There is no link between socioeconomic status and bed bug prevalence. Cases of bed bugs in 5-star hotels are fairly common.
Exterminators will be quick to agree that bed bugs are among the most difficult, if not the single most difficult pest to exterminate. There are many products on the market for DIY bed bug extermination and it can be difficult to select the best one.
Below are some of the more popular options for getting rid of bed bugs yourself.
Bed-Bug Proof Mattress Encasements
Mattress encasements are a good solution for people having sleepless nights due to an infestation. The encasement is also great if you don’t want to throw away your expensive mattress after a bed bug infestation.
The encasement fits tightly over the mattress, trapping existing bed bugs which eventually die of starvation or suffocation. The covers also make new infestations easier to detect as the pest stands out.
Downside: this option is merely a control measure and doesn’t actually kill the bed bugs. Even pesticide-treated mattress covers don’t seem to work as effectively as advertised. The bed bugs require long hours and days of contact with pesticides for treatment to be effective. The mattress encasement or treated cover also doesn’t protect against bed bugs hiding in the sofa and other furniture.
Bed Bug Contact Sprays
There are options for low toxicity pesticides meant to spray directly on the pests and exterminate them on contact. Plant oil-based sprays and pyrethroid sprays appear to be most effective. Alcohol-based sprays are flammable and therefore a fire hazard while soap-based spray has minimal effect.
Downside: most over-the-counter sprays aren’t potent enough to kill bed bug eggs so the infestation is likely to return even if initial extermination is effective. These sprays also lose their effectiveness once dry while most bed bugs have developed resistance to common pesticides of all types.
Desiccant Dusts
The two most effective desiccant dusts for bed bug elimination seem to be diatomaceous earth (DE) and silica aerogel. These two are also low toxicity dusts and therefore low risk to humans. The dusts dry out bed bugs when they come into contact with the material. Look for desiccant dusts intended for use indoors and follow the instructions carefully. Some kinds of diatomaceous earth such as the type used in swimming pool filters can be toxic if inhaled.
Downside: desiccant dusts are cumbersome and messy to use and difficult to treat upholstered furniture, cracks, voids and crevices. Successful use also requires intimate knowledge of bed bug behavior such as where they are likely to hide and which paths they frequently use.
Foggers/ Bug Bombs
Bed bug bombs or foggers release a mist that permeates the room to exterminate bed bugs on contact. Once activated, leave the room for at least 4 hours or as directed in the product instructions and ventilate the room for 30 minutes to 1 hour before occupying.
Downside: recent scientific research has called into question the effectiveness of foggers. For one, the mist doesn’t effectively penetrate cracks and cervices where the pests are likely to hide. Some of the active ingredients may actually repel the bed bugs causing them to hide further in the crevices. Bed bugs are also resistant to active ingredients used in most foggers. Bed bug bombs rarely work if at all.
Bed Bug Traps
Just like mouse traps, bed bug traps work by luring and capturing the pest. Bed bug traps have a rough exterior that provides the pests traction and an open mouth at the top. Once the bed bug falls in it is either trapped in a smaller container inside the contraption or is unable to climb the smooth, steep walls on the inside of the trap.
These traps work actively by luring bed bugs with carbon monoxide emission to mimic a human host or passively where it is installed under furniture legs and in the path of the bed bugs.
Downside: bed bug traps can’t actually trap all the bed bugs in the house. The device is typically used to estimate the extent of the problem by looking at the number of insects trapped or as an early detection tool.
Hire the Exterminators to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
The consensus from experts and reluctant homeowners is that it is virtually impossible to get rid of bed bugs with commercial products and/or without professional training. The main hurdle is the pests hide deep inside cracks and crevices and therefore unreachable with pesticides that work on contact.
Hire Professional pest control company to get rid of bed bugs permanently. We employ the most appropriate measure for the type of infestation and provide a warranty to guarantee that the treatment is followed to a successful conclusion.