Bed bugs are a very difficult pest to get rid of fully once an infestation has occurred. They are excellent at hiding in tiny cracks and crevices and can go months without feeding. Their small size and resistance to many insecticides also makes them challenging to eliminate. While it may seem impossible to completely eradicate bed bugs, it can be done with diligence, patience, and using multiple treatment methods together.
Why are bed bugs so difficult to get rid of?
There are several reasons why bed bugs are able to stubbornly persist even after treatment efforts:
- They can survive up to a year without feeding – This allows them to outlast many insecticide residuals and other treatments aimed at killing them off.
- They hide extremely well – Bed bugs like to live in tiny cracks, crevices, and void spaces where treatments have difficulty reaching.
- Many populations are resistant to common insecticides – Certain bed bug populations have built up a resistance to pyrethroid and neonicotinoid type insecticides.
- They spread easily – A single pregnant female bed bug can start a major infestation. They move between rooms and units in multi-family dwellings.
- Eggs are unaffected by many treatments – While adult bed bugs may be killed, their eggs often survive to hatch into new bugs later.
These factors make bed bugs very stubborn. Even if 99% of the bugs are killed, the 1% that survives may be enough to rebound later. Full elimination involves killing off all bed bugs, including eggs and nymphs hidden out of sight.
Is it possible to fully get rid of bed bugs?
Yes, it is possible to fully eliminate a bed bug infestation, though it can be very difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Some of the keys to completely getting rid of bed bugs include:
- Using a combination of treatment methods – Relying on just insecticides or heat alone often does not get the job done. Layering multiple tactics provides the best control.
- Being extremely thorough – Every single crack and crevice in the room must be treated, even small voids in furniture, outlets, and baseboards.
- Follow up treatments – It often takes 2-3 treatments spaced 2 weeks apart to kill bugs that hatch later from eggs.
- Monitoring and patience – Continued inspection and trapping after treatment is essential to check for survivors.
- Preventing reintroductions – Stopping bed bugs from spreading back in again after treatment is also key.
With diligence using effective products, detailed inspection, and follow up monitoring, it is possible to eliminate 100% of a bed bug infestation. However, there is no “silver bullet” treatment and it involves a lot of hard work.
Treatment Methods That Can Eliminate Bed Bugs
There are several treatment methods that, when used together properly, can get rid of bed bugs fully:
Heat Treatments
Heating a room or entire home to lethal temperatures for bed bugs (over 120°F) will kill all stages. This method heats the entire structure and contents to eliminate any bugs hiding in cracks, voids, and furniture. Professional heat treatment involves heating the space with large fans and monitoring equipment.
Chemical Treatments
Insecticide applications combined with careful inspections to find where bed bugs hide can eliminate infestations. Typically 2-3 treatments spaced 2 weeks apart are needed to kill newly hatched nymphs. Insect growth regulators can help control juvenile stages. Resistance must be considered in choosing products.
Freezing Treatments
Exposing items or rooms to freezing temperatures below 0°F for several days can kill bed bugs and eggs. This method is often used for contents, clothing, books, etc if heat cannot be applied.
Steam
Using pressurized steam is effective for killing bed bugs directly on surfaces and inside cracks and crevices. Steam penetrates well but does not leave any residual, so multiple applications are necessary.
Vacuuming
Thorough vacuuming of cracks, crevices, seams, furniture, and possessions can remove bed bugs and eggs during treatment. Vacuums must be emptied carefully to avoid spreading live bugs.
Traps and Monitoring Tools
Traps, interceptors, and monitors that use attractants and adhesive can help confirm when bed bugs have been eliminated by capturing bugs still present after treatment. They can also protect furniture legs and bed posts to detect any survivors.
Discarding Infested Items
In severe infestations of cluttered spaces, it may be necessary to discard heavily infested furniture, mattresses, possessions to remove key harborage points.
Using combinations of these methods is key to getting rid of bed bugs fully. Relying on just one often leaves survivors. Heat, insecticides, steam, vacuuming, freezing, traps, and monitoring tools used together provide the best chance for complete elimination.
Tips for Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Successfully
Here are some top tips for fully eliminating a bed bug problem:
- Inspect thoroughly – Use a flashlight, magnifying glass, tools to find all bed bug hiding spots. Look along baseboards, seams, furniture, electronics.
- Focus on the bed – The bed frame, headboard, mattress are prime living spots for bed bugs – dismantle and treat it extremely thoroughly.
- Isolate the bed – Pull the bed away from the wall, use interceptors under legs to keep bugs from crawling off.
- Treat adjoining rooms – Bed bugs often spread to other bedrooms and common areas, treat these spaces proactively.
- Seal cracks and crevices – Caulk and seal gaps around baseboards, outlets, windows and doors to eliminate hiding spots.
- Encase mattresses – Covering mattresses and box springs in bed bug proof encasements traps bugs inside and makes treatment easier.
- Heat wash and dry items – Washing and drying clothes, bedding, curtains on hot settings above 120°F kills bed bugs and eggs.
- Trap survivors – Use monitoring traps and interceptors after treatment to detect any stragglers.
- Follow up 2-3 times – It often takes multiple treatments spaced 2 weeks apart to control hatching eggs.
- Discard heavily infested items – Get rid of irreparably infested mattresses, furniture, belongings.
Taking these proactive steps and using multiple control methods is the key to getting a full elimination of a bed bug problem. It takes hard work but it can be done with thoroughness, diligence, and persistence.
Signs That Bed Bugs Have Been Eliminated
How do you know for sure if you have gotten rid of bed bugs fully? Here are some signs that indicate success:
- No live or dead bed bugs found – After treatment, thorough inspections turn up no signs of living or dead bed bugs.
- No dark fecal spotting stains – The black or brown stained droppings of bed bugs are no longer present.
- No bites reported – You and other household residents no longer wake up with itchy welts from being bitten.
- Interceptors and traps are empty – Monitoring devices come up empty after being placed for a time post-treatment.
- No musty sweet smell – The distinctive musty odor caused by bed bug pheromones is no longer present in the room.
- Peace of mind – You can sleep easy at night knowing the bed bugs are gone.
Seeing a complete absence of any bed bug signs after thorough monitoring and trapping post-treatment is a reliable indicator that the infestation has been eliminated fully. You can feel confident that bed bugs are gone if no traces of them can be found weeks after the final treatment.
How Long Until You Know Bed Bugs Are Gone?
Most experts recommend waiting 4-6 weeks after the last treatment before being confident that bed bugs have been completely eliminated. This allows enough time for any eggs that may have survived to hatch and be detected by monitors and traps. Quickly seeing bed bugs reappear after thinking they were gone indicates the infestation was not fully eliminated the first time around.
It takes patience, but waiting at least 1-2 months before declaring full victory against bed bugs is wise. Continued inspection and monitoring provides confirmation over time. Rushing to put the room back together too soon can allow overlooked pockets of bed bugs to recover.
Preventing Bed Bugs From Coming Back
Once you manage to get rid of bed bugs, you want to keep them from infesting again. Here are some tips for preventing bed bugs from making a comeback:
- Inspect secondhand furniture carefully – Check any used furniture, beds, couches for signs of bed bugs before bringing them home.
- Seal up entry points – Caulk and seal all crevices where bugs could sneak in like baseboards, under doors, windows, electrical outlets.
- Use mattress and box spring encasements – Zippered encasements trap any bugs inside and prevent spread.
- Install traps and monitors – Early detection provides time to control any new infestations before they multiply.
- Act quickly at the first sign – Catching a minor infestation early makes treatment easier before it worsens.
- Limit travel exposure – When staying in hotels, inspect beds and keep luggage off the floor away from bed.
- Dry clean or hot wash after travel – Clean clothing and luggage items that could pick up bed bugs right after returning home.
Continued diligence is required to keep bed bugs from taking hold again after eliminating them. But taking preventive measures can help keep your home bed bug free after putting in all the hard work to get rid of them.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs When Moving
When moving to a new home, extra steps must be taken to ensure bed bugs are not brought along with your belongings:
- Inspect and declutter before packing – Check furnishings and possessions thoroughly for signs of bed bugs.
- Clean items with steam, soap and water – Scrub down belongings to remove bed bugs before boxed up.
- Seal items in plastic bins – Clear sealed containers prevent bugs from escaping in transit.
- Hire pest control to treat moving truck – Spray truck bed and seal off crevices to prevent spread.
- Unpack carefully into open space – Unpack directly into living room or garage, not the bedroom.
- Inspect as you unpack – Examine items carefully as they come out of boxes to detect any bed bugs.
- Dry clean or hot wash clothing – Heat treat clothing right away to kill any bugs.
Taking careful preventative packing steps can help stop bed bugs from hitching a ride to your new home during a move. This protects your new living space after getting rid of them at the previous one.
What to Do If Bed Bugs Persist After Treatment
If you continue finding bed bugs after treatment efforts, there are some steps to take:
- Inspect again even more thoroughly – Look in all rooms, along baseboards, underside of furniture, in appliances.
- Use a detection dog – Specially trained dogs can pinpoint bed bugs that may be overlooked visually.
- Switch to different treatment methods – If sprays fail, try heat, steam, or freezing, and vice versa.
- Apply treatments to a wider area – Expand the area being treated to adjoining rooms and spaces.
- Seal cracks and crevices better – Eliminate hiding spots with caulk, sealant, plaster.
- Discard problem furniture – Getting rid of infested beds, couches, clutter removes key harborage points.
- Hire a professional – A pest management professional may have access to different, stronger products.
Rebounding bed bugs may indicate areas that were missed or require alternate treatment methods. Persistence and expanding the scope of treatment is key to getting control of stubborn infestations. Getting rid of problem furniture also helps remove hiding spots.
When to Consider Professional Bed Bug Treatment
Difficult bed bug infestations often require calling in professional pest control. Signs that it may be time to hire a pest management professional include:
- Widespread infestation in multiple rooms
- Failed DIY treatment attempts
- Heavy clutter with many belongings
- Persons getting repeated bites
- Vulnerable residents such as elderly, children
- Busy households with frequent visitors
- Lack of time, health issues preventing self-treatment
Professionals have specialized tools, access to stronger insecticides, and experience getting rid of difficult bed bug cases. The costs of treatment by a reputable pest company is often worth it to end a stubborn infestation.
Conclusion
While it is very challenging, eliminating 100% of a bed bug infestation is possible with hard work, diligence, patience, and using a combination of effective treatment methods. It requires extensive inspection, repeated applications, sealing cracks, using monitoring tools, and often discarding infested furniture. Preventing reintroduction after treatment also requires ongoing vigilance. But through comprehensive, persistent effort, you can successfully get rid of bed bugs for good. With no sign of the bugs, bites, or odors, you can rest easy knowing your home is bed bug free.