Bed bugs can turn a peaceful home into a nightmare. These tiny, blood-sucking pests excel at hide-and-seek, making it challenging to eliminate them. But don’t despair—using the right approach, you can reclaim your home from these unwelcome guests.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the steps to identify, treat, and prevent bed bug infestations, helping you restore comfort and peace of mind to your living space.
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Identifying a Bed Bug Infestation
Before you take action, confirm that you really have bed bugs. You can see these tiny pests with the naked eye—they’re about the size of an apple seed.
Visual Inspection
Carefully inspect your bedroom and other areas where you suspect bed bugs might be lurking. These pests excel at hiding in cracks, crevices, mattress seams, and the folds of bed sheets. Use a flashlight to examine thoroughly:
- Mattress seams and tags
- Box spring seams
- Bed frame and headboard
- Baseboards and wall junctions
- Furniture near the bed
- Picture frames and wall hangings
- Electrical outlets and switch plates
Look for tiny dark spots that could be bed bug droppings, along with light brown discarded skins and shells from molting bed bugs.
Collecting Evidence
If you spot potential bed bugs, collect a sample for proper identification. Start by placing clear packing tape over the areas where you see bugs or evidence of them. Then, fold the tape over to seal the specimen inside. Once you’ve secured the sample, put the tape in a zip-top plastic bag for safekeeping. After that, we recommend you take the sample to a professional exterminator or your local extension office. They’ll confirm whether you’re dealing with bed bugs. This simple step helps you get the right treatment for your situation.
Professional Treatment Options
While DIY methods exist, professional treatment often proves the most effective way to eliminate bed bugs. Here are the primary methods professionals use:
Chemical Treatments
Professional exterminators have specialized pesticides and are trained to apply them safely and effectively. Chemical treatments typically involve:
- Targeted application of pesticide sprays or dusts into cracks, crevices, and other hiding spots
- Treatment of box springs, bed frames, furniture, carpets, and other infested areas
- Multiple treatments over several weeks to make sure all bugs and eggs are eliminated
Follow all preparation instructions from the pest control technician before service. These may include cleaning carpets, removing outlet covers, and more. Allow plenty of time for chemical treatments to dry before remaking beds or placing furniture back in treated rooms.
Heat Treatments
Heat treatment offers another effective method for whole-room bed bug eradication:
- Professionals use powerful heater units to raise room temperatures to approximately 135°F.
- This sustained extreme heat kills bed bugs at all life stages, including eggs.
- Heat penetrates areas that chemical sprays may miss, such as inside walls and electrical outlets.
- Treatments typically take four to six hours, followed by a monitored cooling period before you can re-enter.
DIY Prevention and Control Measures
If you’re dealing with a severe bed bug infestation, we recommend professional treatment. If your infestation is less severe, there are plenty of steps you can take to prevent and control these pests on your own.
Start with enclosures and barriers by covering your mattresses and box springs with bed bug-proof encasements. This simple step traps any existing bugs and keeps new ones from moving in. You can also place bed bug interceptors under the legs of your furniture. These devices help catch any bugs trying to climb up.
Next, make regular inspections part of your routine. Take the time to thoroughly inspect your bedding and furniture every few weeks. Keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs while you clean and vacuum. Speaking of vacuuming, remember to vacuum frequently. Use a vacuum with a crevice tool to clean those hard-to-reach spots like mattress seams, edges, baseboards, and furniture joints. After you finish vacuuming, empty the vacuum contents into a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it outside right away to prevent any potential reinfestation.
Also, take the time to seal entry points. Use caulk to fill in cracks and crevices in your walls, floors, and furniture. Pay special attention to the areas around baseboards, electrical outlets, and window frames, as these are prime spots for bed bugs to sneak in.
Lastly, consider using natural remedies such as diatomaceous earth. This powder works by dehydrating and killing bed bugs. Just sprinkle it around the perimeter of your rooms, under furniture, and in cracks and crevices. Be patient—it may take days to weeks for bed bugs to come into contact with the powder and ultimately die.
By following these steps, you can manage and prevent bed bug infestations, keeping your living space bug free.
Preventing Future Infestations
Once you eliminate bed bugs, take preventive measures to avoid future problems.
When Traveling
Thoroughly inspect hotel rooms before unpacking. Keep your luggage off the floor and away from the bed. When you return home, wash all clothing in hot water and dry it on high heat.
At Home
Bed bugs love cluttered environments, so you’ll want to keep your environment neat and tidy. Clear everything from your bedroom floors and surfaces. Go through your belongings and toss out anything you don’t need.
Regularly inspect and clean secondhand furniture before you bring it into your home. Avoid taking discarded furniture from the curbside.
Ongoing Vigilance
Continue inspecting your bedding and furniture regularly. Educate your family members about bed bug prevention. Act quickly at the first sign of a new infestation.
Professional Treatment
If you face a severe bed bug infestation, then it’s time to call in the professionals. Most pest control companies provide treatment for bed bug infestations, and some have ongoing treatment plans. Pest control companies charge between $1,000 and $4,000* for bed bug extermination, making bed bugs a very expensive problem.
*Costs in this article sourced from contractor estimates used by Angi.
Final Thoughts About Bed Bug Control
Dealing with bed bugs can feel daunting, but you can overcome the challenge. Combining thorough inspection, professional treatment, and ongoing prevention measures eliminates these pests and prevents future infestations. Early detection and swift action keep bed bugs at bay.
While DIY methods help in minor cases, severe infestations usually require professional intervention. We recommend you contact a reputable pest control company if you face an ongoing bed bug problem. With persistence, the right approach, and possibly professional help, you can reclaim your home from bed bugs and rest easy once again.
