Bed bugs have been a problem on and off since the turn of the century, and at times its presence was simply ignored or taken as part of life. The pest industry was still in its infancy and had not yet dealt with this particular bug.
The pest control industry wasn’t properly regulated and many harmful pesticides were used to combat pesky bugs, including DDT and leftover WWII chemical and biological agents and as a chemical soldier I can attest to that.
In the late 50s, 60s, and early 70s bed bugs were all but extinct because of these extreme chemicals. As a result many human ailments and cancer strains started to introduce itself into society as a result of irregulated and irresponsible practices.
Awareness forced more regulation and the banning of these extreme chemicals in american society therefore creating a void in the pest control industry and an opportunity for bugs including bed bugs to make a comeback.
Understanding the REAL Problem
As a result of industry regulation, unchecked services like mattress collections for refurbishing and reselling (a practice created in poor urban areas where families can’t afford new mattresses, spreading bed bugs like a plague throughout inner cities); unaware moving companies and rentals did their part in allowing the problem to spread.
Bed bugs are truly vampiric and remain hidden so awareness of its presence is not immediate and by the time you see a bed bug in your home, most likely you have a developed issue. If you suspect having bed bugs, check out my “Identify if you have bed bugs” article for some guidance on this issue.
Another phenomenon that happens as related to bed bugs, on average 40% of humans are immune to bed bug bites therefore allowing the insect to proliferate and cause problems depending on the level of infestation it amasses to, and according to recent survey done by NPMA (National Pest Management Association) the general population usually confuses bed bug bites with other insect bites or ailments, remaining undetected.
My rule of thumb is the bites are usually in clusters and forms patterns like straight lines or triangles.
No Proven Solutions For Bed Bugs
In the early days, some exterminator companies neglected the problem and treated the bug with “whatever worked” and many industry leaders rushed through the void like the wild wild west basically to monetize this problem and began creating wild and unproven bed bug treatments like heating/freezing your actual house/apt. for extraordinary amounts of money, similar to the medical quackeries of the 20s and 30s!
Bed bugs will die at about 115 to 120 degrees. (Fahrenheit) Plus, they tend to hide even inside outlet covers, deep within any crack and crevice in your home, including under floorboards and carpets.
Heating your carpet, books, and other combustible items in your home for a sustained amount of time at 120 degrees is probably not a good idea! Most items will likely char or possibly ignite!
Nevertheless, steam treating individual items can be effective but time consuming. Combining this method with proper treatment can definitely accelerate the elimination process. For recommendations on steamers, check out our steamer review article for your convenience.
In the last decade or so, the pest industry has come a long way in its approach to the bed bug dilemma but there is still more to learn.
Being a veteran, our most powerful tool against all adversity was to understand your enemy…..in other words become knowledgeable about the thing that ails you in order to overcome it….. understand its strengths and weaknesses and surely you will have clarity in how to proceed.
That is why I created GreenBedbugSolutions, to provide people with the latest bed bug information, tips and product reviews so you can make an informative, healthy, affordable decision on how to proceed in treating your bed bug issues.
Making a change to Natural Alternatives
As an exterminator serving three large cities for 14 years I’ve seen it all when it comes to bed bug treatments…..from freezing your sheets in the freezer for 24 hours, to basically throwing all your belongings away…..and everything in between.
I’ve treated furniture, homes, businesses and condos that literally spent thousands of dollars to rid themselves from bed bugs only to see them come back even after throwing out all their lovely furniture!
Again, dumping all their faith in unproven treatments and inappropriate chemicals. I decided years ago, even before the whole green movement started hitting the mainstream (millenials were still too young!) to go natural as much as possible for my own sake.
During biological and chemical attacks in the military we had a protocol of safety depending on the severity of the contamination. It went from MOPP0 to MOPP4. 0 being minimum protection;4 maximum protection including gas mask, and military grade PPE.
I found it disturbing while performing bed bug treatments in homes where there were children, elderly and pets, dressed very similar to MOPP4 level! I felt I was attacking them with chemicals! Something had to be done, so I made a stand and made demands for natural, environmentally safe solutions.
I have incorporated the use of essential oils into my bed bug treatment options, and it has worked really well. I have dedicated an entire section of this site to essential oils an its ability to kill bed bugs. Feel free to check out the latest research on essential oils HERE.
Check out “My top green bed bug products” for a few recommendations for your bed bug treatments..
I’m here to Help with your Bed Bug Problems
The good news is that recently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released new guidelines for the evaluation of bed bug pesticide products and as a result many unreliable/unsafe products and treatments will be removed from the shelf.
This is a good thing but also hinders the development of new treatments due to too many regulations. The remedy is to go green!
As a result of being in the pest industry, I’ve tried an array of natural, green products to treat bed bugs.
GreenBedbugSolutions provides you with everything that I have learned and the latest in bed bug science and research to help you avoid making poor choices and making it worse for you and your loved ones if applicable. Also, tips on treatments and procedures, product reviews and links to where you may obtain them.
Join the Community!
Dealing with bed bugs can be psychologically taxing and outright demoralizing to some…..a nuisance to us all that eventually has dealt with them, even years after the fact!
One thing to understand is that bed bugs are not a product of uncleanliness or social class….it can happen to anyone who is human.
Some people simply feel embarrassed to seek for help because of this stigma enduring a great deal of distress.
Check out my “Psychological effects of bed bugs” article for some additional information on this issue. Feel free to drop a question or comment below. You are definitely not the only one with this problem, so let’s all help each other out with support, knowledge and understanding. I look forward into being an asset to your bed bug and pest solutions. Stay green, natural and pesticide free!
Wilson.
Wilson@Greenorganicpestcontrol.com
Hi there, this has been a very interesting read on bed bugs and the reason why it spread so quickly. I had never considered the fact that mattresses get dumped and passed on, or sold as second hand, and could be invested with bed bugs, and thus spreading the problem.
I fully agree that chemical warfare against pest , are harmful and dangerous to humans and our health. so to go green when it comes to pest control, is essential. All the best in your green and organic journey.
Thanx for the reply.My goal is to provide info and solutions for pests so I’m glad you were able to learn a bit about the subject. Good luck with your endeavors.