Exterminators are often asked “What is the best way to get rid of bed bugs?”
Bedbug Feeding
The answer may be different methods depending upon the treatment environment. There are basically three main treatment techniques that exterminators employ or at least a combination of these techniques.
The first way would be a full premise bed bug heat treatment where the home or office environment temperature is raised to over 120 degrees F for several hours thus destroying all the life stages of the bed bugs including their eggs. This is the most convenient and quickest way to ensure bed bugs are eliminated in a “green” manner.
The second method would be to use Cryonite or the bed bug freezing method to eliminate the bed bugs. This involves using a Cryonite machine that turns CO2 into a snow like consistency that you apply to the bed bugs and their eggs.
The final type of treatment would be a bed bug chemical treatment. This is where insecticides are applied to surfaces and injected into cracks and crevices to eventually poison the bed bugs. These chemicals can be in the form of liquids, aerosols and powders. Physical types of pest control treatments such as steamers and vacuums may be used in conjunction with the chemical treatment. It is usually recommended that bed bug mattress encasements be installed on the mattresses and box springs to minimize the use of chemicals in and around the beds.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these types of treatments which we will try to explain below.
|
Treatment Type |
Convenience |
Effectiveness |
Chemical Free |
Residual Control |
Residence Commercial |
Expense |
|
Heat Treatment |
Most Convenient. Little to no preparation. Some items such as aerosols and items that melt need to be removed. |
100 % effective in most cases the same day. Clutter is okay as long as the heat can circulate around the items. |
No chemicals needed. 100% green pest control solution. |
No residual control |
Can be used residentially or commercially subject to fire sprinkler systems. |
Even though heat treatments are the most convenient and quickest way to eliminate bedbugs it can be the most expensive. |
|
Treatment Type |
Convenience |
Effectiveness |
Chemical Free |
Residual Control |
Residence Commercial |
Expense |
|
Cryonite Treatment |
Medium Convenience. Clutter will be a problem because Cryonite needs to hit every bed bug and their eggs. |
Can be effective the same day but is very subject to technician error. Clutter is a real big problem. Hard to treat interior wall voids and inside cushions and mattresses. |
No chemicals needed. 100% green pest control solution. |
No residual control |
Most effective in stark environments such as hospitals and classrooms. Residentially effective if every area can be accessed and serviced. |
Can be expensive especially when used in conjunction with Canine inspections. |
|
Treatment Type |
Convenience |
Effectiveness |
Chemical Free |
Residual Control |
Residence Commercial |
Expense |
|
Chemical Treatment |
Least Convenient. Lots of preparation and laundering of clothes and bedding. Items cannot be returned to shelves and dressers until house is declared free of bed bugs. |
Most treatments take 2-4 weeks to be determined bed bug free. At least one follow-up inspection / treatment is recommended |
A lot of chemicals are usually needed to achieve control. These chemicals will need to be placed inside furniture. Bed frames and wall voids. |
30 days to 6 months residual control depending upon which products are used. |
Cannot be used in schools unless there is a 72 hour reentry period. Limited use is health related environments. Limited use for residences where there are people with health problems and new born children. |
Although not inexpensive it can be the least costly way to treat for bed bugs. Usually mattress encasements are recommended with chemical applications which will raise the cost. There will be a big laundry bill and lots of preparation time required. |
Summary: There are a lot of options today in the treatment of bed bugs. Each has their unique way of eliminating bed bugs. Some are more convenient, quicker and “greener” than others. Other methods offer a longer residual control which can be advantageous in multi-tenant dwellings or where re-infestation is likely to occur. As an informed consumer it is best to research these methods and get multiple estimates before deciding which way is the best way to eliminate your bed bug problem. And of course - The best way to control bed bugs is never get them so prevention is the key!
Kevin O’Connor
President / Entomologist
Eliminex Pest Control Inc.