30 Ways To Exterminate All Bed Bugs From The Home

1. How Do I Know I've Got Bed Bugs?

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Some individuals develop small itchy bumps similar to mosquito bites whilst others will suffer from puffy red legions, about the size of a quarter. A lucky few won't have any reaction at all. Other signs of bed bugs is blood stains on your sheets, blankets and pillows.

2. Move Beds Away From Walls

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To exterminate bed bugs, move any beds away from the walls (to isolate the beds) and wash the headboards with hot, soapy water. Rub gently so as to disturb any stubborn bugs and then dry with a rough towel. You may want to put the vacuum cleaner attachment over the headboards for good measure.

3. Mattress And Bed Frame

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After cleaning your vacuum bag out, get a thin hose attachment and vacuum everything. We are referring to the mattress, bed frame, box spring and the carpet.  Be sure to go over each section of the mattress 2 or 3 times, taking time to go along the sides and base of the bed frame.

4. Vacuum Floor And Carpets

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Finish your clean by vacuuming the floor and/or carpet areas at least three times.  The reason for this is to ensure you remove any adult bugs that could be hanging around your bed, ready to lay their eggs and we are talking thousands here in total which is pretty gross.

5. Don't Forget Walls And Dresser Drawers

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For an extra thorough clean, because you are probably feeling spooked out by the presence of these horrors, you should vacuum around the other parts of your room, like the walls, trims, moldings  and vents. Even your dresser drawers will benefit from a good vacuuming!

6. Discarding Of The Bed Bugs When Caught

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If possible, try using a HEPA vacuum or vacuum bag so the bed bugs can't climb out after they are sucked up. Dump the vacuum bag or bagless vacuum contents into a strong plastic bag and then tape the bag shut, throwing it into the trash. Then breathe a sigh of relief!

7. Suffocate The Bugs

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You could always literally suffocate the bed bugs with mattress covers and box spring covers. Slide the infested mattress and box spring into big, sturdy covers that are designed for bed bugs and/or dust mites. Seal the covers up tightly, inspecting them occasionally for any tears. If you do find a tear, repair it with duct tape.

8. Freeze The Bed Bugs Out

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Bed bugs can be killed off by cold temperatures but it does require a temperatures below -18°C (0°F) for at least 3-4 days so the cold can penetrate an object and kill all the bugs and their eggs. Smaller items that may contain bed bugs can be put in a strong plastic bag and kept in the freezer for the same time period.

9. Wash And Dry Infested Items On High Heat

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It's really important to wash infested items at a high temperature in your washing machine (linens and clothes). 140 degrees is recommended. Once the wash has completed,, transfer to the tumble dryer for 20 minutes, again on a really high heat.

10. Use As Many Wash Loads As Necessary

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 Use as many wash loads as necessary and don't overfill the washer because you need to w kill any bed bugs and eggs in your clothes, sheets and blankets. If your infested clothing or linens are already clean, then you should just stick them in the dryer rather than the washer.

11. What Other Items Should Be Treated?

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Every single thing in the bedroom needs to be treated and that means books, lamps, photo frames, power strips, clocks, magazines as well as every knick-knack and bric-a-brac item. If you choose not to treat a particular thing, then bag it, tie it up and throw outside in the trash.

12. Spread A Residual Powder

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It's unlikely that you'll be able to kill all the bed bugs with a bed bug spray and that’s where a residual powder insecticide comes into play. It will kill any bugs that wander through the powder. Skip the open areas and instead spray the powder into those places where you think they will be traveling to and from, such as near bed legs and under baseboard trim.

13. Steam Clean Infested Furniture

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You should steam clean infested furniture by hiring a professional steam cleaner and use it on your sofas, armchairs and other upholstered items. If you move the steam cleaning nozzle slowly, taking 20 seconds to cover each square foot of space, this will ensure you do a thorough job.

14. Seal Openings In Infested Rooms

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Inspect surrounding walls for openings or any cracks that bed bugs could possibly get through. Fill in these openings with a silicone based sealant and this will keep more of the pests at bay. Any crack within 15 feet of the infestation will need to be sealed up. You should never cut corners if you want to totally eradicate the bed bugs.

15. What If You Are Allergic To Chemicals?

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Insecticides may be an effective way to exterminate bed bugs but it's not the only way. If someone in your home is highly sensitive to chemicals or you are just not crazy about spraying chemicals in your bedroom, then you can kill the little blood suckers with heat. Temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit should kill all stages of bed bugs.

16. Whole House Heat Treatment

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Professional heat treatment is probably one of the least invasive ways to get rid of bed bugs. Large heaters are used to heat entire rooms up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for a few hours. Unfortunately, these heaters are expensive and treating a whole house can cost thousands of dollars.

17. Seal Screw And Nail Holes

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Look for any small openings around your living space such as open screw or nail holes. It really is true that bed bugs can hide in there. Even though it is a fiddly job, spray inside all of these areas and then seal up and paint over. You need to make sure you cover all bases.

18. Throw Out Infested Items

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If your sofa is still overrun with bed bugs even after multiple rounds with the vacuum and steam cleaner then it might be better to cut your losses and get rid of the couch. Be sure to destroy the furniture so no one is tempted to grab it for themselves and take it home with them.

19. Stick Smaller Unsalvageable Items In Sturdy Trash Bag

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You should stick smaller, unsalvageable items in a strong plastic trash bag. Then be sure to tape an “infested with bed bugs” label to the bag so that other people, like your neighbors and trash collectors, know what's in there. Don't be embarrassed. It's more common than you think.

20. Check Infested Rooms Weekly

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Check infested rooms ever week to see if progress is being made in getting rid of them. Inspect the hot spots to see if you notice any visible critters, staining or skins (sorry)! Bed bugs are very persistent pests so you should not be discouraged if you don’t see results immediately

21. Call In The Professionals

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If your bed bugs don't go away after treating them a few times, then it's time to call in the professionals. Get recommendations first and look at reviews because you will be shelling out a tidy sum  Bear in mind that professional bed bug extermination will require at least a couple of treatments.

22. You'll Needs A Follow-Up

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Once you've had in the professionals to eradicate the issue, be sure to arrange a follow up session. Treatment is not a "one and done." Pest control professionals have many thorough and effective extermination options for you to choose from, like pressurized CO2 snow and heat treatment systems.

23. Bed Bugs in Apartments

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Sorry to put this thought in your head but bed bugs might be migrating from your neighbor's apartment into yours. You should call your property management company and insist they inspect the apartments on either side of you, above and below, to figure out the quickest way to get rid of bed bugs for good.

24. Bed Bugs In A Hotel

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Hotels are a very common source of bed bugs, even the best hotels. When you get to your hotel room, even if you can't see the mites, keep your clothes and luggage away from the bedspread and floor. Hang up your clothes and keep other clothes in your suitcase and not in the dresser drawers.

25. Bag Up Your Stuff in Hotel

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Keep suitcases in large, tied bags and bag up daily items such as shoes and wallets. Dirty clothes should be bagged when transporting to the washing machine and transport them directly to the washing machine upon return. You should wipe luggage down with alcohol or spray with insecticide if you see bed bugs.

26. Some Chemicals Might Not Work

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Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are thought to be ineffective in treating modern bed bug strains. Also, bedding fabrics that have been marketed as being impregnated with those chemicals are unlikely to be effective in getting rid of the full infestation, both bugs and eggs.

27. Desiccants Are More Effective

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You should find DED's are an effective option against bed bugs. They have several advantages including a long shelf life, low toxicity to animals and better for those who are sensitive to various products. Also, they can be used as a preventative measure for peace of mind.

28. What NOT To Do

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Once you realise you have an infestation don't panic and then immediately reach for the insecticide spray. Keep calm and make a plan, getting advice from an EPA registered advisor. If you rush on in there you could find yourself using hazardous and ineffective products.

29. DO NOT ....

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Don't apply pesticides to the body and don't rub alcohol, kerosene or gasoline on any objects, to get rid of the bed bugs, as this could start a fire. There's also no point in putting the items out in the sun to burn the bugs away as the heat from the rays will not be enough to do this.

30. Bed Bug Myths

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Bed bugs are found in every State in America and they can affect anyone in any place. They are, however, more common in urban areas. The bugs do not spread disease and are no less common in an unsanitary environment than in a clean property. That's a myth. Early treatment is the best strategy.

31. Signs of pest infestation you need to watch out for: dead bugs in the house

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Bed bugs aren't the only pests you have to worry about in your home, after all! Now you know how to watch out for bed bugs, what about the rest of your home? If you're finding quite a few dead bugs in your house, it means they're living a life long enough to die there!

32. Active pests you keep finding

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Of course, you can find pests in your home that are still alive, too - it all depends how many you're finding, and how frequently, to suggest an infestation. If it's happening all the time and you keep finding them alive, it could be a sign you need to double check where they might be coming from!

33. Droppings

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Droppings are a key sign of many different types of infestations in your home, whether that's mice, rats, other rodents or bugs. Pay attention to what you're seeing on the floor if you do clean up so that you can easily spot droppings, and try to clean up more often so that you're more likely to catch stuff like this sooner.

34. Evidence of nests

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Rats and mice in particular will happily make nests in your home with whatever they can find, so if you suspect you might have pests or have found one nest, it's time for a thorough search for anymore! Make sure to check nooks and spaces you wouldn't usually, like behind large appliances or in attic spaces.

35. Pest control products that came with the house!

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If you've only just recently bought or rented a new property, and suspect there might be a pest problem (which unfortunately you might be able to spot before you sign the deal to move in!) a good indicator is checking under the sink or cleaning cupboard to see if there are any pest products. If there are, the previous tenants or owners have obviously had an issue (that might not have been sorted).

36. Weird smells

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Pests each actually have a very strong smell that can oftentimes be unique to them. If you're smelling anything out of the ordinary in your home all of a sudden, it's worth investigating. Bed bugs are said to have a musty odor; rats smell similar to ammonia; mice smell like urine, and roaches can smell a bit oily!

37. Even weirder sounds!

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You can use more than one of your senses to detect activity of pests! A huge sign can be sudden noises you're hearing in your home that don't have any other explanation, and especially obvious noises like scuffling, claw sounds or even squeaks! These scratching sounds in your walls or in the ceiling are what you want to listen out for.

38. Chew marks

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This is one of the most obvious signs you'll likely not miss. Pests like mice or rats will go to town when they're gnawing on things, and it'll usually be things that you'll notice, like electrical wires, food packaging or boxes. You might also notice nibble marks on baseboards.

39. Marks or tracks that look like grease

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The good thing about pests (if you can say there is a good thing!) is that they're very set in their routines, which can be their downfall! Because mice and rats like to track the very same path, day after day, they'll soon work out grease marks or track marks on where they're exploring, so it'll be easier for you to spot.

40. Wood that sounds hollow when you tap it

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If you have a lot of wood in your home, like wooden beams, wooden floors and even wooden furniture, then termites are the pests you're likely most on guard for. If any sort of wood in your home sounds hollow when you knock or tap it, it can be a sign that termites have been at it and destroyed some of the wood.

41. Holes in wood

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Another sign of termites on your wood that you really want to watch out for is holes. This will be when they manage to completely destroy through a piece of wood and leave a large hole behind, or maybe just the evidence of a hole being started on your floor or any other wooden structure.

42. Sagging wood

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Another key sign of termite activity, which can happen over time if the pest problem has been left for so long that they've had time to feast, is sagging wood. This can most likely happen on real wood flooring. The wood will begin to sag when the termites have destroyed enough of it in certain areas, and it's starting to lack the support it once had.

43. Termite droppings (tan colored)

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If you're worried you're not going to notice termites directly, another thing you can look out for is termite droppings. We already said dropping are a key indicator of rodent or other pet problems, but with termites, you'll want to specifically look for tan colored droppings rather than brown or black.

44. The neighbors have had pest issues

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If you have a neighboring property that's very close to yours, or even attached to yours, then you might want to check with them if they've had pest problems. Or maybe they mentioned it to you in passing conversation. If their problem was big enough, there's always a risk it could also affect your property - especially if the pests can burrow between walls or through attic spaces.

45. You can contact the former tenants/owners

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If you've recently bought or rented your property and you're seriously worried about signs of pests that you've noticed, you might also be able to contact the previous tenants if you have their information. They could help you understand if they ever had any issues, or whether they 100% sorted a pest problem before they left!

46. Your home is close to something unkempt outside

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If your property is close to a patch of land outside that may have something to attract pests (a dump, a garbage heap, untidy neighbors, or maybe even public land where pests can thrive) then there's a risk they could get into your home. Living close to nature and the countryside and having your doors and windows open a lot can also be a risk.

47. Your home has damaged plants

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If you have a garden or outside space, signs of damaged plants can also be an indication of a pest problem - and depending on what it is, it could eventually move from the garden to inside the house... or both! You can usually tell if a pest has been gnawing at a plant, and there might also be tracks or trails from plant to plant.

48. Or patches on your lawn

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If you have a lawn in your garden, this can also help you to better identify if you have a pest problem based on the appearance of it. While we all wish we could have a fresh green lawn all the time, problems such as uneven grass and large brown circular patches could be a sign of pests and not just bad lawn care!

49. You might have mole holes!

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One of the most obvious signs of pest damage in your garden is of course that infamous mole hole! If you have a mole problem in your garden, you'll definitely know about it - but the longer you leave it, the more it will become a problem. They target grass because they want the insects and bugs that live there!

50. You might also have ant hills

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Speaking of mounds in your garden - you might end up battling with an ant hill instead of a mole hill. It's more likely you'll find these on the edges of your garden, near to fences, and it's likely you'll see ants constantly traveling in and out. If these are too close to your front or back doors then it's always a risk they could traverse inside!