How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs - Step-By-Step
6 s$ d6 c1 x; A7 uThe followingstep-by-step instructions are devised by our team of experts who havedealt with these types of infestations on a daily basis.
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; y2 k# K$ s! n. m; ^( Y1. Look For The Bugs. R( R0 a$ Z& C
Thefirst step to getting rid of bed bugs is to do some investigative work.Pay close attention to where people sitt or have slept for long periodsof time. Bed Bugs are visible to the eye. The adult bed bug is brown toreddish-brown, oval-shaped, flattened, and about 1/4 to 5/8 inch long.
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`" U( z7 r3 s3 V% wBeprepared to inspect all areas of the room using a bright flashlight anda magnifying glass if you have one available. Bed Bugs can leavereddish- brown spots on mattresses and have a distinct smell. Rememberthat the bed bug's flat shape and small body enable it to hide easilyin cracks and crevices. Bed bugs, eggs, larvae, and fecal deposits willgo unnoticed with just a casual inspection.# i5 }; }* q# ?3 t- t' ]( E
4 L9 w( U6 n; d* ?' g2 PYou should leavenothing unturned when doing your inspection for bed bugs and no siteshould be ignored that may be a bed bug hiding place... they hideanywhere! Examples: wall sconces, behind electricalswitch plates, behind wall posters, between books and magazines onshelves and in racks. Inspect all the places near sleeping areas, whichmay mean taking the bed frames apart! Bed bugs can migrate to otherrooms and even travel with you!
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* |3 F5 ]; z& a- A% YBed Bugs (eggs, larvae and adults in seam on mattress)
2. Prepare The Area
7 Q3 k$ P+ e+ ` J8 P) RAthorough cleaning of the premises will make bed bug control effortsmuch more effective. Strip all beds down to the bare sleeping surface.Bedding, sheets, blankets, comforters, covers, and shams should bewashed in very hot water. Very hot water (120+degrees) will kill thebed bugs. Personal items (stuffed animals, soft toys, blankets) shouldbe removed, cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and bagged in plastic forseveral weeks or more. Clutter should be removed from furniture topsand bed stands. Open up the clock radio and phone (that's right, BedBugs may be hiding in there too!). Tap the open ends into a bag or onsticky tape so the bed bugs can’t jump and hide. VACUUM EVERY SURFACE IN AFFECTED BEDROOMS INCLUDING THE INSIDE OF DRESSER DRAWERS, DRESSER CAVITIES, WALLS, AND CLOSETS.
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. b3 E4 Y1 X$ h% ?1 TInsevere infestations, clothing should be removed from dressers andchests. Utilize a crack & crevice vacuum tool to remove bed bugsfrom deep harborage such as: under baseboards; under carpet edges (pullup along the tack strip); around switch plates (you may have to removethe plate first); from the bed frame; inside box springs; insidefurniture; and from floor cracks., {. w) Y9 R& y3 }- Z$ T x
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Use a hand-brush attachment tovacuum up most of the bed bugs. Vacuum mattresses and box springs(especially along seams and folds); upholstered furniture; and behinddrapes. Also vacuum the floor completely. After vacuuming, remove thebag from the vacuum, tie it tightly, and remove it from the premises ASAP. Remember, really infested bedding may have to be completely discarded. IMMEDIATELY THROW AWAY VACUUM BAG.
3. Attack the Bed Bugs Where They're Hiding
" t% O+ i. [6 [5 K* `" lHotSteam from an electric steamer is the next step in fighting bed bugs.After vacuuming, use a steam machine to get in all of the cracks,crevices, carpet and even on the bedroom furniture and mattresses.Anywhere you think they may be hiding. This will ensure that you gotmost of them prior to final treatment* e; ~+ V$ o7 A; k+ ^/ Y
. J# ~8 a* e* zTo get rid of bed bugseffectively, you've got to hit them hard where they're hiding--incracks and crevices. Spray Bug Patrol® and apply Fossil Shell Dust® onwall voids and under baseboards and in cracks and crevices, soak theareas thoroughly. V2 f( A$ {/ b4 o( J3 K# D
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Concentrate most of your efforts on vacuuming,steaming, and final bed bug killer & fossil shell dust to crack andcrevices. These are the areas where bed bugs hide.
4. Treat the Bed$ \$ V3 S7 S- M1 D
Thebed area needs to be treated next. Look carefully at the folds andseams of the mattress, the headboard, foot board (if present), boxspring/support platform, frame, etc. You will be able to see the bedbugs with the visible eye or the aid of a small magnifying glass. Usethe electric steamer to hit these areas hard. All cracks and crevicesof the bed structure should be treated for bed bugs with a lightapplication of Bug Patrol. Apply the spray on the tufts, folds andseams of the mattress. The underside of the box spring may be sprayedas well.
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" |6 J" |$ o q4 Y, F* BTIP:Cover the mattress with a mattress cover being careful not to make anytear holes in the new cover. Also spray a perimeter with Bug Patrolaround the bed floor as a repellant.
5. Treat the Furniture (Night Stand, Chests, Dressers, Couches and Chairs)/ P* v) C0 Z$ Q7 P. `8 L
Thelast step in bed bug elimination is to do a very thorough crack andcrevice treatment of the furniture in the room. For wooden furniturepieces, you cannot miss any cracks. Apply Bug Patrol and Fossil ShellDust to upholstered furniture, use a similar treatment as the mattressand box spring. Always turn bed bug infested furniture over and treatfrom the bottom. Look carefully underneath all the legs of thefurniture! Bed Bugs love to hide in the most unlikely places! Somefurniture may have hollow metal framing (children’s bunk beds are anexample). Treat inside the metal tubing with dusts, aerosols or liquidsas discussed in the bedding paragraph above.
6. Follow-up in 2 weeks!3 a2 Y$ \: x. l
VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM & STEAM EVERYTHING!
: x$ f4 A# F d4 Q1 hGettingrid of bed bugs is not easy. Inspect the treated room again in twoweeks. Do a thorough inspection (especially cracks and crevices) andcontinually treat any area where bed bugs are persisting or where theyhave moved.# n. |$ `2 k9 N- s
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TIP: Heavy bed bug infestations may need more than a second treatment. Be persistent!
