How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs For Good (Permanent Elimination)

If you have been surprised by an unexpected bed bug infestation then no doubt you are trying to decide on the best way to get rid of them. In this article, we cover five of the most effective ways you can get rid of any pesky bed bugs that have taken over your home, and eliminate them for good.

1. Reduce Hiding Spots And Cut Down On Clutter

If bed bugs have nowhere to hide or dwell, they’ll have nowhere to lay their eggs. Therefore, consider removing anything unneeded, such as old newspapers, magazines, or unused clothing.

Bed bugs are attracted to clutter, so they often congregate in dark crevices, which give them a hiding place before they emerge to feed. Besides, use caulk to seal cracks around the baseboards, furniture, and anywhere else where bed bugs could be lurking.

Also, if you are going to buy secondhand furniture before then it pays to inspect it before you bring it into your home. Appropriate covers for your bed can be very effective in preventing bed bugs from infesting your bed. These covers have a zipper closure which will seal off the bed bugs from the rest of your bed and can also make it easier to spot them if they’re already present.

2. Clean The Infested Space

Although bed bugs can be small and hard to spot, it’s important to clean your home thoroughly as you inspect for any signs of an infestation. Wash everything (bedding, pajamas, etc) in hot water and dry it on the hottest setting you can. This will kill any bedbugs and also kill their eggs at the same time. If you can, wash your clothing in hot water and iron them thereafter.

You will need to vacuum your entire home, including any furniture, to remove bedbugs that are present in those locations. Bed bugs can also hide in carpet fibers, so several rounds of vacuuming may be necessary to remove them completely. If your vacuum is a bagged vacuum, then chuck out that vacuum bag afterward. If you chuck out the bag, then the bed bugs could potentially get out of the bag and reinfest your home, wasting all the effort you put into cleaning and fumigation.

3. Use Heat To Kill Bedbugs

Bedbugs are susceptible to high temperatures, so you can use a clothes dryer on the highest heat setting or iron/steam-clean to kill them. However, read the label first to ensure the excess heat won’t damage your precious belongings. You can also place any infested items in a black plastic bag and leave them in the sun for a few hours.

Using heat can only get rid of bugs that dwell in areas that can be heated. But a majority of hiding places can’t be steam or ironed-cleaned. Professional pest control companies can use industrial steamers to heat-treat your entire home to control bed bug infestation.

Heat is a component of most bed bug removal practices.

4. Use Chemicals To Kill Bed Bugs

There are chemicals available for purchase online and from hardware stores. These pesticides can be effective at killing bedbugs, but you should only use an approved product and follow the instructions with care. These products can be hazardous when used indoors.

Some of the best chemicals for home use include:

  • Pyrroles, which are effective against bedbugs but have low toxicity for humans
  • Neonicotinoids, a synthetic form of nicotine that is effective against bedbugs but is highly toxic to bees
  • Pyrethroids and pyrethrins extracted from chrysanthemum flowers
  • Biochemicals, specifically cold-pressed neem oil
  • Insect-growth regulators, impact the growth process of bugs

You should always follow the instructions when using these chemicals, as they can be dangerous if misused. You should also take care not to use them near food or children’s toys.

5. Hire A Professional

If you’re not comfortable using chemicals or heat to kill bedbugs, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. Pest control companies have the experience and equipment necessary to get rid of bedbugs quickly and safely. When they come to your home, the pest control professionals will do the following:

  • Confirm the infestation
  • Inspect your entire home for bedbugs, including in cracks and crevices, behind wallpaper, and in any other hiding spots.
  • Treat your home using a combination of heat treatment, pesticides, and vacuuming
  • Remove any infested items from your home and treat them to prevent the bedbugs from spreading
  • Check the treatment to check whether it was successful
  • Give you advice on how to prevent future infestations

Some companies may also offer a warranty in case the bedbugs come back. They give a repeat treatment for free if the bedbugs return within a certain period. This can give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to deal with the problem again.

Our Preferred Option

We typically recommend you get a professional in to do the job. Not only will it be much easier on you personally, but the quality of cleaning you are going to get and the peace of mind will be much greater.

Though we acknowledge for some, the cost of getting this done is prohibitive and you need to consider DIY approaches.