Here you’ll find a do it yourself bedbug treatment along with information for locating a trustworthy bed bug exterminator in your area. If you decide to do this yourself, you need to do it right or you can easily make matters worse! Should you decide to hire a pest control company, you need to ask some very important questions BEFORE you hire them or they could make matters worse, and, walk away with your money!
Doing it yourself can save money, but it requires a lot of time and patience as bed bugs are most difficult to kill. You’ll have to do the treatments, clean, wait and repeat at least three times and everything needs to be controlled; forget one item and you’ll need to start over! The benefit of going it alone is savings!
A typical Bed Bug Exterminator runs $1,500 with heat treatments running as much as $5,000! There are usually no guarantees except a promise to treat a second time if begs remain. However, exterminators that know what they are doing can successfully eliminate your infestation without the need for more than two treatments.
There is a big difference in the exterminator that specializes in termites and one that specializes in bed bugs – only experience and specialized equipment can be effective!
If you are planning on hiring a bed bug exterminator but don’t have the money right now, here are some tips to keep the bedbugs at bay until you can get a professional out there.
There are a few mistakes that homeowners usually make when they discover they have an infestation which make matters even worse.
Most common, is making the mistake of spraying insecticide or setting of a bed bug bomb / fogger! Such actions usually cause the bedbugs to find another hiding place or move to an adjecent room (or apartment!). Foggers and sprays can also be very harmful to children, adults and pets; remember, these insecticides aren’t really meant for use on bedding, linens, carpets, etc. You could be creating a whole new problem worse than a few bedbug bites.
Second most common mistake is to move yourself and cloths into a freinds house which only results in your friend needing their own bed bug exterminator down the road!
The proper actions will not only reduce your chances of getting bitten but also minimize the spread of bed bugs to other parts of your house. They include:
- When entering premises avoid setting coats, bags, purses etc. on beds, floors and against walls. Check your vehicles before sitting to detect any bed bugs.
- Do regular inspections of all areas bed bugs like to hide. In bedding, in & around bed frames, on stuffed animals (Stuffed toys can be put in the clothes dryer for 40 to 60 minutes) and decorative pillows, inside clothing drawers, around baseboards and inside slots, screw holes, cracks, & crevices in around furniture. Be vigilant in checking these known bed bug hideouts.
- When you become aware of a bed bug infestation, it is time to go through all your belongings & throw away all your clutter. Cluttered conditions can offer the bed bugs a lot of excellent hiding places very near their human blood-meal hosts. Do not forget to throw things out in sealed plastic bags or wrapped in plastic so you are not dropping & spreading the infestation as you discard them. Thoroughly de-clutter and clean all areas (bedding, couches, bed frames etc.) where you have been bitten by bed bugs.
- Do not dispose of furniture or mattresses that have had bed bugs in them by trying to sell them to other people. Although the items might appear to be free of bed bugs, more could be hiding and you would unknowingly spread the bed bug problem to others.
- When removing sheets always carefully roll them off instead of pulling or yanking them off. Pulling causes the removal of any eggs and bed bugs attached to them. Vacuum up any visible bed bugs & eggs. Always put clean white or light colored sheets on bed. Light colors make bed bugs easier to detect.
- Wash all bedding and clothes in the hottest water possible (at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit). Use a hot tumble drier at the hottest setting possible. Research has shown bed bugs can possibly live through the washing but the hot dryer will kill them.
- Try to avoid using diatomaceous earth. Although it is sold as a safe natural product, if you must use it, be very careful to follow all instructions and wear a proper mask. While it is safe enough to eat, it is very bad for the lungs and we have been to so many homes lately that were covered in this dust, their couches, carpets, counters. This is ONLY meant for under baseboards, cracks, crevices, electric outlets etc. where it cannot be stirred up into the air.
- If possible, try to capture 1 or more bed bugs in a vial, pill bottle or in a baggie (taped shut) so you can get a positive identification of bed bugs from your pest control person.
- A good way to tell approximately how many bed bugs are invading your home is by the bites. If you have 50 bites there are approx. 17 bed bugs or 3 bites per bed bug.
These tips should help you reduce your bites & reduce spreading the bed bugs until you can get a bedbug exterminator to treat your home properly.
