Getting Rid of Bed Bugs - They Are Tricky!
Posted by Kevin Copeland on Wed, Nov 17, 2010 @ 11:15 AM
"Sleep tight, don't let the bed-bugs bite...." used to be a sweet, but meaningless thing to say, when encouraging a good night's rest. However, in the past months, it has taken on a new meaning, as bed-bugs are back - and they are very hard to get rid of without professional help. Yes, they are real, yes, they bite, yes, they suck blood from YOU and yes, they are nasty! No, you don't have to use chemicals, no you don't have to spend thousands, and no, you don't want to do it without professional help.
When you are trying to get rid of bed bugs, you don't want to spray down your home with chemicals that could also adversely affect your health, and your family or pets, right? We have other options to be sure - read on!
What is a bed bug?
They are small insects, colored brown, and flat in shape. They measure about 1/5 of an inch long (size of apple seed or lentil), and they are visible to the naked eye. They rarely travel in lighted areas, and they do live on or near beds, most often.
Why do they live near beds?
Because that is where their food sleeps - namely, you! Contrary to myth, they do not need squalor or filth to live. They only need blood - yours!
Why have they "re-surfaced"?
Bed bugs had been killed off by DDT, but since it has been banned (for good reasons) - and international travel has increased to place bedbugs are still prevelant, we're seeing a resurgence. Most bed bug outbreaks can be traced to hubs of travel, like New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Without a mass deterrant (it is down to you, individually now, to deal with them) bed bugs have come back in greater and greater numbers. There have been massive outbreaks in NYC and growing reports here in Atlanta.
How can I tell I have them?
First of all, they will likely bite you. Symptoms of a bed bug bite often include itchy welts and localized swelling. Unlike other blood suckers, such as mosquitos, bed bugs do not currently carry diseases.
Some other things to look for: (1) reddish spots of dried blood on your sheets and (2) darker fecal stains in crevices and holes close to the bed.
Getting rid of bed bugs can be tricky. If your bed is already infested, many people turn to a professional pest control firm, but there are other options that don't use the pesticides. Dry Vapor Steam is one great option (learn more by contacting us)- chemical free and kills on contact. To get best effects, you need a company with industrial power dry vapor-steam machines. This will kill eggs and bugs on contact. Since steam can penetrate mattresses and furniture, the heat will kill them in a couple of seconds. Again, you need a professional machine to do this in one try. If you use a "household machine" - you can try to repeat weekly til they are gone, but honestly, they often either don't get and stay hot enough at nozzle point, or they don't penetrate deeply enough to get to the eggs.
Contact us for more information on our new division that handles this type of cleaning. (also, we help "allergy-proof" your home and can even restore laminate floors and tile/grout without chemicals and eco-friendly.)
How else can I kill bed bugs without harsh pesticides?
- To kill ones you can see - spray 90% rubbing alcohol on them. It kills them almost instantly, but won't kill eggs.
- Bed bugs can’t cross petroleum jelly (or Vaseline) - this may help if you want to lube your bedposts.
- Sticky tape around bed legs also can work if they come up the frame.
- Still, the best, and least invasive manner, to kill bedbugs, is to use dry-vapor steam.
How can I stay bed bug free?
- Vacuum frequently with a sealed HEPA filter vacumn (it must be sealed, and quite frankly, many are not), paying extra-special attention to the crevices and corners in and around the mattress – seams, edges, between mattresses and box springs, corners. This, along with pre-treating with dry-vapor steam will remove both bed bugs and dust mites, both.
- Health gurus advise that you leverage the protection of mattress and box springs through zippered covers. These can be helpful, especially after you've hired a dry vapor steaming company to come and sanitize and kill the bed bugs at the core. Then wrap and stop worrying about future issues.
- Remember, bed bugs will hide anywhere they can, usually within the bedroom. Remove drawers, take apart bed frames, headboards, etc - and clean thoroughly. Make sure you uncover every possible area for the dry-vapor steam to contact the critters and kill them.