How to Exterminate Bed Bugs

Most experts tend to agree that the only way the bed bug epidemic we've been experiencing will be brought under control is to call in a professional pest controller at the first sight of an infestation.

The are, however, a number of things you can do.

• Vacuum cleaning your house thoroughly will help to remove all bed bugs (both dead and alive) and any fecal matter and eggs
• Wash your clothes on hot settings. Put work clothes in the dryer for at least 30 minutes on high heat
• If budget permits, steam treatment is recommended for treatment of bed bugs. The mattress and box spring and sofa should also be steamed. This is a time consuming process, but steam kills all stages of bed bugs.
• Coat the bed legs with petroleum jelly and sprinkle bed bug powder around them
• Bed bug Powder: Dusting should be done behind switch plates, duplex receptacle plates, cable wire plates etc. Dusting should also be done in gaps in the base boards and other accessible voids.
  
• Purchase mattress encasements. Mattress and box spring covers specifically designed to exclude bed bugs should be used to salvage the mattress and box spring and protect them from future infestations:
• The use of bed bug spray can be used as a flushing agent to find suspected areas of activity where no live evidence is found. It is not recommended that this be used in wall voids as the spray can flush the bed bug further into the walls and perhaps into adjoining units
• Additional products you may find helpful: