Bed Bug Extermination—Methods That Do and Don't Work

Everyone and their uncle has a bed bug extermination tip that they've heard from a third cousin's neighbor's wife. These critters have developed a reputation for resiliency, standing firm against everything short of setting the infested area on fire. While they can be tricky to defeat, it isn't quite as impossible as some people would lead you to believe. Here are some dos and don'ts of bed bug extermination. Do Call a bed bug extermination professional and invest the money. It is true that it can take several treatments before fully eradicating an infestation, but their methods are thorough and more effective than what you can do at home. When choosing a company, you'll find that they tend to offer one of three treatment plans. Heating, freezing, and chemical pesticides are the most popular choices, and all have their benefits and disadvantages. Not one is guaranteed, so you may even have to try a bit of each before finding what works. Don't It's a waste of time to try and battle a large infestation with a few superstitious old wives' remedies. Using space heaters or allowing cold air in through the windows is not going to be powerful enough to kill even a few of the pests. The pros use special devices that turn them into ice cubes or practically melt their insides, so all you're doing when you turn up or down the heat is losing sleep. Not only will it not work, but you'll drive yourself crazy with the experiments. Do Even though DIY treatments won't work in the long run, it is important to dry clean linens and give your wardrobe a thorough hot wash and dry. Try to isolate the infestation to one room if possible, and store your clothes someplace else in the interim. You don't want to carry any pests or eggs on your sweater accidentally and carry them into work or another person's home where they can spread again. Don't Many people want to avoid the use of pesticides, but they can work in destroying a population. It doesn't have to be your first line of defense, but it's better to try it than risk spreading the pests to other homes or people. Don't avoid chemicals if all other removal methods have failed. Don't When traveling don't use the linens offered by a hotel or guesthouse, but rather bring your own instead. Check the mattresses and any furniture for signs of the pests which can include small blood smears, shell casings, and eggs. If you do see visible signs, alert staff and ask if you can switch to a different room. Do Keep up with bed bug extermination treatments over a period of time. Eggs hatch in cycles, so while you may think they are all gone, another batch can suddenly appear. Adults also have the ability to go into hibernation for up to a year without feeding. You'll need to keep a sharp eye out for a couple of years to ensure the problem doesn't reoccur.