A clean home is key to keeping bed bugs out. Vacuum often, wash all clothes and sheets in hot water, and caulk cracks around baseboards and light sockets.
Most DIY methods rely on pesticides. There is a good chance that you will overuse these chemicals, and end up with a sore throat, itchy skin, or worse.
1. Safer
Bed bug solutions are difficult to control because they are small, reproduce rapidly, and hide in hard-to-reach spaces. They have also developed resistance to most chemical pesticides, a contributing factor to their recent resurgence. Fortunately, there are several safer options for treating a bed bug infestation, including carefully washing and encasing mattresses and box springs in impermeable fabrics and using heat treatments to kill the bugs and eggs.
Low-toxicity contact sprays that kill on contact (EcoRaider, Bedlam) are EPA-approved for use in bedrooms, as are low-odor insecticide strips (Temprid SC) for nightstands and other furniture. Food Grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural, non-toxic treatment option that is OMRI Listed(r) and effective against both the adults and eggs of all three stages of the bed bug.
Insecticide dusts are useful for cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide, as they can be applied in areas that would be difficult to reach with aerosol sprays. For example, some products contain silica, which causes abrasions on the exoskeleton of bed bugs and other insects and leads to dehydration.
2. More Effective
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult household pests to eradicate. During the 1940’s and 1950’s the bug was nearly eliminated in America thanks to pesticides, but they are back and have adapted to our lifestyles. Using chemical treatments like low toxicity contact sprays, traps and interceptors can help but it’s best to hire a professional for a full treatment.
Compared to over the counter sprays that contain low levels of alcohol or soap, plant oil-based products are much more effective against both bed bugs and their eggs. Two of these products, EcoRaider and Bed Bug Patrol, earned top ratings in a recent study conducted by Rutgers University.
For a more effective treatment consider encasing your mattress and box springs. The encasements act as a barrier to prevent the bugs from entering and also make it easy to monitor an infestation. For other items that cannot be laundered, there are insecticide strips available containing the active ingredient dichlorvos (DDVP). These can be applied to clothing, luggage and other items to kill the pests on contact.
3. Less Expensive
Bed bugs are highly adaptable, and they are resistant to many chemical treatments. Their cryptic lifestyle and rapid reproduction make them extremely difficult to eradicate. They’re great hitchhikers, able to survive in the smallest cracks and crevices of furniture and mattresses. Just one night’s stay in a hotel or vacation rental can lead to an infestation.
Once a bed bug infestation is discovered, it’s important to know the extent of the problem and how far the bugs have spread. This helps determine the type of treatment needed and how much time will be required to get rid of the bugs and their eggs.
It’s also important to inspect items in the bedroom, especially cluttered areas like clothing piles and boxes. The best method to prevent a bed bug infestation is with preventive products such as mattress encasements. However, if you do discover a bed bug infestation, you should use low toxicity contact sprays like SteriFab and Bedlam, or plant oil-based sprays such as EcoRaider(tm) and Bed Bug Patrol(r) that received top ratings in a Rutgers University study.
4. Less Stress
The psychological impacts of a bed bug infestation can be devastating. Sleep deprivation exacerbates anxiety levels and can lead to a vicious cycle of restlessness and worry. Anxiety can also result from the uncertainty of a successful bed bug treatment and the feeling of helplessness in the face of these resilient pests.
A well-defined and comprehensive bed bug solution plan can provide a sense of control and reduce anxiety. Working with a qualified pest professional to create a targeted and effective treatment plan is the best way to achieve this.
Decluttering and cleaning your living spaces can make it more difficult for bed bugs to hide. In addition, it is important to carefully clean and treat furniture. Start with the perimeter and work your way inward to eliminate hidden spots.
Using mattress and box spring encasements can limit bed bugs’ access to their favorite hiding places. These covers are available in bedding stores and online. Other options include silicates (e.g., diatomaceous earth dust), insect growth regulators and carbamates. It is important to only use pesticide products that are EPA-registered and labelled for use against bed bugs. Natural/botanical pesticides are not regulated by the EPA and may not be as effective.
5. Less Time
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, and a small colony can quickly spread from room to room. This is why effective control is so important.
Attempting to control bed bugs on your own requires that you dedicate a great deal of time and energy. You must isolate infested areas, treat them, and clean up afterward. In addition, you have to continuously assess and re-assess the problem to ensure that all parts of the infestation are treated.
It is also a good idea to keep your home as clean as possible and remove clutter from nightstands, dressers, and closets to limit the hiding places for these pesky pests. Additionally, you should regularly vacuum your floors, wash fabrics in hot water, and use a get rid of bed bugs fast encasement to make it more difficult for the pests to get to your sleep area. Lastly, you should consider using interceptor monitors in infested rooms to trap more bugs than visual searches alone. Interceptor monitors are an especially useful tool for managers of hotels, furnished apartments, dormitories, and homeless shelters. They can catch up to six times more bed bugs than a single human can.
