What To Do When DIY Bed Bug Control Fails

bed bug crawling on bed

 

There are lots of wonderful ideas on the internet for how to get rid of bed bugs, but, the truth is, they usually fail. This is because bed bugs are not an easy pest to get rid of. They have been dwelling with us since the dawn of civilization--perhaps longer. They are wired to avoid our attempts to exterminate them. Here are a few ideas some folks have tried, as well as insight into why they didn't work.

Some Bed Bug Treatments People Have Tried

Heat kills bed bugs. It is a known fact. But some have tried to do their own heat treatments and failed to get rid of their bugs. There are two primary reasons. First of all, it takes time for heat to kill bed bugs. If you increase the heat in a location, bed bugs will have time to go somewhere else. Second, it is extraordinarily difficult to raise the temperature of a structure to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only is it difficult, it can be dangerous. Some DIY heat treatments have led to a catastrophic loss of property and even a loss of human life.

Chemicals can kill bed bugs. It is a known fact. But chemicals don't always kill bed bugs. Studies have shown that bed bugs can develop an immunity to chemicals. This is because a bed bug sheds its skin as it passes from one development stage to the next and, when it does, it can develop a new skin that is resistant to any chemicals it has been exposed to. So, some DIY chemical treatments actually result in the production of super bed bugs. And we don't have to tell you that that's not something you want in your home.

Chemicals aren't the only thing that can kill bed bugs. You might learn that borates are great for killing them and that borates don't hurt humans because we have a liver that processes borate. But, what you're not likely to learn is that any product that exterminates bed bugs has the potential to drive bed bugs deep into your walls.

Some websites advise folks to protect their beds by using mattress encasements and traps. This one is a bit harder to explain because this can actually help to arrest a bed bug infestation. And, when this treatment is applied, the presence of bed bugs on climb-up strips, or in traps placed underneath the feet of a bed, give assurance that this treatment is working. But it often fails because these control options need to be accompanied by trained inspections, proper monitoring, and additional treatments to areas of infestation outside of the bed. It is also important to find and address any areas where bed bugs have laid eggs. You can kill every bed bug in your home only to face a new infestation after eggs have hatched. Bed bugs don't need the mother bed bug in order to hatch.

The ideas we've presented above are ideas that can actually work to stop bed bug infestations, when they're done properly, but there are many more ideas given on the web that do absolutely nothing. You can't stop bed bugs with a bug bomb. Bug bombs are topical treatments that do not get into the places where bed bugs live. You can't stop a bed bug infestation by turning your oven on and cranking the heat in your home. You can't stop bed bugs by throwing your bed out. The list of unhelpful tips is quite long.

What You Should Do When You First See Bed Bugs

If you've discovered bed bugs in your home, contact a professional pest control company like Thomas Pest Services. Our team of certified and educated pest control technicians use a range of industry-leading protocols, like advanced bed bug inspections, to locate and eliminate these elusive and resourceful pests. We have targeted protocols that quickly arrest small infestations and full-scale protocols that address bed bugs inside your entire home. No matter how big or small, our team knows how to make sure those bugs are gone.

For more information, or to schedule bed bug treatment for your Albany home or business, reach out to us today. We look forward to serving you.

Request Your Free Estimate

For Expedited Service Call (518) 861-4921

go to top