After a long day at the office, you come home and into your bed to sleep, and suddenly — an itch! At first, they seem like nothing more than dry skin or a mosquito bite, but soon, the bites pile up. You could be infested with bedbugs – tiny blood-sucking bugs hiding in your mattress, furnishings, and within the partitions. Since bed bugs are hard to get rid of, you’d better know what the complete bed bug pest control procedure involves.
In this blog, we will explain the whole process step-by-step so that you know exactly how pest control professionals treat these pests and what happens along these lines.
Step-by-Step Bed Bug Pest Control Procedure
Bed bug removal is a complex process—it usually takes several steps to get these pesky bugs out for good. Here are the steps involved in a bed bug pest control procedure
Step 1: Recognize the Infestation
The first step of this bed bug pest control process is to figure out the issue. Look out for key signs, such as:
- Bite Marks: Bed bug bites are usually small, red, and itchy. They often appear in clusters or lines, especially on exposed skin.
- Detached Blood: If you see tiny little patches of blood on your sheet or pillowcases, that can mean signs of bed bugs have been squashed from being tormented during the night.
- Bite Marks: Spots with little black or brown dots on your mattress or other furniture may be bedbugs’ feces.
- Shed Skins: Bed bugs are insects, so they have exoskeletons, and like all such critters, they will shed their exoskeletons when growing.
Step 2: Clean and Declutter Your Space
After confirming the presence of bed bugs in your space, prepare for pest control treatment. Remove clutter to give bed bugs fewer places to hide, as they use cracks in furniture or buildings to hide. This will ease the process of treating your home
- Vacuum: Vacuum the mattress, box springs, floor, and bed frame to remove any visible bed bugs, eggs, and shed skins. Do not hesitate to go all in and be extra vigilant with those places, such as cracks, baseboards, and carpet edges.
- Wash & Dry: Run hot cycles for washing and drying all bedding, linens, and clothing. They do not survive in high temperatures, making heat treatment effective for this pest.
- Vacuum Bag Disposal: After vacuuming, throw out the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag and take it outside. This is an important step because bed bugs can live within your vacuum.
This makes your environment much less inviting for bed bugs, and you should prep the area before any treatment occurs
Step 3: Select the Appropriate Bed Bug Control Procedure
There are different options to get rid of bed bugs, and they vary in cost and approach depending on the severity of the infestation and personal preference. Here are some popular pest control methods
- Pesticides: Pesticides can be used directly where bed bugs are hiding. This method should be done carefully, especially if you have kids or animals. The best option would be to hire a pest control company that understands how these products work.
- Heat Treatments: Some companies use heat treatments that raise the room temperature to high levels, killing bed bugs and eggs. This approach is highly effective, even reaching inside furniture and walls, though it can be costly.
- Steam Cleaning: For a non-chemical option, steam cleaning works well, killing bed bugs on contact, even in places like pillow seams and couch cushions where pesticides may not reach.
- Freezing: Another method involves freezing items like clothes or linens. Bed bugs cannot survive in extreme cold, so placing infested items in a freezer for several days can be effective.
A combination of chemical and heat treatments may be best for severe infestations, while steam cleaning or freezing could work well for minor issues.
Step 4: Avoid New Pest Invasions
The last thing you want after a round of bed bug pest control is for them to return. There are some precautionary steps to take to avoid getting bed bugs into your home
- Check Used Furniture: This is where bed bugs tend to hide. Remember to inspect all second-hand items at home cautiously.
- The Hotel Bed Bug Caution: Bed bugs are prevalent in hotels, where they can hitch a ride back home with you in your baggage. Check the room when you arrive, and avoid placing your luggage on the bed.
- Utilize Mattress Protectors: Wrap your mattress and box spring with a bed bug-proof cover. That allows very few places to hide and helps spot any signs of a new infestation more effectively.
- Consistent Vacuuming: Vacuum your home every day, particularly around beds and upholstered furniture, to prevent the likelihood of a bed bug infestation.
Taking these preventive measures saves yourself the trouble, time, and expenses of dealing with bed bugs again.
Step 5: Hire A Professional Pest Control Service
Dealing with bed bugs is no easy task; despite doing it all right, a DIY may not cut it. The best way to remove them usually involves hiring professional pest control services. Experts have exclusive access to advanced tools and treatments that the general public does not get to benefit from.
Professional pest control services charge a little more, but that investment is worth every penny for the time, energy, and relief it saves you
Make Your Home Bug-Free With the Right Process
Getting rid of bed bugs requires an organized and process-oriented approach. This bed bug pest control process involves finding the problem, cleaning and decluttering, choosing your treatment method, and sometimes getting some from professionals. While the bed bug pest control cost can vary, the complete peace of mind with a bug-free home is priceless.
If you have a recurring infestation, contacting a trusted pest control service like Jezben Pest Control can help avoid further problems at home.
