The most common problem with DIY methods of finding and treating bed bugs is that people find home remedies online, some of which are complete nonsense, and they might even put off an effective professional treatment.
Common Pitfalls of DIY Bed Bug Treatments
These are some common pitfalls and bad advice that you may run into. Please, disregard them and keep an eye out for similar treatments online.
- Don’t throw out your furniture. This is an expensive way to react to a bed bug problem, and because bedding and furniture aren’t the only places that bed bugs live, it’s usually not effective. The bed bugs hiding in your carpets, walls, and baseboards will simply grow, reproduce, and re-infest your new furniture. This also poses a hazard to other people, who may unwittingly bring your infested furniture into their home.
- Don’t move out a of a house or room for a few days to try starving the bed bugs. Bed bugs can live up to a year without feeding!
- Some home pesticides are effective, but many aren’t. Also, some bed bug pesticides are meant to be quick acting while others take several days to have their effects. Do your research.
- Bed bug repellents are often a scam. Bed bugs haven’t been scientifically shown to have any reaction to most repellents.
More Viable Solutions to Bed Bug Problems
There are some preventative measures that are good deterrents, if you’re not already infested with bed bugs. Most of these methods won’t prevent bed bugs from reaching your house, and they won’t remove an infestation, but they can stop it from spreading. They can also keep your most valuable furniture, such as your mattress, from becoming an infestation hotspot.
- If you tape the legs of your bed, or put the legs in jars of soapy water, then bed bugs won’t be able to climb up into your bed. Make sure the mattress is pushed away from the walls though, and don’t let the sheets or pillows touch the ground.
- Frequently wash your clothes, and seal them in plastic bags to prevent bed bugs from crawling in.
- Spreading Diatamecous Earth can be a good preventative solution. It’s pet-safe and non-toxic, and comes in a powder marketed especially for bed bug control. Use it in the corners and along the walls of your home.
Putting too much trust in home remedies can be a costly mistake. If they don’t work, the problem is only getting worse while you wait, and a truly effective professional treatment will cost even more. Your health and well-being will also be at a greater risk, as you incur more and more bites.
Bringing in a Bed Bug Professional
A professional will be experienced in the battle against bed bugs, and he will have all the proper tools to make a treatment as effective and quick as possible. Just inquire into his experience to make sure he’s qualified, and make sure he’s not a regular exterminator. He needs to specialize in bed bug removal. A good professional will also never guarantee 100% effectiveness. If he’s experienced, he’ll know that such a guarantee isn’t honest or realistic. Consider a thorough canine detection scan as well. Bringing in a bed bug dog can ensure that the infested areas aren’t missed by the professional treatment methods.