Bed bugs are a huge problem for many people and generally are considered one of the hardest bug infestations to get rid of for good. How to get rid of bed bugs, is a question that many infested household owners ask themselves.
Once a bed bug infestation has been correctly identified they can be treated methodically. There is no one treatment; instead there are several processes that have to be followed one after another. For best results it is recommended that a professional pest control firm be consulted from the start. In earlier times bed bugs were treated by spraying DDT on all the infested furniture and rooms. However that is no longer allowed due to safety concerns with regard to DDT. Today the treatments tend to be more targeted.
In order to properly treat a bed bug infestation the property should be subjected to a thorough inspection. Even before that, various items cluttering the premises should be reduced, so that inspection can be carried out smoothly. It must however be remembered that cleaning the house in itself will not have any great effect on the bed bug infestation.
First step in this process of reducing clutter is to remove and launder with water at a temperature of above 120 degrees Fahrenheit the linen and garments that could have been or were infested. If garments and other items cannot be laundered due to some reason, a cloth dryer can be used to heat them till they are free of bugs. Another method that can be used is to wrap the garments using plastic and then to leave them in the sun for few days. Low temperatures, below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, can also be fatal to bed bugs. In order to remove the infestation through that method the items have to be kept at that temperature for over two weeks. Carpets and other such items can be steam cleaned. All these methods are used because they cannot be directly treated with insecticide. Items that cannot be subjected to any of the above methods should be discarded. Furniture should be taken apart as much as possible and cleaned, for instance by emptying and taking out the drawers in dressing tables and desks.
Another step in this process is to vacuum the house so that some bed bugs will be physically removed. While vacuuming the suction opening can be applied to infested surfaces, seams, and crevices scraped using a rough brush, so that some of the bugs and eggs get dislodged. The contents of the vacuum bag should be sealed and disposed of safely.
After that the house should be inspected and the areas of infestation should be noted. Insecticides can then be applied. Insecticides used against bed bugs come in variety of forms such as sprays, aerosols, or powders. Some of them can be used against other insects, such as roaches or ants. The user should check to ensure their effectiveness against bed bugs before applying. Instructions issued with insecticides should be adhered to faithfully to achieve best results.
If the bed bug species identified is one that mainly attack birds and bats, any bird nesting sites nearby should also be treated and precautions taken to prevent re-infestation through that site.
