Exterminating bed bugs should be left to a licensed, pest management professional.

Due to the hidden and resilient behaviors of bed bugs, elimination of them from homes can be challenging and not a good Do-It-Yourself project. However, if you decide to tackle this project yourself, here are a few guidelines to follow:

 

DIY Bed Bug Treatment Tips

• When making applications to beds and furniture, only EPA insecticides labeled for bed bug (target pest) management on those items (target site) should be used. Great care should be taken when treating mattresses, box springs and upholstery to keep pesticide exposure to a minimum.
• Allow for thorough drying before re-use.
• DO NOT use the bed bug bombs! You will only make the infestation worse. The bombs push the bed bugs further into the walls, making it harder for the PMP to treat the area.
• Infant's and infirm person's bedding and bed frames should not be treated with chemicals for bed bugs. They should be replaced with un-infested items.
• When treating the bed for bed bugs, DO NOT treat the bed linens. They should be washed or dry-cleaned.
• Mattresses and box springs should be treated selectively, not covered with insecticide. You want the insecticide to contact the bed bugs, not the people. You can treat the mattresses with steam heat since insecticides are not recommended.
• Concentrate your efforts on tufts, folds, buttons, and edges where bed bugs could hide. When possible, treat inside box springs around the springs and coils. You will be more effective if you can take apart the bed frame and treat inside any hollow framework, cracks, and crevices for bed bugs. Again, the mattress should be thoroughly dried and if possible covered with a bed bug mattress cover before use.
• Mattress and box spring encasements, that are approved and designed for bed bug prevention, will prevent direct contact with the residual insecticide on treated mattress and box spring. Additionally, due to the fact that these encasements can be removed, washed and reused, there is no need to throw infested mattresses and box springs away. The encasements are also designed to trap any bed bugs that may have been missed or will hatch after the treatment. They cannot bite through them, their zippers have small enough teeth to not allow them to escape, and other features helpful in bed bug control.
• When vacuuming, pay particular attention to bed bug's hiding areas. Be careful, if not properly handled, vacuum contents will spread bed bugs throughout your home. DO NOT use the same vacuum in rooms adjacent to the infested with bed bugs room. Immediately collect the vacuum contents and carefully place them in tightly sealed double trash bags. These bags should be disposed of outside the building in a proper dumpster.

Selecting a Professional for Treatment of Bed Bugs 

Choose a company that is known to apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tactics and guarantee that their treatment options are effective and environmentally friendly.

Choose a company that provides a quick response to your call, and solve your pest problems in a reasonable time, as well as perform follow up treatment evaluation services in a professional manner.

Choose a company the uses heat treatment when treating for bed bugs. Heat treatments work well with treating your home and all affected areas at the same time, eradicating them right away.

Choose a company that offers various chemical and non-chemical pest solutions and educates you on how to prevent pest infestations before they become a problem.

Choose a company that keeps its professionals updated on new techniques, regulations and requirements and committed to excellence and higher performance standards as a member in good standing of national pest management association (NPMA), QualityPro, Green Pro, and EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP).

Bed Bug Elimination Techniques

 

Heat Treatment for Bed Bugs During a heat treatment process, temperatures are raised to a lethal level for the bed bugs (118°F) and then maintained at that level or higher for a period of time so that the heat can penetrate objects. This really is the best treatment for bed bugs, because the results are better, faster, with less preparation, and you can keep your furniture. However, because heat treatments offer no residual effect to kill reintroduce bed bugs, pesticides may be used to supplement heat treatments.
Chemical Treatment for Bed Bugs Pesticides specifically tested to kill bed bugs can be used. Often liquid treatments are used on surfaces and dusts are applied in void areas. Insecticide treatments in sleeping areas are a serious health risk so it is very important to use products safely. We recommend hiring an experienced pest control professional. Bed bug resistance to pyrethroids has been documented in a recent study by researchers at the University of Kentucky (2007, 2010). Most insecticide products that can be used in the home belong to this class. Pest control professionals have more choices of insecticides, which may improve the effectiveness of control. A recent study at Purdue University concluded that successful eradication of bed bugs using pesticides requires at least two visits, with considerable time needed to inspect and treat the area, but some infestations may require four or more applications.
Steam Treatment for Bed Bugs Steam can be used to destroy bed bugs, although the pest management professional must be extremely thorough, and yet be careful not to damage things with the very high temperatures. While steam can penetrate cracks and crevices up to a few inches, it is inconsistent and simply cannot be used everywhere for fear of damaging various surfaces. Steam cannot be used to treat outlets and behind switch covers, which are common hiding grounds for bed bugs. The real problem with steam is quite the same as with pesticide treatments. It is hard sometimes to reach the tricky/tough places where bed bugs may be hiding, such as inside a speaker or book bindings. Steam is best used in limited situations, like to treat one or two chairs for bed bugs.
Heat Guns or Freezing Treatment for Bed Bugs Heat guns and applications involving freezing temperatures (decompression of CO2) have concerns similar to those of steam applications mentioned above. Heat guns/CO2 are effective at killing the bed bugs that can be seen and those hiding in cracks and crevices up to a couple of inches deep. However, they may not be able to reach all of the bed bugs or eggs that cannot be easily reached. Please use with caution. CO2 is dangerous in enclosed areas. You need to keep the room well vented.

 

Preventing bed bugs is the key.

Bed bugs are typically brought into your home. Bed bugs cannot fly or jump, but they are excellent hitchhikers. They can be introduced into your home via furniture, mattresses, and bedding, suitcases, boxes and shoes. Bed bugs can be found in new and used clothes as well as on the belongings of someone who has been in a bed bug infested situation.

Bed bugs have also been found in transportation vehicles such as boats, trains, airplanes, moving trailer/vehicle and buses and in movie theaters where they typically harbor in seats and framing.

More recently, bed bugs have been discovered in retail stores, including popular national chains.

Bed bugs usually stay close to their hosts, but once there is no longer a food source (blood) that can nourish and support them, they start to break away and spread through the wall voids and ceiling holes, as well as unsealed bottom plates and utility pipes.

The best preventive measures involve inspecting and thoroughly cleaning any items brought into your home.

Vigilance is the key to preventing bed bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Traveling 

Upon Arrival In Your Room (before unpacking):

• Don’t put your suitcase or backpack directly on your bed; elevate them on a luggage rack.
• Consider bringing a large plastic bag to put your luggage in when you arrive.
• Inspect the closet and luggage stands and baseboards nearby the luggage rack before placing items in the closet or on the rack for signs of bed bugs.
• Bring a small flashlight with you, to use during your inspection of the rooms to look behind the headboard and other hiding places of the bed bugs.
• Wall mounted headboards are a standard in many hotel rooms. Remove and check behind and around the headboard.
• Lift bedding, mattress and box spring and check seems, folds, tags, stapled dust cover and other hiding areas carefully. In hotels, these areas are disturbed frequently and inspected by housekeeping often so bed bugs are not found here as frequently as they are found here in a home.
• Inspect nightstands, dressers, and other furniture around the bed area including behind wall hangings.

During Your Stay:

• Periodically inspect your suitcase and clothing.
• Each morning, check for new red marks on your body, and for blood spots on the bedding.

Before Leaving:

• Inspect your clothes and other items before packing.
• Carefully check crevices in suitcases and backpacks.

After Returning Home:

• Check again all traveling stuff, and separately wash and dry (with heat) clothing and bedding items for at least 30 minutes, or dry clean if necessary.
• Check your suitcases again.
• Don’t store your suitcase or backpack under your bed.
• You may vacuum out the luggage as a precaution, but discard vacuum bag right away.
• If you suspect you have brought back bed bugs, isolate your luggage, freeze it for weeks, throw it away, or have it heat treated in a heat chamber.

Frequent travelers will bring with a change of clothing for their return trip to prevent bed bugs and keep that clothing in a sealed bag. Before leaving the hotel, they will bath and change into the clean clothing. When home, they will store their suitcase in a deep freeze until the next trip. These are extra steps you may want to consider taking if you travel frequently to prevent being home the bed bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Buying New Clothes 

• Keep clothing sealed in the plastic wrapping until the items can be laundered, washed by hand, heated, or frozen.
• Items that do not come in plastic should be laundered immediately upon returning to your home.
• When washing, set the washer and dryer for the hottest setting that the fabric can withstand.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Buying Used Clothes and Buying Online 

• Special care should be given to any used clothing.
• Used items should be laundered immediately before being brought into your home to prevent bed bugs.
• If you need to use a dry cleaning service, you should consider mentioning the items are from an unknown source and to minimize the spread of bed bugs the items should be kept in the plastic bags until loaded into their machines.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Buying Mattresses and Furniture 

• Inspect secondhand or used furniture thoroughly for bed bug signs before bringing them into your home.
• Use proven bed bug mattress and box spring encasements
• You are strongly cautioned against “scavenging” beds and furniture that have seemingly been discarded and left by the curb for disposal, or behind places of business.
• Bed bug infestations are not limited to beds and mattresses, and they can be found on tables, drawers, and even electronics if these items were located in a bedroom or other places that could support an infestation.

Preventing Bed Bugs When Students Return Home from College/School 

• Instruct your students if they are planning to bring home any laundry that before leaving their room, anything that is to be laundered should be sorted and placed in plastic bags. Separate the laundry as they would if they were normally laundering items, specifically: light colored clothes from dark items; delicate items from items that can be laundered on wash / dry regular cycles; and finally, dry cleanable items. Separating the clothing permits easy loading of the washing machine and you can avoid escaping bed bugs as you try to sort the laundry at home.
• Plastic bags that contained the suspect laundry can be frozen or collected into a clean garbage bag.
• When washing, set the washer and dryer for the hottest setting that the fabric can withstand to kill the bed bugs.
• Carefully inspect backpacks and suitcases for the bed bugs. If bed bugs are found (or you are not sure) place the backpack or suitcase into plastic bags, and store in your deep freeze for at least four days.
• Don’t place suitcase or backpack on or under beds.

Do Bed Bugs Spread Disease?
Why Are Bed Bugs Resurging?
I'm a frequent traveler. How can I protect myself from Bed Bugs when I travel?
I manage a hotel. How do I eliminate bed bugs from a hotel room?
I manage an apartment building. How do I eliminate Bed Bugs from a unit?
Do mattress encasements work for sealing off bed bugs?
What are pesticide treatments like for bed bugs?
Does freezing destroy Bed Bugs?
What is Heat Treatment for bed bugs?
Does heat alone destroy bed bugs?
What are the benefits to Heat Treatment for bed bugs?
Will heat damage things?
Will heat set off my sprinkler head?

 

Q: Do Bed Bugs spread disease?

A: Bed Bugs are not known to spread disease. They inject a small amount of saliva into the skin while feeding. An allergic reaction to the saliva may cause the area around the bite to become red, swollen and itchy. Do not scratch the bites, as this may worsen the irritation and itching may lead to a secondary infection. 

 

Q: Why are Bed Bugs resurging?

A: Bed Bugs are common in many parts of the world. International travel and changes in modern pest control are believed to be responsible for the resurgence. These pests were common in the 1940's and 1950's. DDT was commonly used in the 1940's and 1950"s for many insects and was quite effective against Bed Bugs, almost eliminating them within the U.S. In the 1970's DDT was banned, and pest control has evolved into less frequent applications of more targeted products, often pest specific, such as cockroach baits. Many products since the 1950's have not been tested on Bed Bugs and do not list them on the label, and worse yet, they don't allow the treatment sites where Bed Bugs harbor. For example, the mattress and box spring. Only since 2000, have researchers and manufacturers been researching, testing and training on these difficult pests.

Q:I'm a frequent traveler. How can I protect myself from Bed Bugs when I travel?

A: Be aware when you first get to your hotel/motel room. Bed Bugs can be in low-cost motels and high-end resorts and spas. Bed bugs do not know how much you paid for your room. Check the mattress seams. Check around the headboard. Check the luggage rack. Yes, you can see the bed bugs, or sometimes their blood stains or fecal matter. If you don't see the bed bugs or their sign, chances are good that you don't have to worry. If you wake up with bites, particularly in a line(where the bed bugs probe multiple times to find a good spot to feed on), you might be in a room with bed bugs. Some frequent travelers pack their return clothes in a large plastic bag they can seal. On the last day, after packing up, they shower and change into their fresh clothes. Upon returning home, they bag their clothes in the garage and bring it straight to the wash. Their suitcase goes in the freezer in the garage for several days to a week.

Q: I manage a hotel. How do I eliminate Bed Bugs from a hotel room?

A: The first step is to train your housekeeping staff so they know what to look for. Housekeeping is in these units every day, changing linens, etc. If they spot the signs, it is a lot easier to address when the problem is small. If a guest complains, take it seriously and get it addressed. There are many ways to eliminate Bed Bugs in a hotel room. Contact your pest control company.

 

Q: I manage an apartment building. How do I eliminate Bed Bugs from a unit?
A: You want your property managers, staff, and maintenance staff knowledgeable. Unfortunately you don't get into your units very often, if at all. Try to perform a cursory inspection when you are in a unit, and consider requiring an annual inspection. Many tenants don't report they have pest problems for fear they might get evicted, or for some, they think its not a big deal. Try to create a culture where tenants can approach the property management staff without fear. They'll report problems quicker and you can solve them quicker. Pesticide Treatments or Heat Treatments--which provide better results much more quickly--can be used effectively to treat Bed Bugs. Often it is necessary to treat adjoining units and units above and below a bed bug infested unit.

 

Q: Do mattress encasements work for sealing off bed bugs?

A: Encasements seal the mattress and box springs from bed bugs getting in or out. It is important to get one that fits the exact size mattress you have, otherwise you'll have lots of creases which bed bugs will find useful for harboring. Don't get a regular encasement - they aren't good enough to seal in or seal out bed bugs. Buy an encasement specifically designed for bed bugs. For example, the zipper teeth must be very small so the first stage nymph of a bed bug cannot get through the zipper teeth. There are fewer folds and seems. And lastly, the zipper has a zipper stop so the end of the zipper doesn't leave an opening for the bed bugs to get out. The encasement you purchase should also have been tested to ensure the bed bugs cannot bite through the encasement. A good bed bug encasement is far less expensive than replacing an infested mattress or box spring.

Q: What are Pesticide Treatments like for bed bugs?

A: First off, you must prepare your room for the treatment of bed bugs. Each company may have different preparation instructions, but they are usually non-trivial. Clutter is the enemy; so the more you can prepare and reduce clutter, the better. Treatments vary by company too. Pesticide selection, communications, and follow up treatments and/or inspections are all important when treating bed bugs.

Q: Does freezing destroy bed bugs?

A: Yes. A sudden freeze can destroy eggs, nymphs, and adult Bed Bugs, however a slow change in temperature, such as putting a pillow in the freezer, may take days to weeks to destroy them. Like many insects, bed bugs can acclimate to slow changes in temperature. The problem with applying freezing techniques in a living space is similar to that of steam. Can you get it everywhere it is needed? Also it is dangerous because of the Carbon Dioxide. You must have the area well vented. Does the person applying it have the skill to perform the process properly?

 

Q: What is Heat Treatment for bed bugs?

A: During Heat Treatments, the temperature in a structure is raised to temperatures lethal to the target pest. In this case, Bed Bugs, but in other cases, it could be flour beetles at a food processing plant. The temperature, and the duration, may vary by pest. While these treatments have been used in food processing for a century, it is still an emerging procedure for Bed Bugs. The equipment needed is substantial, and being a new application of an old technology, many companies have yet to invest and know very little about this procedure. Heat Treatment process is really part art, and part science. Fact that the applicator really needs to know the Bed Bug's biology, habits, and harborage, you really should consider hiring an experienced, licensed pest management professional with significant experience with Heat Treatments.

 

Q: Does heat alone destroy Bed Bugs?

A: Yes. Some companies use heat guns, like blow dryers, but it has the same problems steam or spot freezing does. It requires the technicians to find all bed bugs, hit them, and perform the service flawlessly. No doubt these companies are destroying bed bugs and offering relief, but they are removing 90 Bed Bugs, leaving 10 Bed Bugs to reproduce back into 100 bed bugs in a month. They are just building in an ongoing revenue stream for themselves.

Q: What are the benefits to Heat Treatments for bed bugs?

A: Less prep work. Fewer pesticides are used, if any are used at all. You don't need to throw out your furniture. (Some heavily infested items may need to be thrown out with conventional treatments.) The results are fast. The proper temperatures destroy bed bugs in minutes. A typical heat treatment for bed bugs is completed within 6-12 hours, and when completed, you or your tenant will "sleep tight", knowing all of the bed bugs have been killed. Compare this to a conventional treatment for bed bugs, which requires subsequent treatments and regular follow ups, and in few cases, could require months of follow up. Ideally, you want to eliminate them. That's why the entire room needs to be treated with Heat Treatment. 

 

Q: Will heat damage things?

A: Never say never, but generally it does not damage the structure or furnishings. Of course part of the preparation instructions should be to advise you to what items must be removed before treatment, such as wax candles and lip stick. Otherwise temperatures are kept within a lethal, yet not damaging range of 145 degrees.

 

Q: Will heat set off my sprinkler heads?

A: This is a question best answered on a case-by-case basis as sprinkler system trigger points vary. In most cases, the sprinkler head is protected from the heat with a sprinkler head cover. Inside the cover, it only gets to about 120 degrees which the sprinkler heads can handle.

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Peoria Pest Eliminators
1403 NE Adams St.
Peoria, IL 61603

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