Fighting bedbugs involves a combination of cleaning practices, specific treatments, and knowing when to call in professional help. Based on effective strategies, you can tackle an infestation using several key methods.
Key Methods to Combat Bedbugs
Dealing with bedbugs requires a multi-faceted approach. By targeting different stages of their life cycle and their hiding spots, you can significantly reduce and potentially eliminate the population. Here are proven ways to fight bedbugs:
Do-It-Yourself Approaches
Several steps can be taken immediately to start addressing a bedbug problem using items you likely have at home or can easily access:
- Launder items: Regularly launder bed sheets and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting. This heat is effective at killing bedbugs and their eggs.
- Use the freezer: For small items that cannot be laundered (like books or shoes), you can place them in a freezer for at least 4 days. Ensure the temperature remains consistently below 0°F (-18°C).
- Apply steam: Use a steam cleaner to apply hot steam to infested furniture, mattresses, and crevices. The high temperature from the steam can kill bedbugs on contact. Be sure to use a steamer designed for this purpose and follow safety instructions.
- Dispose of heavily infested items: Sometimes, items are too heavily infested to be salvaged or treated effectively. In such cases, it may be necessary to dispose of heavily infested items like mattresses or furniture. When disposing, wrap them securely to prevent spreading bedbugs to other areas or people.
Professional Solutions
For larger or more stubborn infestations, professional pest control services offer specialized treatments that may be more effective:
- Heat Treatments: Professionals have access to methods like placing items in heat chambers designed for controlling bed bugs. These chambers raise the temperature of items to a level lethal to bedbugs and their eggs, ensuring penetration into materials.
By combining these DIY methods with professional treatments when necessary, you can create a comprehensive plan to fight off bedbug infestations.
