Dos And Don'ts For Effective Bed Bug Removal
If your kids brought home bed bugs from their last sleepover and you are trying to find a way to get rid of them, then you have many options. Obviously, the best option is to have your home treated by a pest control professional. However, if you decide to save money and try to tackle the project yourself, then follow each of these dos and don'ts:
Do: Use Products Proven Effective for Killing Both Bed Bugs and Their Eggs
While it isn't necessary to go out and purchase professional-grade bed bug removal products, you do need to use both contact and residual insecticide sprays.
If you are concerned about using insecticides in your home around your children and pets, this really isn't necessary. Bed bug insecticides are tightly regulated by the EPA and are completely safe for use in residential homes when used according to the directions on the packaging.
Don't: Use Natural Products That Aren't Effective Killers of Both Bed Bug Adults and Eggs
There are hundreds of blog posts and articles online claiming all sorts of household cleaners and gadgets will kill bed bugs. Some of the more creative include:
- essential oils
- rubbing alcohol
- clothes irons
- hair dryers
While the essential oils of cedarwood, lavender, and clove are often touted for their ability to eliminate bed bugs, they just aren't effective at killing adult bed bugs or eggs.
Rubbing alcohol is effective for killing adult bed bugs on contact; however, it will not kill their eggs so it is not an effective treatment option.
Clothes irons and hair dryers are often suggested for killing bed bugs and their eggs with heat, irons are not able to get into tight places and hair dryers aren't actually hot enough to do much damage to the bed bug population.
Do: Use a High-Temperature Steamer to Kill with Heat
Unlike irons and hair dryers, high-pressure steamers do work well for bed bug removal. Steamers are significantly hotter than hair dryers, and irons and the steam will penetrate into even the smallest cracks and crevices.
Don't: Prevent Climbing with Vaseline or Double-Sided Tape
Finally, while you may be tempted to put petroleum, double-sided tape, or glue boards on the legs of your bed to prevent bed bugs from climbing up, it's much more effective to use climb-up pitfall interceptors. These disc-shaped products are designed to be placed under each bed leg. When the bed bugs try to climb up, they fall into the interceptors and become trapped.
To learn more, reach out to a bed bug removal company such as Arab Termite and Pest Control.
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