Bed bugs are nasty little creatures that can cause big problems for your family. They can live for months without food, so killing bed bugs is not an easy task. This article will help you determine whether you have bed bugs and teach you effective methods to eliminate the problem.
First things first, how do you know if you have a bed bug problem? Well, bed bugs are tiny, so it’s hard to spot them. Plus, they live inside furniture and only come out briefly during the night when most people are asleep. Since you can’t realistically find the bed bugs, you should just look for signs that they have infested your home. Bed bug bites are the most obvious sign. If you or your children wake up with small, itchy bites on your skin, then you probably have bed bugs.
You can confirm your suspicions by looking for their blood, feces, and dead bodies. It’s even possible to catch them if you keep a flashlight by your bed and inspect the environment just before dawn. The most conclusive way to know whether you have bed bugs, though, is to place double-sided tape in the infested area. If you have bed bugs, then you will find them stuck to the tape within a few days.
Killing Bed Bugs with Foggers
Foggers contain a pesticide called permethrin that will kill bed bugs on contact. The problem with killing bed bugs with foggers, though, is that you might not get all of them. Many researchers suspect that some of the bed bugs will escape the pesticide by fleeing into the walls. They stay there until the coast is clear, and then they can move right back into your furniture. This delays the problem, but does not solve it.
Killing Bed Bugs with an Exterminator
The most effective way to kill bed bugs is to hire a professional exterminator. They should have equipment and chemicals specifically designed for killing bed bugs. Before the exterminator comes to your home, though, you should make sure that the area is clean. This will make it easier for the professional to investigate the area and determine what products will work best in your home.
Killing Bed Bugs with DIY Techniques
If an exterminator does not fit into your budget right now, then you might want to try some DIY techniques. Steam cleaning is an effective way to kill bed bugs because it creates extreme heat. Note that you will have to use it on everything that could be infested. This means your chairs, couches, and carpets as well as bedding.
Some people simply leave infested items out in the cold to kill off the bugs. This works on occasion, but don’t expect consistent results. Plus, the inside of your mattress won’t get as cold as the exterior. Bed bugs can actually live inside the mattress for a couple of weeks even when the temperature drops below zero. That’s a long time to go without your mattress.
Some people have even found success with extreme heat, but don’t expect to kill any bed bugs unless the temperature outdoors reaches at least 120 degrees. Again, it could take a few weeks to kill them all.
