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Bed Bugs can be very difficult to get rid of. Hire a pro if possible. Here are a few things that may
help.
The cost professional pest control companies might charge you to treat bed
bugs can vary quite a lot. I have seen prices as low as $150.00 and as high as $600.00 for each room sprayed. Getting estimates
is always a wise choice. Using a professional exterminator is most definitely the best route to go if you want to eliminate
these hard to get rid of pests, but I realize it may not be affordable to many of you. Four inexpensive ways which May help you eliminate bed bugs in your home are: 1. Steam
cleaning areas of your home where you suspect bed bugs are congregating remembering that close to 90% of all bedbugs
are found on bed components. Clean areas such as box springs, mattress, bed frame, head board, furniture,
and cracks and crevices is a safe, non-toxic way to get rid of them. It has been proven that heat will kill bed bugs and their
eggs. Temperatures of around 120 to 130 degrees need to be reached. Some have even used a hair blower on the high hot setting
to kill these pests but one must be careful not to hold it in one spot for a long time to prevent a fire from starting. Bed
Bugs can be very persistent to survive, but you must be more persistent by continuing steam cleaning at least couple times
each week.
2. It has been suggested that cold temperatures below 32 degrees will also kill bed bugs and their eggs.
I believe the jury has not yet confirmed that cold temps is a viable solution. An exact kill temperature has not been established
as far as I know, but I believe it to be much closer to 0 fahrenheit or lower if at all. If you live in an area that winter
nights get well below freezing for more than one night place your complete bed, dressers, and even clothing outside on the
porch for a few days. The cold may kill them. Most insects have a built-in anti-freeze that protects them from very hot and
cold temperatures but fortunately bed bugs don't seem to be one of them. It has been proven that high heat will kill them.
3. Cover bedding
with mattress covers. Enclosing bed bugs with mattress covers may smother and kill them. If you have an old bed
it would be best to through it out if possible.
4. On spraying day remove clothes from bedroom dressers (hanging clothes in closet should
be fine), and blankets, sheets, and pillow cases from beds. Carry to laundry room in plastic garbage bags. Wash or dry all
clothing and bedding in hot water or dry on high heat. It has been proven that hot temps will kill them.
5. Spray suspected bed bug
habitats with a safe bed bug pesticide. As an exterminator my insecticide of choice was Pyganic Dust  . This is a powder that can be puffed into the crevices and creases of the mattress, box springs, and any other cracks
bed bugs may be hiding in. Residual insecticides work best. Never saturate your mattress with liquid insecticides. Only the
seams of the mattress should be sprayed. Be sure and treat above drop ceilings especially along the outer edges where
the ceiling meets the wall. A sheet or mattress cover should always be placed between the insecticide and the person
sleeping in the bed. Although pyganic dust is quite safe, you should avoid coming in contact with it. Follow label directions.
6. Remove fabric from
the bottom of the box springs and treat all cracks where bed bugs may be hiding. Mattress creases and components inside the
box springs seem to be two of the most popular areas to find bed bugs. Fabric can be stapled back on to box springs after
treatment.
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| Picture of Bedbug Excreting Waste |
How Can
I Tell If I Have Bed Bugs? First and foremost you should notice bites when
you wake in the morning. Look for small, reddish-brown stains on sheets and mattresses. Look for stains at other locations in your house
that could be entrances to hiding places. These stains are from their droppings. They sometimes leave a sickening, sweet odor. Bed bugs shed
their shells. Look for shed shells
What does a bed bug look like. The mature bed bug is brown flattish
and between 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch long(above picture). When the bedbug is engorged with food (blood), the body becomes
enlarged and swollen, and the color changes from brown to dull red. The change in size, shape and color is so great that bedbugs
in different degrees of distention may appear to be of different species.
Where do bed bugs come from? Up until about 7 years ago I had never
gotten calls on exterminating bedbugs here in Upstate New York, but now they are probably one of the most problem-some
insect in our area only behind ants and bees. Bed bugs may be carried into the home from theaters, hotels or rooming
houses. They may also be carried into your home in bundles of laundry and are difficult to kill.
How Bed Bugs Feed On Your Blood Bed Bugs will rarely leave the safe haven
of a mattress to feed on us. They feel more secure while attached to the victim and the mattress at the same time. If you
are one that normally sleeps on your back you will notice that most bites normally occur on your back. A single bed bug usually
feeds on us for only a couple minutes and their blood waste is excreted for their young to feed on.
More Useful Information About Bed Bugs From Around The Web
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Does Cold Kill Bed Bugs
Could you please tell me if cold kills bedbugs? I'm trying to prevent them entering my house when my son returns from
traveling in Guatemala. The outside temperature here is around -10C. I was planning to leave his bags outside for 24 - 48
hours and then wash everything but the backpack. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thank you,
ANSWER: Does cold kill bedbugs "Exposure to hot and cold temperatures is a useful part of a bed bug infestation reduction
policy, prolonged exposure to temperatures of 0ºC to 9ºC will also kill off adults in a matter of hours"
Bedbugs In New Jersey
Hello,
I think I might have bed bugs. Since, last October following a trip to Europe and, at around the same time, buying floor-model
couch, I've had bites all over my body. I recently saw a dermatologist who suggested that we might have bedbugs. I have
three small children and so I'm very concerned about using pesticides in our home. Do you have any advise or are you able
to travel to our area... New Jersey
Hi, thanks for your question.
It does sound like you MIGHT have a bed bug problem. One of the best non toxic methods to use for eliminating them is
steam cleaning cracks and crevices, carpeting, mattresses, and furniture, since heat will kill bed bugs. Even going over everything
with a hair blow dryer set on the hot setting will kill many of them. Be sure and wash all bedding in hot water.
Bed Bugs In My Apartment
is there anything that I can use to keep bedbugs out of my apartment.The other tenents in the building also want to
know. The whole building has them and I think they are coming from the roof.
Answer: bed bugs in my apartment
I highly recommend having an extermination company treat your whole building. Talk to your landlord about having the complete
building sprayed or contact your local health dept. or zoning enforcement officer to find out what your options are.
Used Furniture May Carry Bed Bugs Into Your House My husband has a smoking room out in our
garage. Two months ago he saw a nice reclining chair sitting next to the road with a sign attached that said " take me I'm
free", so he took it for his smoking room. Our life has been a living hell ever since. A couple weeks later we noticed the
chair was infested with bugs, so we took it to the dump. Turned out that they were bedbugs. Our three year old son is now
covered with bedbug bites from head to toe. The bites have been so bad it has made him sick and he has spent a lot of time
at the emergency room and the doctors office. We hired an exterminator but it took close to 3 months to get rid of them. Please
beware of bringing used furniture into you home.
MY HOUSE IS INFESTED WITH BED BUGS Just wanted to give your readers a warning about taking precautions when going on vacation
south of the border. My husband and I took a two week vacation in Mexico and then two more weeks in South America. It has
been three months since we got home from our trip, and our house is now infested with hundreds of bed bugs We have called
a company to come and exterminate, and hopefully they can get rid of them. If you are planning on taking a trip down south
be careful. You might have some unwanted guests hitch-hike back home with you.
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