Finding bedbugs or evidence of bedbugs in your home can be a painful experience, especially if you know how challenging they can be to eliminate.
In most cases, you will need professional help, but there are some things you can do yourself to eliminate active infections and prevent them from returning.
Learning how to get rid of bed bugs and why they enter your home is a good place to start. USA TODAY asked the experts, and they told what to do if you see evidence of bedbugs in your home.
Why do bed bugs come into your house?
Unlike most other pest infestations, bed bug problems usually start with you or other occupants rather than coming from outside.
“Bedbugs are basically expert hitchhikers,” say entomologists at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science, makers of Raid. “They typically enter homes by traveling on luggage, clothing, bedding or furniture. Travel is one of the biggest reasons for the spread of bed bugs. An increase in travel activity during the warmer months can create more opportunities for them.”
A common exception is in apartment buildings and multi-unit buildings, where bed bugs can travel short distances between units to find new sources of food. They can move through cracks, crevices and even through shared plumbing or electrical systems.
Ultimately, bed bugs live where they have a food source. They feed on blood and are active at night, so you’ll often find them in or around mattresses.
How to Remove Bed Bugs from Your Home Safely
Unfortunately, physically removing bed bugs is not only extremely challenging, but is also often ineffective as you will not be able to remove all of the pests. If you find isolated bed bugs in your home, it’s best to take a multi-pronged approach that includes DIY methods and professional treatments.
“On Amazon you can find bedbug interceptors or traps that will help capture and monitor pest conditions,” says Matt Smith, co-owner of Green Pest Management.
Instead you can focus on identifying bed bugs using the following tips.
- Check the mattress and bed frame: If you think you have a bed bug problem, inspect your mattress and bed frame for signs of infestation. Look for red or rust-colored stains or exoskeletons left after molting, and keep an eye out for a sweet, musty smell in or around the beds.
- Inspect the bedding if you suspect an infestation: Check the sheets and pillowcases especially for rust-colored stains. Pay careful attention to folds and seams as this is where bedbugs like to hide.
- Watch for signs of bites: Look for evidence of insect bites on your skin. On some people the bite mark may not be visible, but on others, you may see a red discoloration or raised bumps. These often occur in groups where there is food.
- Talk to neighboring units about infestations: If you live in an apartment building or multi-family building, get in touch with neighbors about bed bug activity to identify a potential problem in your unit.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
There are some things you can do yourself that do not require professional intervention but may still help get rid of bed bugs.
- Identify bedbugs early: “Early action and frequent monitoring is important because bedbugs are highly resilient and difficult to eliminate once they spread throughout the home,” says SC Johnson entomologist. You should understand the signs and symptoms of bed bug infestations and bites, and keep an eye out for problems, especially after travel or if another unit in your building has experienced a bed bug problem.
- Wash bedding thoroughly: If you notice signs of bedbugs, remove all bedding in your home and wash it in hot water. If you’ve recently traveled, be sure to wash all the clothes in your luggage in hot water, too. It can help kill adult bed bugs and eggs.
- Vacuum regularly: Vacuuming your mattress, especially in and around the seams, can also help remove adult bed bugs, larvae and eggs. “Thorough vacuuming and regularly checking mattresses and bed frames is a good first step,” says SC Johnson entomologist.
- Consider DIY insecticides: You can use products like Red Max Bedbug Foaming Spray on mattresses, bed frames, upholstered furniture, and carpet. These treatments contain chemicals and are not natural, but they can help eliminate bed bugs or at least reduce the severity of the infestation.
While the cost of professional bedbug treatments can reach thousands of dollars, they are worth the investment, especially because of how challenging the treatment can be.
professional bed bug treatment
“Early action and frequent monitoring is important because bedbugs are highly resilient and difficult to eliminate once they spread throughout the home,” says SC Johnson entomologist. “Although DIY treatments may help address small or early-stage activity, larger infestations may require professional treatment.”
Here are details of what to expect from a professional inspection and treatment plan:
- Inspection and Identification: First, your professional will inspect your home to confirm the presence of bed bugs. No reliable exterminator will apply pesticides or use fumigation without confirming that you have a bed bug problem. “Bedbugs are very good hiders,” says Smith. “Check the seams on your mattress and box spring for dried blood or bugs.”
- Vacuuming and heat treatment: Next, your professional will use some type of chemical-free treatment, which may include vacuuming as well as localized heat treatment to remove bed bugs and eggs. “Bedbugs are very particular about temperature,” says Smith. “If you can heat a room over 120 degrees for about an hour and a half it will kill them.”
- Pesticide Application: Most professionals will use a combination of treatment methods, so they will use natural methods as well as direct pesticide application. “When pesticides are sprayed they kill bed bugs directly and attack the insects and eggs directly,” says SC Johnson entomologist. “Some insecticides also provide varying durations of residual efficacy and subsequently kill bedbugs that appear on the treated surface.”
- Fumigation: Fumigation is another method of treatment that most professionals use, as chemicals can penetrate into cracks and crevices of walls and furniture where other treatments may be ineffective. “There must be a lethal concentration of active fumigant throughout the room to provide effective control,” says SC Johnson entomologist.
- Ongoing Inspections: “Since it is so difficult to completely eliminate bedbugs, treatment often involves multiple visits and follow-up inspections to ensure that they are truly gone,” says SC Johnson entomologist.
How to keep bed bugs from coming back
There is no guaranteed way to prevent reinfection, and the best thing you can do is take general precautions and be alert for signs of another problem.
“Getting rid of bed bugs permanently is a very difficult task, but it is possible,” says Smith. “I usually tell people who are infested with termites, cockroaches and bed bugs to seek professional help because these are the hardest to get rid of.”
The best way to keep bed bug problems under control is to catch problems early. Here are some tips for identifying the symptoms of bed bugs and reducing your risk of infestation.
- Check luggage after a trip: When you return from a trip, inspect suitcases and clothing for signs of bed bugs, including adult insects, rust stains on clothing, or exoskeletons left by molting in your luggage.
- Treat luggage with insecticides: Treat the outside of luggage to reduce the chances of other bed bugs hitchhiking into the airplane’s luggage compartment.
- Take extra precautions after traveling: When you return from a trip, wash all clothes immediately in hot water. This can help kill any adult bed bugs that come home with you, as well as eliminate any eggs that may be present.
- Inspect mattresses and bedding regularly: Continue to inspect mattresses and bedding weekly for signs of bed bug activity. Catching an infection early can help keep it under control and make it much easier to eliminate.
- Be careful with second-hand furniture: Bed bugs can enter your home through second-hand furniture. Only accept furniture from known sources, and consider fumigating pieces that may contain bedbugs or eggs.
“If homeowners notice bed bug bites or signs of infestation, the best thing they can do is begin treating the problem immediately and continue monitoring the area,” says SC Johnson entomologist. “Because bed bugs can spread quickly and are difficult to eliminate, if bed bug activity continues despite consistent treatment and monitoring, homeowners should consider contacting a pest control professional.”
Common Mistakes When Trying to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
The most common mistake homeowners make when trying to get rid of bed bugs is failing to notice the signs of an infestation early enough. The sooner you recognize a bed bug problem, the easier it will be to solve it.
“Bed bug bites can be mistaken for bites from some other insect or just some ‘skin problems,’ even if they suspect something is biting them at night,” says SC Johnson entomologist. “Bedbugs spread quickly, so delaying treatment can make the infestation harder to control.”
Another common mistake is to rely on DIY treatments or treat bed bugs only where they appear. Bed bugs hide in cracks, furniture, mattresses, and soft surfaces throughout the home, so treatment must be thorough and consistent.
Ultimately, stopping treatment too early is a common mistake. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it may take weeks or months for bedbugs to be eliminated, so continue treatments, professional inspections, and monitoring until you are confident that you have eliminated all bedbugs from your home.
When to Call a Pest Control Professional
If you think you have bedbugs in your home, whether you’ve found adult bedbugs or noticed signs of bedbug infestation, such as rust-colored stains on bedding, itchy bites on your skin, or exoskeleton in or around your mattress, call a professional. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eliminate, especially when infestations become severe.
Professional pest control companies can help identify any infestations and use a combination of natural methods, insecticide applications and fumigation to kill the adults, larvae and eggs.
Make sure you choose a pest control company that specializes in bed bug treatment. Companies like Orkin and Terminix are good places to start, as they have a long track record of treating bed bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kills bed bugs instantly?
According to entomologists, heat or steam treatment can kill bedbugs within an hour, and direct insecticide application or fumigation can also kill bedbugs in a shorter period of time.
Why are there bedbugs in the house?
Bed bugs often enter your home after traveling, on your clothes or on second-hand furniture. In apartment buildings and other multi-unit complexes, bedbugs can enter the home the same way but then travel between units in search of food.
Can it kill bed bugs 100%?
Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed treatment that will kill all the bed bugs in your home, as these pests are extremely challenging to eliminate. However, fumigation from a professional pest control company is the closest you can get to a permanent solution. Most professionals will combine fumigation with direct insecticide treatment and other removal and treatment methods to ensure success.
Reporting by Dan Sims, special to USA TODAY/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
