Can you treat and eliminate bed bugs on your own?
Bed bugs are challenging pests to get rid of, since they hide so well and reproduce so quickly. In addition, the egg stage is resistant to many forms of treatment, so a single attempt may not be sufficient to complete the job. However, it is possible with perseverance to completely remove a bed bug infestation. If in doubt then hire a professional pest control company.
The success of a treatment depends on many factors, including:
- The extent of the infestation
- The experience level of the person inspecting the area and furniture for pest infestation
- The level of clutter in the infested area
- Neighbors with infestations
- The ability of all of the residents to participate
Achieving complete control can take weeks to months, depending on the nature and extent of the infestation.
Before starting, the following steps should be considered and planned.
- 1. Identify the problem
- 2. Develop a strategy
- 3. Keep the infestation from spreading
- 4. Prepare for treatment
- 5. Kill the bed bugs
- 6. Evaluate the treatment and prevent re-infestation
Identify the Problem
Inspect infested areas, plus surrounding living spaces, to determine extent of infestation.
Correctly identify the pest by collecting a sample to show a professional pest controller.
If you have bed bugs and live in an apartment, notify your landlord, because the apartments surrounding yours should be inspected. Landlords have a responsibility to participate in treatment.
Develop a Strategy
Plan each stage based on the recommendations in the following sections.
Keep records through the whole process – including dates and locations where bed bugs are found.
Carry out long-term monitoring to make sure all of the bed bugs are gone.
Keep the Infestation from Spreading
Anything removed from the room should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and treated.
Items that cannot be treated should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and left for an extended period of time to ensure any active bugs are dead (research shows variation in the length of time needed, but it can be as long as a year).
Empty your vacuum cleaner after each use. Place the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag and immediately dispose of it in an outdoor dustbin.
Don't discard furniture if you can eliminate the bed bugs from it. If furniture cannot be salvaged, discard it responsibly. Destroy it so someone else won't be tempted to bring it into their home.
Take steps to have infested items picked up as soon as possible by the trash collection agency.
Prepare for Treatment
Jumping straight into control is tempting, but it is less likely to be successful. Preparing for treatment is essential to getting successful control. It will also help by making it easier for you to monitor for bed bugs that haven't been completely eliminated.
This preparation should be conducted whether you are doing the treatment yourself or hiring a professional.
Reduce Clutter - a Great Hiding Place for Bed Bugs
- When reducing clutter take care that you don't spread the bed bugs.
- Don't move items from the infested area to a non-infested area.
- Place trash or other infested items directly into plastic trash bags. When full, immediately carry the bags to an outside bin.
- Get rid of excess magazines and newspapers.
- Keep clothing off the floor.
- Eliminate all cardboard boxes (the bugs can hide in the cardboard). Replace with plastic boxes, if you need the storage.
- Get rid of clothing and other items you no longer use (but make sure they are free of bed bugs first so you don't spread them).
Make Your Bed an Island
- Move the bed at least 6 inches away from the wall.
- Ensure all bed bugs, larvae, and eggs are removed from the bed, frame and headboard. Disassemble the bed if necessary.
- Place bed-bug-proof covers (often called encasements) on your mattress and divan base. Any bed bugs trapped inside will eventually starve to death, and other bed bugs won't be able to hide in the bed or box spring.
- Make sure all bedding is tucked under the mattress and does not touch the floor.
- Place bed bug interceptors (moats or barrier tape) under each leg of the bed to trap any bed bugs that try to climb the leg of the bed.
- Remove anything stored under the bed. Keep the items in the same room to avoid spreading the infestation. Inspect and clean or discard as appropriate.
Clean All Items Within a Bed-Bug-Infested Living Area
- Heat treat clothing, bedding, and other items that can withstand a hot dryer (household dryer at high heat for 30 minutes), which will kill bed bugs and eggs. Washing alone might not do the job.
- Store clean items in a sealed plastic bag to ensure they remain bug free
- Physically inspect and clean furniture, baseboards, behind outlet and switch covers, etc. to remove visible bed bugs or eggs.
- Use sealed plastic bags to transport any items that are being moved from one area to another (e.g., clothing or other items to be heated in the dryer).
- Remove and clean drapes and the drapery hardware.
- Look for bed bugs, eggs, and other bed bug evidence (e.g., shed skins, hatched eggs) on furniture and remove - this will also help in evaluating treatment success.
- Vacuum the area thoroughly, then remove and dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag in an outdoor dustbin
Eliminate Bed Bug Habitats
- Caulk cracks or crevices around baseboards.
- Repair any wall damage, ensure wallpaper is not loose.
- Check electrical outlets and wall switches for evidence of bed bugs. Clean if needed.
- Tape or caulk around the edges of wall sockets to prevent bed bugs from getting behind the plates.
Kill the Bed Bugs
Make sure the methods you select are safe and effective.
Consider non-chemical methods of killing bed bugs.
- Heat treatment. Professional pest control companies will be able to carry out a heat treatment in your home using purpose built equipment.
- Cold treatment can be successful in the home environment using a freezer. You must leave the items in the freezer at that temperature for four days.
Reducing the numbers of bugs with these and other non-chemical methods is helpful, but is unlikely to entirely eliminate the infestation.
If needed, use pesticides carefully according to the label directions or hire a pest management professional.
- Look for HSE (Health and Safety Executive) approved pesticides.
- You must always follow the instructions on the label
- Bed bugs must be listed on the label and the label must specify indoor use.
- Different products may be needed for soft furnishings and mattresses
Every few days after you complete your initial cleanup and control processes, carefully look for any evidence of bed bugs.
If you see bed bugs, that means that either the initial cleanup missed some individuals or that eggs have hatched (finding and removing or killing all eggs can be very difficult) and re-treatment may be needed.
If repeated treatments are needed, consider using pesticides with different modes of action.
Desiccants (drying agents) can be particularly effective in some situations since they work by drying out the bug (which means the bed bugs can't develop resistance to it). If using desiccants, be sure to use only products registered as a pesticide. Non-pesticide desiccants can be hazardous when inhaled.
Desiccants can be very effective; however, they can take up to several months to work.
Evaluate and Prevent Re-Infestation
Continue to inspect for presence of bed bugs, at least every 7 days, in case any eggs remained.
Interceptors (moats) placed under the legs of furniture to catch bed bugs and keep them from climbing the legs, traps or other methods of monitoring can be used.
Continue to implement preventive measures.
