Across the US, everyone is checking under the covers before jumping into bed to avoid snuggling with an unwelcome bedfellow - the bed bug! While New York City has garnered the most attention for their onslaught of bed bug infestations, these parasites are popping up in American cities from coast to coast. In fact, a recent study identifying the top cities for bed bug infestations listed among them Columbus, Ohio, Los Angeles, Louisville, KY, and even more unlikely bed bug hotspots.
By educating yourself on bed bug signs, symptoms, prevention methods, and management options, you can keep your home safe and secure. Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions about bed bugs. These answers can help guide you to the best bed bug control options for your home and family.
Use the links below to jump to a section:
- What are bed bugs?
- Do bed bugs cause illness or disease?
- What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
- My house is infested. How do I get rid of the bed bugs?
- How effective is steam for eliminating and preventing bed bugs?
- How effective is vacuuming for eliminating and preventing bed bugs?
- Do I have to throw away my mattress?
- What are some best practices for using steam cleaners to treat and prevent bed bug infestations?
Q: What are bed bugs?
A: Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. Found throughout the world, bed bugs have been found living alongside humans throughout history.
Fossilized bed bugs have been found at an Egyptian excavating site, and their presence has been documented throughout Asia and Europe. They are tiny, wingless insects with flat, brown, oval-shaped bodies. Large enough to be seen, these parasites, which are between 4 and 5 millimeters long, hide in mattresses, dark crevices, suitcases, purses, or even behind loose wallpaper during the day. According to Orkin experts, these insects often emit a sweet but unpleasant odor.
Additionally, bed bugs’ scientific name, cimex lectularius, derives from the Roman word for bug “cimex,” while “lectularius” means bed or couch.
Q: Do Bed Bugs Cause Illness or Disease?
A: While bed bugs do carry diseases, they do not transmit diseases or illnesses to humans, according to the EPA; however, their bites can leave several red, splotchy marks on the arms, legs, and/or back. Because bed bugs’ bites are painless through the use of their saliva, they go unnoticed while we sleep.
Q: What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
A: Although bed bugs can be seen with the naked eye, these pests are relatively stealthy. Bed bugs hide in the crevices of the bed, behind nightstands, along baseboards, in cracks of the floor, and under the mattress and/or box spring.
- Blood Spots: Detection can be difficult, but the presence of blood spots on the sheets, red, splotchy bite marks, and bed bug exoskeletons—bed bugs molt their skins or shells—can indicate a bed bug infestation.
- Bites: Another red flag for a bed bug infestation is, of course, the bites. Bed bug bites typically occur at night while you are sleeping. These "feeding" sessions can take up to 10 minutes. Symptoms of bed bug bites vary widely among individuals. Some people experience little or no reaction to bed bug bites, others may endure several bites before experiencing a reaction, and many develop symptoms after only a day. Commonly found in areas that are exposed while you sleep like the face, neck, shoulders, and arms, bed bug bites cause itchy, red welts, minor skin infections, possible embarrassment, and that's about it. While unnerving, these pests do not carry or transmit diseases.
- Clutter: Messy homes also tend to be a great place for bed bugs to flourish and remove any infested furniture, as bed bugs can hide inside dresser drawers and nightstands. Check all around the bedroom, and keep floor space clear and clean.
Here are some other suggestions on finding bed bugs from the EPA.
Q: My house is infested. How do I get rid of the bed bugs?
A: If you are concerned that your home, office, or other area has a bed bug infestation, consult a licensed pest control professional before attempting any bed bug home remedies. A pest control professional can help you determine the severity of your bed bug problem as well as a plan for eliminating your current bed bug problem and preventing future infestations.
Ask your pest control professional about an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Endorsed by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an IPM approach is a comprehensive pest control program that incorporates the appropriate pest management options with the least hazard to you, your home, and the environment.
Oftentimes, an IPM approach includes components such as removing clutter where bed bugs can hide, sealing cracks and crevices to eliminate hiding spots, vacuuming to remove dead bed bugs and debris.
Another major component of treating any infestation is heat. As bed bug populations continue to build up their resistance to chemical treatments, adding a heat treatment to your IPM approach is vital. There are a variety of ways to eliminate bed bugs with heat.
Steam cleaners are the most effective solution for eliminating bed bugs without the use of chemical pesticides. Eradicating bed bugs can be a difficult, trying task, but they can be naturally eliminated from your bedroom without the use of chemicals and poisons. Because bed bugs have become resistant to many chemicals and poisons, it is a better bet to fight them naturally.
Make sure to completely dry your clothing and bedsheets on the highest setting for at least 20 minutes. The heat from the dryer is high enough to kill the bugs. Be sure to launder your bedsheets and linens at least once a week or as needed along with regular vacuuming, steam cleaning, and using protective coverings. The EPA offers several other tips for protecting yourself while traveling and when you return.
Q: How effective is steam for eliminating and preventing bed bugs?
A: A study focusing on bed bug behavior at lethal and sub-lethal temperatures conducted by the University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology found that adults and bed bug eggs could be killed upon exposure when temperatures reached at least 122 degrees F. Steam cleaning systems, such as Vapamore steam cleaners and Reliable steam cleaners, can easily produce dry steam vapor with temperatures that exceed 250 degrees F, which is hot enough not only to kill bed bugs but also harmful bacteria and viruses. In fact, for years many pest control companies have used steam cleaning in combination with pesticides to exterminate bed bugs.
Q: How effective is vacuuming for eliminating and preventing bed bugs?
A: Vacuuming your mattress, box spring, and the surrounding areas, surfaces, and furniture around your bed is a great place to begin. Remember to get into crevices in the mattress, bed frame, baseboards, and flooring around the bedroom. It is important to be thorough and take your time with cleaning.
The use of a HEPA vacuum with filter bags is an effective way to eliminate the pests. Filter bags ensure that everything picked up in the vacuum stay in the bag. A HEPA filter will keep eggs and pests from being expelled back into room air. Make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag in a Ziploc bag or other trash bag and in an outdoor receptacle. Bagless vacuums do not afford you the opportunity to throw out the bed bugs and eggs safely. Make sure to thoroughly vacuum your bedroom space at least every 3 days.
Q: Do I have to throw away my mattress?
A: If your home is severely infested or the mattress is in poor condition, your pest control professional may suggest getting rid of it. However, for many people, purchasing a new mattress isn't necessary. While your home is being treated for bed bugs, allergy bedding, such as mattress protectors and pillow protectors, can help safeguard you against the parasites and provide a better night's sleep.
Q: What are some best practices for using steam cleaners to treat and prevent bed bug infestations?
A: When using a steam cleaner for bed bug treatment, take advantage of these tips for the most effective results:
- Choose a Continuous-Fill Steam Cleaner - Continuous-fill steam cleaners, such as the Ladybug steam cleaner models, require no downtime to reheat water in between steam treatments. This allows you to steam for longer periods of time - long enough to treat common bed bug hiding spots in one phase without stopping to refill the system.
- Apply Steam Directly to the Surface - When steam cleaning, apply the steam cleaner head directly to the surface you want to treat. Holding it above the surface may scatter the bed bugs to new hiding spots and make them harder to kill.
- Steam Slowly - Move the steam cleaner slowly over every square inch of the surface being treated to ensure that you're providing complete steam exposure.
- Vacuum After Steam Cleaning - After performing a steam treatment, vacuum all treated areas to remove dead bed bugs, eggs and other residue. Discard vacuum bags immediately or empty vacuum dust containers and wash them before replacing.
- Take Advantage of Steam Cleaner Attachments - Use larger steam cleaning heads, when steaming large surface areas like mattresses, couches, chairs, carpets, headboards, and nearby flooring where bed bugs are often found. Use crevice tools to clean inside the seams of mattresses, between mattresses and box springs, in baseboard cracks, and inside bed frames and dressing tables. Use upholstery tools to steam and sanitize curtains and drapes.
- Steam Travel Bags - Bed bugs can be transported from location to location as people travel. To prevent a repeat infestation and reduce the chance of passing bed bugs on to a new place, steam clean luggage, overnight bags, folded clothing bags, purses, and any other travel accessories that may have been exposed to bed bugs.
In Summary
In the case of suspected or confirmed bed bug infestation, you can take steps to eliminate these pesky parasites using an Integrated Pest Management. This approach combines the best solutions that are also the safest for your home and family. These include using a steam cleaner, vacuum, and protective coverings.
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