What You Shouldn’t Do with Bed Bugs
To understand the infestation – BEFORE the treatment process
Many people will insist they have an infestation of bed bugs just by looking at new bite marks on their bodies. You should not assume that just any bite like mark on your body means that your home is infested with bed bugs. A physical sighting or sample of the adult bed bug or egg should be seen or caught to make sure that you have bed bugs. If you are unable or unknowledgeable to do your own inspection for bed bugs, professional pest management should be called to do a thorough inspection of your home. Bed bugs are known to be tiny specimens that can hide virtually anywhere, therefore, it will be very hard to see them on your own unless you know where you are looking.
Treating properly
If you know you are infested…
- Try not to panic - Yes, bed bugs are a nuisance. And Yes, we understand there is a heavy taboo on bed bugs in recent times. However, with the careful use of the correct insecticides and patient and consistent treatment, bed bugs can be safely and fully eradicated.
- Don’t throw away usable furniture - You don’t need to waste your money and throw away infested furniture. A common misconception is that all infested furniture must be thrown away. PestMall.com provides products like Bedlam Bedbug Insecticide Spray that can be sprayed onto the furniture. It is completely possible that all furniture can be cleaned and treated.
- No Mix and Match - You should always be careful not mix infested clothing or items with non-infested items. Bed bugs can easily hide and move to and from any item that can carry them.
Thorough Treatment
Before applying any pesticide, you must understand what you are applying. This also means understanding all the risks that may be involved. The product label must be reviewed thoroughly before you apply the pesticide. A lot doesn’t always mean better. A planned schedule and treatment process will always be more effective than just randomly applying the pesticide or over-applying pesticides. Also, pesticides should not be applied to common spaces where the public will frequently come on contact with, for instance, the common lounge of an apartment building. This will prevent accidental medical traumas. If you know these areas are infested, the landlord or building manager should be notified so that they can make arrangements to have a professional pest management company come in to inspect and to treat accordingly. Do not use non-labeled materials to get rid of bed bugs. For instance, alcohol, will not effectively eradicate bed bugs. If bed bugs are listed on the product label and there is a valid Material Data Safety Sheet available for that product, then it may be good to use for treatment. Seek professional aid when you are selecting professional pest control products.
Thursday, 25. February 2010 17:08
what is shell dust for.
Saturday, 27. February 2010 14:59
I believe you are talking about Fossil Shell Dust.
I do not have Fossil Shell Dust, per se, but it’s basically same with Mother Earth D diatomaceous earth powder.
To make it brief, both powder are fossilized skeletal remains of single celled phytoplankton commonly referred to as diatoms,
and they both work by dehydrating the insects.
Mother Earth actually has twice the coverage surface areas (meaning with the same 8oz bottle, Mother Earth will last much longer),
so I think it’s better product than the Fossil Shell Dust.
Not only they kill bedbugs, but also many other crawling pests including:
Ants, Cockroaches, Earwigs, Fleas, Mites, Spiders and others.
Wednesday, 24. March 2010 11:07
heres my question i have dogs and just found bed bugs in a spare room alos were dogs sleep but found only bed bugs on bed , its a guest room , but my dogs bedding shows no signs of bugs nor do my dogs look irritated
Thursday, 25. March 2010 11:52
Bed Bugs are more attracted to human than dogs. They will only bite dogs when there’s no human host to be found.
Since we know that the guest room is infested, you want to treat that room.
And you do want to inspect / treat the entire house. They can travel via electric circuits,
so it’s highly likely that if one room is infested, the entire house is infested as well.
Use dusters near the electric circuits and electronics. We recommend Mother Earth or Delta Dust with Bellowbulb Duster to reach hard to reach areas and inside the circuits.
For the bed, use either Steri-Fab Spray or Bedlam Aerosol. Completely soak the mattress with either one of them, and let it dry. Then, seal it up with bedbug mattress encasement. You would want to seal up the box spring with box spring encasement as well. In between the mattress and the box spring, dust the Mother Earth around the edges.
On the carpets, use Cyonara 9.7 or Masterline Bifenthrin mixed with Gentrol IGR and water and completely soak the areas you would want to treat. After that, you would want to let it dry (about 5 – 6 hrs).
Vacuum the area and refresh the air once dried. Then, let it dry completely. Vacuum the area and refresh the air.
Also, use dusts to treat the base of the wall. Simply remove the skirting of the wall,
dust the baseboard and around the void, and seal it back up.
Other things you would want to do:
Wash your clothes in really hot water (I’m not talking about just hot water. I mean boiling hot) or
use Nuvan Pro Strips in a sealed bag with all your cloths. Leave it like that for at least 24 hours. Then, remove the cloths and wash them.
Throw away your sofe if it is also infested. There’s no clear cut solution for sofa infestation.
Repeat your treatment in two weeks after the initial treatment.
I wish you a good luck.
Monday, 4. October 2010 2:26
Are you saying that a sofa that has any evidence of bedbugs, however minor, should be thrown away? I have a very expensive custom sofa and would like to salvage it if I can do so safely.
Monday, 4. October 2010 2:37
Are you saying that a sofa that has evidence of bed bugs, however minor, has to be discarded? I have a very expensive sofa with only minor evidence of bed bugs. Is there anything that I can do which will effectively treat the very early stage of bed bug contact with the sofa?
Monday, 4. October 2010 13:58
Hello,
If you have found bed bugs on your sofa,
we recommend treating the perimeter of the sofa with MotherEarth D.
Also, treat the sofa with Bedlam Insecticide.
It will kill any bed bugs on contact while being safe to apply the Bedlam onto your sofa.
It is important to stay very consistent with your treatments.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask again.
Monday, 13. December 2010 11:57
my hsb is driving home from out of state & sayes he saw bed bugs where he stayed last night. Will below zero temps kill the bugs if left outside with open travel bags & windows left down on his vehicle?
Tuesday, 14. December 2010 16:25
Hi Cathy,
There are some studies with bed bugs being eliminated with cold temperatures, however heat tends to work more effectively than the cold. With cold temperature treatment it is recommended that you leave it out in the cold for several days. It is not something that will happen over night. Your best bet would be to use something like BedLam and thoroughly spray the luggage, and inside of the vehicle. Bedlam contains a 2 week residual time so it will continue to carry its killing effect for up to 2 weeks. I hope this information was of some help. Good Luck!
Monday, 10. January 2011 16:14
Do bedbugs ever get in your hair
Thursday, 13. January 2011 17:17
Hello! That’s a good question. Actually, bed bugs can not stay in the hair. They might get in the hair but their bodies are incapable of placing itself so that they can feed or navigate. This may be why it’s common for people to get bites on their face because bed bugs will remove themselves from the hair and go to areas of just skin that are close to the hair. If they were to be in the hair, they would just washed out or get stuck and die. They wouldn’t be able to survive in hair. I hope that answered your question!
Monday, 17. January 2011 14:18
Can bed bugs live in your carpets and if so where and how can you get rid of them
Monday, 17. January 2011 17:17
Bed bugs can “live” anywhere and travel via almost anything. However, they need blood to survive and reproduce so they’re main focus is to find a host to feed on. However, there are aerosol sprays and liquid concentrates you can use to treat carpet areas. Our Bed Bug Kit for 2 Rooms that our technicians put together actually include both those and a dust product as well. Dust products are good for areas like the electrical outlets or switches and areas of very little or no traffic. We have a basic beg bug kit that does not include the aerosol however, is effective for small areas. All our kits also include an insect growth regulator (IGR). IGRs are crucial in that they will control the reproduction of bed bugs. After using any type of liquid insecticide (both aerosol and concentrates), the treated area should be left alone to dry before you can touch those areas again. I hope this helped you, you can always call us to talk to a representative for more details!
Sunday, 27. February 2011 7:00
can we use lysol or pinesol n a vacuum to get rid of the bedbugs
Friday, 4. March 2011 9:39
I have been battling bed bugs for about a year. I haven’t found one in several months since I encased the mattress and box springs in bed bug covers. I have also bought a steamed and have been steaming the hard wood floors and base boards every 2 weeks. Should I remove the baseboards and steam? I have not seen them anywhere else in house. I believe that my step son brought them in but his mom swears they don’t have them. I don’t allow him to bring any clothing anymore. I think I may have won this battle since I bought the steamer, but should I start steaming the whole house?
Friday, 4. March 2011 17:16
Hello Chelle. Granted, Lysol or Pinesol may drown a few bedbugs on contact, however, it will definitely NOT be effective for bed bug control. Bed bugs are known to reproduce quickly and using these household products provides no residual for control. Residual time means that even after an insecticide dries, it continues to have a killing effect. Basically, neither Lysol or Pinesol will do you any good. ALSO, its unsafe. If you use this in areas where you will come in contact with often, your skin can become irritated or you may inhale excess amounts of fumes. I hope that helped you! Good Luck!
Friday, 4. March 2011 18:33
Hi Mary,
That’s a good question. If you would like to steam the whole house there would be nothing to loose. However bed bugs usually reside where ever there is lots of human presence. Therefore you will most likely see them in just the bedroom and family room areas. Thats great that you’re not seeing them around the house much, but don’t let your guard down yet. There are occasions where the bed bugs stay in hiding for a couple months and begin to re infest the area. It’s always to be safe then sorry (: Good luck with your treatment!
Wednesday, 16. March 2011 19:19
How long can person live with, be bitten by,
and MENTALLY be healthy with these creatures?
Thursday, 17. March 2011 10:52
Hello, we resently stayed at a hotel and came down with what we think is bed bugs, and also we think we brought them home because my gf keeps getting these bites all over her mid section. They are so itchy for her and yet i dont have one bite on my body. We cleaned all of our clothes, the sheets and pillow cases, vaccuumed the whole room and cleaned the walls with bleach and water, and we still think that we still have them around. Can you please give us a sugestion on what our next step could be to try and get rid of these nasty bugs?
Monday, 4. April 2011 17:34
I suppose it depends upon personal tolerance. Sorry if you are dealing with a bed bug problem, but if it makes you feel any better there are many other people who are in the same boat who understand the insanity these small creatures can cause. Good news is that after consistency and continual treatment, they will go away (:
Monday, 4. April 2011 17:56
Well there is a possibility that the bed bugs are biting you too, but you just don’t have an allergic reaction to their anesthetic saliva. For bed bug treatment you will first need to start by encasing both your mattress and box spring. Afterwards we recommend that you begin chemical treatment. However during the chemical treatment consistency is the key so you should be careful to follow the instructions as directed on the product label. Different pesticides contain different residual time so it may require you to re treat the area at different times.
All of the bed bug kits on PestMall.com have been specially put together by our professional exterminators.
Good Luck!
Monday, 11. April 2011 11:06
I found a single bedbug in my room. I was in the city yesterday at the theater, (NYC). Today I have checked everywhere and don’t find any trace of other bugs. What should I do at this point????
Tuesday, 19. April 2011 15:31
Can bed bug bites be spread from one person to another, as I heard some say that using a washcloth can spread the rash/ bites? Can a dog be affected by bed bugs?
Brian
Wednesday, 20. April 2011 12:46
Hi Pete,
Sometimes after one feeding the bed bug will not come out for several months. However during those several months they usually begin to reproduce in numbers. It is my best recommendation that you first encase your mattress and box spring. Following those steps a thorough treatment with different pesticides would be highly recommended for different pesticides treat different areas for a thorough coverage. With all that being said, the best way to begin would be to first encase your mattress and box spring! (:
Tuesday, 26. April 2011 10:40
Although continual research and tests are being done for bed bug bites, it has not yet been proven that bite symptoms can be indirectly transferred. Bed bugs feed on warm blood and can feed on dogs. However they have a hard time crawling through hair so it is possible that your pets can be bitten near the stomach area where there is less hair. The way that the bed bugs are shaped makes it difficult for them to crawl through hair, which is different from lice.
Sunday, 29. May 2011 18:44
My daughter-ni-law has been enting an apartment for almost a year now. She recently found bed bugs in her bedroom and the kids room ! Could the bed bugs hae been there before she moved in ? The girls have been getting bites off anf on for about 8 to 9 months now. Her apts are making her pay for the extermination and adjoining condos. Is it legal for the apts to make her pay for this ! It’s costing her $1,200.00 and has to pay for a hotel room while this is being done. Now we’re afraid of more bed bugs from the hotel even though it’s a top rated hotel. Do I need to throe away the comforter I made I made for my grand-daughter ? Is there any safe way to keep it ?
Tuesday, 31. May 2011 9:33
Hello Elise. As far as the legality of the situation, it will all depend on what your lease agreement or contract states. However, I may be wrong but, I don’t think I have ever heard of a situation where a person would have to pay for the treatment of the adjoining condos as well. Also, it is possible that the apartment had beg bugs before she moved in. Also, you are correct. Even if it is a top rated hotel, they are just as likely to have bed bugs. Finally, you do not need to throw away the comforter. You can treat the comforter with a spray like Steri-Fab and once its dried, hot water wash and dry the comforter. Spraying it is safe as long as you leave it alone to dry. Once Steri-fab is dry, it is safe to come in contact with. Keep in mind though that Steri-Fab is a contact kill spray that does not have a killing effect after it dries. Therefore, as soon as it is dried, it is okay to wash it. I hope that helped you! Good Luck to you and your family.
Tuesday, 28. June 2011 10:31
i hear hat bed bugs will not bite you if ur awake how true is that? & how long after they bite u do it show.
Tuesday, 28. June 2011 17:31
That is false. Bed bugs will bite you while you are awake as long as you do not startle it, move around too much and shake it off, or etc. If allowed, they will definitely bite while you are awake or asleep. Since everyone reacts differently to bug bites, it will depend. Sometimes, reactions are seen immediately and other times, it will take several hours before reactions show up.
Wednesday, 6. July 2011 1:05
Hey!
Have been bitten by bedbug 3 weeks back and then 1 week back it was worst with almost 15 bites. Found 2 adult bbs and few very tiny ones and couple of eggs on the box spring. We sprayed RAID out of panic. Terminix guy inspected and said it is activity and nothing to panic abt. But they have not shown up for taking care of it inspite of calling multiple times. They might show up in another day or 2. I have lost my sleep since last Thursday when we first discovered them. Wondering how bad will it get by 6-7 days of treatment delay?
Wednesday, 6. July 2011 17:24
One of the worst things to do about any pest problem is freaking out! Don’t worry; as long as you treat it properly and are patient, you will be fine. For starters, detach your bed by at least 1 foot from the surrounding walls so that bed bugs can’t escape into the wall voids. 6-7 days of no treatment isn’t the greatest thing, but it’s not going to make the problem absolutely horrible and horrendous. Since Terminix seems to be unhelpful (you should file a complaint!) for you, I recommend that you take matters into your own hands. Purchase a bed bug kit or multiple products and treat this problem on your own if you are up for it! It will save you a lot of money in the long run (and a lot of patience!). Here is a link to all of the bed bug products we offer: http://www.pestmall.com/bed-bug-control-products/.
I don’t think it would help you if I listed out all the products and what they did, so I’ll just tell you what you need. You want AT LEAST an IGR and liquid pesticide. I know aerosol pesticides are effective too, but they just don’t last as long and don’t cover as much area. Dust products are also good to apply around your bed and in the wall voids. I also highly recommend buying a mattress and box spring encasement. Let me know if you have any questions about any products in particular; I’d be glad to help!
Thursday, 7. July 2011 23:24
I have been getting bitten since about may. I have checked a couple of times but did not see any bed bugs. Tonight I checked and saw 4 right at the top of the box spring on the side of the bed I sleep on. How many more bugs do you think are out there? Does this indicate I may be badly infected with bed bugs since I easily saw 4 and know I’ve been bitten for about two months now?
Friday, 8. July 2011 16:51
Hi Worried,
Why did you let these pests bite you for so long?!? You must have suffered so much because of them! I’m really sorry to hear you have bed bugs. Unfortunately, since you have gone two months without treatment, this infestation of yours may be a bit too big to handle on your own now. Seeing four bed bugs is actually not that bad, but considering how you keep getting bitten and how it’s been so long, there are probably at least a few others living nearby. For now, call your exterminator! If they inspect your home and say you actually have a pretty mild infestation, then feel free to contact us at 1-800-788-4142 so we can try to suggest the best bed bug products to you. Good luck!
Friday, 15. July 2011 3:47
My arms upper arms have multiple bites. I purchased Bonide bedbug spray and sprayed my sheet with it; however, the bedbug activity only got worse. Will setting off insect “bombs” in the house help? I am at my wits end. I can feel when they bite, because it is a stinging sensation. What can I do, and what product do you recommend? Someone told me to spray my mattress and bedding with bleach and 91% alcohol.
Monday, 18. July 2011 10:55
Hi Anita,
One of the most important factors to bed bug control is to prevent them from reproducing. Bed bugs are extremely adaptive and hard to exterminate. By using an IGR, you prevent them from being able to reproduce so at least your bed bug numbers will stop increasing too drastically. Insect bombs will not help because the bed bugs can simply escape inside wall voids and crevices. I don’t know how the bleach and alcohol solution would work out, but you could spray the seams of your bed with Bedlam and that should help. I would recommend one of our bed bug kits. Just choose the one that is appropriate for the size of your infestation.
Saturday, 23. July 2011 16:37
What is the best way to mentally deal with bed bugs? Because I think I’m going crazy now! We just moved to a house with my in laws and they rent a room to a guy, when he went on a long trip they found an infestation in his room, they sprayed all the room and threw away all his stuff and while being outside it snowed very heavily for almost a week and I guess that took care of those, but after a few months he came back, we moved in and were ok for about two months until my son started getting bites, sprayed his room with hot shot for bed bugs and later found two dead ones and no eggs or anything, then I started getting bit for like four days and then bought a steamer and treated both rooms, found a live one on my mattress and killed it with the steam after that I sprayed again both rooms, I ordered the bedlam and diatomaceous earth and plan on keep steaming every week to two weeks, we have got any bites in a week but the problem is the other rooms are not being treated because my inlaws say they’re not getting bites! How can I make them understand we need to treat the whole house?! And about the treatment, am I doing the right thing? Will this nightmare ever be over? How can I deal with this mentally, I can’t sleep and this is all I think about! Help!
Monday, 1. August 2011 10:26
Hi Sarah,
Good luck and please try to get some sleep!
Yikes! Bed bugs are no fun, are they? I’m really sorry to hear that your guest had bed bugs, but thankfully, you seem to be taking the right steps to treat it. Using a combination of a steamer, Bedlam, and DE is a great method to fight off those bed bugs, so keep doing what you’re doing. Try not to waste any more money on HotShot though; at this point, it’s probably not strong enough to kill the bed bugs anymore. If you need to persuade your in laws to help you with the treatment, a little spook might be able to help. Let them know that bed bugs are highly adaptable and resilient creatures. They can go up to a year without feeding and can also survive in not only beds, but furniture, behind paintings, electrical sockets, wall voids, etc. Basically, not only can bed bugs travel and live virtually everywhere, but they can also survive a long time without even touching you. Now, don’t worry about this though. The way you’re treating the bed bugs right now is great. If you just add an IGR (Gentrol IGR) into your treatment, then you’ll essentially have everything you need to fully exterminate and kill those bed bugs. Just give your in laws a little scare and inform them of how critical it is that they cooperate if they don’t want bed bugs in their own rooms. As for the rest, I think you should take a relaxing, candlelight bath and try to distract yourself with other things! Don’t worry! You’re doing a great job at treating them! It might take a while, but they will die out eventually!
Monday, 15. August 2011 0:04
I can’t afford to have my home exterminated for bedbugs so with that beening said what can I do to get rid of these bugs I can’t take this anymore . Someone told my to spray alcohol directly on them and that will killed them is that true please help me before I burned down this house seriously.
Monday, 15. August 2011 8:50
Hello Ms. Rowsey,
Hiring exterminators to do a regular bed bug treatment is extremely expensive. However, we sell the same products that they are using but at an affordable price. Purchasing products and applying them yourselves can ensure that you are being thorough. We have an extensive collection of bed bug kits that will help to control all areas of each room.
The kits will more or less include:
Aerosol Spray – these are effective for intimate areas like the bed or other furniture. It provides a contact kill and a short residual of about 2 weeks so aerosols should be reapplied every two weeks until necessary.
Liquid concentrate with an IGR – Liquid concentrates are also included in the kit. These are mixed with water. DO NOT over concentrate, instead refer to the product label for the appropriate dilution rates. These are applied to broad areas like the carpets, rugs, or even base board areas of each room, the immediate surrounding area around the furniture, and etc. Also, the IGR can be mixed into the same gallon of water as the concentrate insect liquid concentrate. IGR stands for Insect Growth Regulator and although it does not have a killing effect, it will interrupt the reproduction cycle. Both the liquid concentrate and the IGR have a residual of about 3-4 months and therefore only need to be reapplied after about three months.
Dust Product and Duster – Dust products are effective because they provide the longest residual time. This is about 4-6 months. They are the most effective in areas that are hard to reach or access. These are places like in the wall void area behind outlets and light switches, behind or under furniture like book cases or picture frames, and etc.
If you have any questions about the products or sales, you can always contact us again or call us directly at 1-800-788-4142.
Wednesday, 17. August 2011 11:47
I have been treating a mild bedbug infestation for about 4 weeks. I had an exterminator come and was told the infestation was mild ( I have only seen about 5 bugs) and she told me the products I could use to treat myself. I have been spraying with a mixture of gentrol and suspend sc every 7-10 days. I have also encased all mattresses and box springs in plastic covers. I have washed and dried all bedding and have vacuumed everything. I have not seen any evidence lately. My question is how long do I have to keep treating before it is safe to stop? I am considering buying on of your small kits. Should I use the dust in addition to the spray I have been using? Thank you for your help.
Thursday, 18. August 2011 1:37
If u.see nine bedbugs and dont see them on ur matress does thay mean I have a huqe infestation I killed them all but I found one more and havent seen them no more are they qone?
Thursday, 18. August 2011 15:04
Hello,
Yes, Suspend and Gentrol are two of the best products to use for bed bug control. Because Suspend and Gentrol has a residual of about 3 months, we suggest that you stop spraying every 7 – 10 days and instead, spray every two months. We know that over applying a product can actually react negatively. Also, although Suspend and Gentrol are great products, you are limited on where you can apply for bed bug treatments. You are correct, by using a dust product in addition to the Suspend and gentrol, you are able to target all areas of the room and house instead of just a limited area. The dust product is great for wall void treatments behind the outlets, the light switch plates, behind hanging picture frames, under and behind furniture, and other hard to reach or restricted areas. Moreover, dust products have a long residual time and you only need to reapply dusts every 4-5 months. The dust that we recommend and is also included in our kits is the Pyganic Dust. Also regarding the bed bug kits, we include the Bedlam Bed Bug Aerosol spray. This can be used for spot treatment around your furniture and in concentrated areas of the home. Although the kit includes a Cyzmic insecticide, because you are using Suspend, it may not be necessary to purchase the kit. Instead, consider just buying the dust product as well as Bedlam! Good luck!
Thursday, 18. August 2011 15:13
Hi Cary,
It really depends on when and where you saw it. If you’ve seen bed bugs though, that means that you have an infestation. You will have to thoroughly inspect your mattress, boxspring, and other pieces of furniture like the head board, base board of the room, desks, chairs, couches, as well as dressers and etc. I suggest that you get an inspection done by a professional without a treatment just to verify that you have bed bugs and then when they verify that you have bed bugs, you can always give us a call for bed bug products to help you eliminate the infestation. Gluck!
Thursday, 18. August 2011 15:23
Thank you for the information. I will purchase the dust and another can of bedlam. I am sure instructions are included for using the dust. How long and how often should I keep treating after I stop seeing any activity? Thanks. P.S. This blog is a great way to receive accurate information. It has given me some peace of mind!
Friday, 2. September 2011 18:46
I have a case of bed bugs in my apt.I believe that they have gone undetected for approx 8 mos.,as I believe they have been hidden in the fabric bumper of the motorized adjustable base,attached by staples. My apt. has been sprayed 4 times. I do not know how to tell if they are gone,except that the bites to myself and my cat have disappeared. I have not gotten a mattress encasement yet, I do not know what to purchase. I have a full extra long plush mattress.
Sunday, 4. September 2011 3:27
Hi, This may seem silly, but are bedbugs like mosquitoes? Cause I was thinking of maybe sprying myself with Off before I went to sleep. I also want to know what I can do about clothes, as I have mixed them with my sheets. If I put the clothes in the washing machine, and use the hot setting, will this be enough? Or do I need to boil some water over the stove and dretch the clothes? Is the dryer enough? I also dont want my clothed to shrink.
I am trying to solve my own issues with clutter, and mess in my apartment. Due to my laxidasious attitude I have only used sprays I got at my local hardware store, and a matress cover. And they have not worked at all. I wake up in the middle of the night with 4, or 5 of them. I really just want to buy one product. Does any of your kits come with instructions? Allot of them have what look like eyedroppers, and I really do not see how they will be effective in a whole room. Especially since I have not really handled the problem effectively, and my problem has only gotten worse. I also don’t know if its safe to sleep on the products, or get them on your clothes, and skin.
Sunday, 4. September 2011 3:34
Oh, I will tell you the products that have not worked: JT Eaton- Kills bedbugs II, Hot Shot bedbug and flea killer. Also used a water based spray that I returned the the hardware store. I keep the bedbugs in a small jar to do experiments. Matters cover–Allerease, and another plastic cover beneath that.
Sunday, 4. September 2011 10:23
Will an encasement even help at this point? Do I need to just throw out the very expensive bed, and the couch that I own? Steam professionals tell me they are afraid to wash away the chemicals already released. Can you please tell me what I can do myself, as I need to move back to my apt ASAP, as I have voluntarily removed myself until the situation is resolved.
Thursday, 8. September 2011 12:23
A great technique or type of bed bug control product to use to see if they’ve been eradicated or not is a monitoring device of come sort. One of our best selling and cheaper alternatives is the Eco-Keeper Bed Bug Monitor and Glue trap. It can be slipped under and leg of beds, chairs, and tables. They can be used before, during, and after treatment to monitor for bed bugs. As the bed bugs try to make their way up the legs of furniture, they will actually be stopped midway and caught on the glue. These also monitor for bed bugs for up to 4 months and that’s not because the glue itself has become ineffective, but the dust and debris build up on the glue has made the glue surface less sticky than normal. Check them out! http://www.pestmall.com/eco-keeper-bed-bugs-glue-traps.html
Thursday, 8. September 2011 12:47
That’s actually a really interesting observation. I’m not sure if Off will work against bed bugs. The way mosquitoes and bed bugs will bite and intake the blood is a little bit different and so I really can’t give you a definitive answer on that. I can tell you how to use the bed bug kits though. Although I’m not sure what the “eye dropper” type of insecticide is, I can tell you that many bed bug liquid sprays are initially in a concentrate form and must be diluted with water. Often times, the dilution rate will involve a gallon of water which can be sprayed with a gallon pump sprayer. A gallon of water will easily cover about 1,500 sq. ft. Aerosol cans as well can cover a large area if you are using it correctly. Keep in mind that you are not actually doing a complete surface treatment with either the liquid concentrate or the aerosol, instead, you are doing crack and crevice treatments around the head board, base board, in between the mattress and the box spring, around the seams and linings of the mattress and cushions of the couch and etc. Clutter and mess is going to provide all the perfect crack and crevice hiding spaces for bed bugs so you must clear that up to get rid of potential hiding spots. Clutter also provides hiding spaces for other insects and bugs like spiders, silverfish, roaches, and etc. so its crucial you clear that up for insect control. If you want to purchase the bed bug kit, you can always give us a call at 1-800-788-4142 and one of our representatives can tell you how to use each item and can also take your order for you over the phone.
As for your clothes, hot water wash and dry will kill the bed bugs in your clothes. You do not need to boil water and drench your clothes in there. Hot water wash and hang drying is also sufficient enough.
Thursday, 8. September 2011 12:49
The bed bug control products that you find in our store are all professional grade products that have been tested and proven to be effective against the target pests on the labels. If bed bugs are labeled on the product label, it will work in killing them. The products you find in the hardware store may also have been tested but because the chemical content is a lot lower than the chemical content in the products provided at Pest Mall, they may not prove to be as effective.
Thursday, 8. September 2011 12:52
It is not necessary to throw away your furniture. Being thorough and consistent with treatment is going to be the key. To be honest with you, bed bug control is not an easy task since bed bugs can hide virtually anywhere and everywhere where there is a crack or crevice, but it is not impossible. If you need any help with bed bug control, you can check out our products on our bed bug control page: http://www.pestmall.com/bed-bug-control-products/ or you can give us a call at 1-800-788-4142 and any of our representatives can help you with your treatment methods.
Thursday, 15. September 2011 8:34
I moved into a house a little over a week ago and I found bed bugs the other day. I had a exterminator come and he sprayed once. I dont allow my kids to sleep in that room now will the bugs travel if there is noone to eat? How can I tell that they were there before I moved in?
Thursday, 15. September 2011 14:15
There is no way to really find out if they were there before you moved in or if they came in with you. However, if your children have toys that they often play with and those toys have been removed from the room without inspection, it is possible that bed bugs could have hitched a ride on those toys and infest other rooms. If not, it is also possible that bed bugs will move closer to their food source via the wall voids and etc. Although they cannot travel far, they will travel as far as they can to find their closest food source. Especially if they have already started feeding. If you have any questions on bed bug control or your interested in doing follow up treatments yourself, you can always contact us again or give us a call at 1-800-788-4142. Any technician that answers the phone can really help you with bed bug control.
Friday, 25. November 2011 20:12
i have sprayed my bed and use a lint roller all over bed before i go to sleep.the tape seems to trap what i cant see. i also took the tape off and pressed it in crevices 1-2 days after treatment and have removed eggs. i almost have it eradicated.persistance is key.been 2 weeks since treatment,should i do it again now ?
Monday, 28. November 2011 15:00
Hi Mary!
You are absolutely correct. Consistency, thoroughness, persistence is the key to this battle against bed bugs. Since you treated 2 weeks ago, whether you retreat or not will really depend on the type of insecticide you used. Residual insecticides don’t need to be reapplied for at least another month to two months. Dusts, also, have long residuals and don’t need to be applied for at least another THREE months! Aerosols though, should be applied every 2 weeks to a month depending on your infestation. Good Luck!
Wednesday, 1. February 2012 14:24
I have bed bugs in my apartment that is currently being treated but in the meantime I was taking bags from my house to laundromat and in doing so I have found baby bed bugs in m car. This morning I sprayed my car with 91% alcohol and then put DE dust in cracks and betwen seat I am going nuts because I am finaly seeing relief at home but now car is infested. Please help me by recommending a products or tips. Thank you very much!
Wednesday, 1. February 2012 14:27
Spraying your car with alcohol may not be the best thing to do. Use Bedlam or Phantom on the upholstery once every 2 weeks. When you are applying the spray, the dust will become ineffective and it is also not very effective to use the dust. Remain optimistic about getting rid of them and be consistent and thorough! Remember also that you must review the product label for directions on application before you spray an insecticide. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-788-4142.
Tuesday, 1. May 2012 16:11
In treating for bed bugs, we sealed all of our clothing, linens and pillows inside plastic bags with nuvan prostrips inside. From what I can gather, it appears that we are going to have to wash all the clothing and linens again after airing them out but what about the pillows? Washing and drying them usually misshapes them and pretty much makes them unusable. Would they be safe to use after airing them with just a clean pillow case on them?
Wednesday, 16. May 2012 12:48
Hi Michelle,
For this very reason, there are pillow encasements that are manufactured. Just like the encasement for a mattress, pillow cases entirely encase the pillow and if there are bed bugs in or around the pillow that was not seen, it is trapped inside the pillow. Refer to this page for pillow covers (http://www.pestmall.com/bed-bug-mattress-covers/) If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us again.