bed skirt, get rid of it. Make sure the mattress is not on the ground. Once the mattress is as clean as possible, wrap it in an encasement and buy insect interceptors, which go on the feet of the bed frame.
Once you have taken these bed bug treatment steps, call in the professionals. Although it is theoretically possible for you to remove the bugs on your own, it is extremely difficult, says Steve. "The pest control companies have more knowledge than just shooting insecticides along the baseboards."
If you have had a bed bug infestation, or are trying to prevent one, there are a few measures that can be taken to minimise your risk of bringing them home.
Although bugs can be anywhere, including offices and shops, one of the most common ways to pick up bed bugs is in hotels. In a study of 700 hotel rooms between 2002 and 2006, 12 percent of hotels were found to be in need of bed bug treatment. While some shops may have bed bugs, it is much more rare, and so it is unlikely that new clothes will have bed bugs and need to be treated, says Steve.
When you're staying in a hotel, peel back the mattress pad and sheets to look for signs of bed bugs. Steve says he sometimes removes the headboard to look for bed bugs.
Keep your bags, including luggage, purses and computer case, away from the bed. Some people even keep their luggage in the bathroom to minimise contact with the insects.
Everyone reacts to bed bug bites differently. So it can be difficult to tell where and when you were bitten, as skin reactions can show up a few or many days later, or not at all, depending on the person.
But if you suspect on your way home from travelling you encountered bed bugs, do not bring your luggage back into your house. Instead leave it outside or in a separated garage. Put all clothes into a bag and then bring them to the wash. Steam or freeze the luggage if possible.
Also don't put yourself at risk by picking up furniture on the street and be wary of used furniture. People who have travelled and who live in high-density housing are all at higher risk. Everyone, whether high risk or not, should look be on the look out.
Article provided by SDA Pest Control