As an exterminator for many years, one of the questions I often get is “how do I prepare for a bed bug treatment?” or “what is the best treatment for bed bugs?” or “what are the best bed bug products to use for a DIY treatment? “The truth is, there is no magical wand to wave but for sure there are a few pointers I can provide you guys in order to ensure yourself that your efforts won’t be in vain!
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Once and For All!
Below, you will find my bed bug treatment preparation instructions I provide to my clients prior to treatment. It’s essential to be ready for a treatment, including having your home prepped, using the proper (green) chemicals, and knowing where, how often, and how strong to mix your chemicals. Let’s begin the eradication!
Prepping Your Home (Getting Ready For War!)
First, you need to determine if there is any bed bug activity in your home. Check out my blog Identify if you have bed bugs..the 101 for more information on how to detect bed bugs in your home. If you found bed bug activity in your home it’s time to take action.
Bed bugs lay eggs that stick so they can eventually spread by just coming in contact with them, sticking to your clothing and hitchhiking a ride into the rest of your home, like sitting on your bed, then sitting on the living room couch.
Washing Items For Bed Bug Control
So, very importantly, all bedding sheets, pillow cases, pillows, ruffles and any other items used on beds, couches or sofa beds must be removed. All clothing items must be removed from all closets and furniture and bagged up in a tightly bound garbage bag and at your own pace, wash all items, then dry on hi heat for at least 20 min. There are bed bug detergents and organic additives you may use to aid you in this. If interested check out my top product reviews blog for my recommendations.
One important thing to do if you have cloth curtains of any type, I recommend you remove them and treat them accordingly. Same goes for luggage, instrument cases or items stored under or around contaminated beds.
I usually tell my clients to go accordingly. Some people go at it and spend countless hours washing and drying to get it over with…….. others feel overwhelmed and want to deal with it when emotionally ready. To each their own my friends, but the common denominator here is that all clothing items must be treated. People who take this task lightly, I have found, usually get reinfested.
Make sure you place bags in a place where it won’t get in the way of your treatment path. You want full access to all nooks and crannies so try not to neglect any sections of the contaminated area.
Another common issue is some items are not washable or cannot be dried on high heat. For the non washable, my personal experience will testify putting it in the freezer for 48 hours will sterilize the item. So the nice silk shirt or the corduroy jacket still has hope! I’ve come across clients with standalone freezers and have applied this technique for their clothing and shoes. As for the heat cycle, you can use a bed bug detergent to avoid having to dry on high heat.
Heat Treatment For Effective Bed Bug Removal
I’ve also seen positive results in steaming your clothing items and accessories. If you’re steaming a pair of canvas sneakers or a couple of stuffed animals, OK, but to steam your entire wardrobe……yikes! If steaming is your thing, I suggest steaming priority items in combination with washing and freezing.
The other is that they can be quite expensive. Check my blog for reviews and recommendations if you’re leaning into including this step into your bed bug treatment options so you wont make the mistake on choosing a crappy unit.
Dry cleaning DOES NOT kill bed bug eggs so unfortunately it’s not a reliable option for treating your contaminated items.
Remove All Wall Decor
Bed bugs can infest horizontally and vertically as well. I often find them high in curtain creases or nestled in cracks and crevices along the surface of the ceiling on top and around where people sleep, as well as picture frames, paintings and any items hung on walls adjacent to where humans sleep or mingle. Therefore, you must remove all your wall decor (whatever it may be) and perform a bed bug inspection. If bed bug activity is detected, set it aside for treatment and move on to the next prepping task. For a deeper look at bed bugs, check my article on bed bug basics.
An important mention here is that depending on the level of infestation it would be a good idea to remove all outlet covers near infected areas in order to ensure bed bugs aren’t present and if they are, there are botanical powders that can be used for this issue. Check out my product reviews for my recommendations.
In the case of an extreme infestation, I recommend you replace any power plugs if any, that was located in or near the contaminated area. Many times I have found power plugs with bed bugs in them. They are inexpensive enough to replace and will save you a lot of trouble later on.
Prepping Your Mattresses
As we all well know, mattresses come in all sorts of styles and designs, some with seams, vent holes, labels, zippers allowing bed bugs to hide and lay eggs. When presented with a bed bug issue, it’s important that your mattresses and box springs are properly treated. To ensure this, all linen must be removed including ruffles, and if applicable, any plastic wrappings or coverings that are not designed for bed bug protection. I have found that wrapping the mattress or box spring with plastic is an invitation to disaster.
Once all has been removed from your mattresses and box springs, prop them up so you may have clear access to your bed frames for proper treatment.
If you have box springs, I would remove the lining on the underside and expose the wood.
As demonstrated in the image taken, (with permission of the homeowner), at an establishment I treated for bed bugs, the wooden bed frames were broken down to the planks enabling me to treat each piece thoroughly ensuring no bed bug is left behind! You should do the same if you have a similar setup.
Once you have exposed the wooden parts of the bed frame, vacuum the area thoroughly, making sure to get into the corners and crevices where bed bugs like to hide. Use a stiff brush to loosen any bed bug eggs or debris.
Next, use an insecticide labeled for bed bugs and apply it to the exposed wooden parts of the bed frame. Make sure to follow the directions on the label carefully and wear gloves and a mask if required.
Thoroughly spray the seams of the mattress affected and pay special attention to factory labels and possible rips.
Allow the insecticide to dry completely before reassembling the bed for proper extermination.
It’s important to note that while insecticides are effective in killing bed bugs, they do not prevent bed bugs from returning, so it’s important to take other preventative measures to avoid another infestation in the future and remain bed bug free.
Other preventative measures include regularly vacuuming your bedroom and washing your bedding in hot water. Encasing your mattress and box spring in bed bug-proof covers can also help prevent bed bugs from infesting your bedding. Taking these steps to treat your bed frame for bed bugs can help eliminate the infestation and prevent future ones from occurring.
Other steps you can take is to encase your mattresses in proper bed bug covers. These are great and will help in ridding yourself of bed bugs. They are seamless and rip resistant and will protect the mattress and box spring from further contamination, also illustrated in the accompanying image. If interested, check my “What is the best bed bug cover option?” article for info and availability.
Choosing A Green Solution
Now that you have prepped your home for a bed bug treatment, it’s time to decide what to spray or apply. Here at GreenBedBugSolutions we strive for natural and organic, so the products that I recommend you guys are such, making the process safe and gentle to us but deadly to bed bugs!
Check out My Top Green Bed Bug Products article for some examples of products I personally use or used for your benefit of saving time and money being unsuccessful with your DIY treatment. Feel free to ask us any questions.
Note that depending on the product you use, some have longer residual effects than others. I recommend performing the follow up treatment between ten to fourteen days.
When eggs encounter environmental stress, it motivates them to hatch, so most will die but some will hatch. If hatched, the process usually takes between seven to ten days on average, so following up the treatment on the aforementioned time frame will kill any new born nymph.
Be thorough with your follow-ups, even if you didn’t see any in between treatments. People will slack off because of this, allowing bed bugs to withstand initial treatment and eventually mount a comeback.
On average, it takes me 2 treatments to end the problem, but for sure some tough situations required up to four treatments to eventually eradicate all bed bugs. In the case of entire buildings being infested, a monthly follow up eventually did the job, also implementing powder treatments into outlets, gaps in floor boards, moldings and any other substantial opening where bed bugs could travel from unit to unit.
It’s completely normal to see an increase in bed bug activity a couple of days after your initial treatment. It may indicate bed bugs are leaving their hiding spots to escape the residual effect or new nymphs hatching as a result of your spraying. In this case, I would give it another pass with your treatment of choice to accelerate the process of elimination, in addition to your normal spray dates.
Essential Oils
Essential oils can be a natural and effective alternative to chemical pesticides for killing bed bugs. Some essential oils have been shown to have insecticidal properties that can repel or kill bed bugs. For example,clove oil, blood orange oil, and thyme oil have all been found to be effective against bed bugs. These oils can be mixed with water and sprayed directly onto bed bug-infested areas. Alternatively, they can be added to a diffuser to create an aromatic barrier that repels bed bugs.
Unlike chemical pesticides, essential oils are non-toxic and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Additionally, essential oils are often more affordable and accessible than chemical pesticides, making them an attractive option for those seeking a natural solution to bed bug infestations. Check out our Essential Oils section for a more in depth look.
Conclusion
So there you go guys, a little info to aid you in treating your bed bug issues. Very important thing to note is your mental preparation. The process for some can be daunting. Physically of course depending on your age group but also mentally, especially when you hear how much a bed bug treatment can cost you and many telling you it’s impossible to get rid of.
I can assure you will, with my help here at GBBS. I have helped probably hundreds of people with bed bug issues ALL successfully. I believe that no matter how bad the problem is, there is a path to a solution.
Stay positive and determined and bed bugs don’t stand a chance! If you have any questions or comments, leave one below or contact me through the contact page. Together we can rid of any bed bug issues. Let’s do this green, organic and effective! Check out some Q&A below for a knowledge boost!
Best Regards
Wilson.
Q&A
1. What are bed bugs?
BASICLIST: Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals.
2. How do you know if you have a bed bug infestation?
BASICLIST: Signs of a bed bug infestation include small reddish-brown bugs, shed skins, blood spots on your sheets or bedding, and a sweet musty odor.
3. What should I do if I find bed bugs in my home?
BASICLIST: Contact a professional exterminator who has experience with bed bug treatment. Do not try to exterminate bed bugs yourself, as this can cause the infestation to spread.
4. What is the best bed bug treatment?
EXTENDEDLIST: There are several effective bed bug treatments, including heat treatment, extermination by a professional exterminator, and removal of infested bedding and furniture.
5. Can bed bugs be killed by heat?
BASICLIST: Yes, bed bugs can be eliminated by exposing them to high heat, typically over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. What should I do with my mattress if I have bed bugs?
BASICLIST: Remove bedding and cover the mattress and box spring with a plastic bag to prevent bed bugs from spreading. Contact a professional exterminator to determine the best course of action.
7. Can bed bug eggs survive heat treatment?
BASICLIST: No, bed bug eggs cannot survive exposure to high heat.
8. What are the common areas where bed bugs hide?
EXTENDEDLIST: Bed bugs can hide in crevices, baseboards, headboards, and furniture near the bed. They can also hide in cluttered areas and inside mattress seams.
9. How can I prevent a bed bug infestation?
BASICLIST: Regularly inspect your home, wash bedding and clothing in hot water, vacuum frequently, and reduce clutter.
