Bedbugs are non-flying insects about one-fifth of an inch in size that are brownish in color and resemble a tick. They enter structures in a variety of ways. They may be picked up on buses, and trains, in theatres, or brought into the home via clothing luggage, bedding or firewood. Once, inside their favorite hiding places include mattresses, under loose wallpaper and box springs (especially at the seams), other upholstered furniture,cracks in wood furniture. Bedbugs prefer human blood as their food source, although they will feed on other mammals including, bats and your dog. Bedbugs can go without feeding or 80-140 days, and have been known to live as long as 550 days without a meal. Bedbugs are not normally considered disease carriers, but their bites can be annoying.
Infestations can be located with a thorough inspection. This includes more than just bedding and discovery of the actual insects. The fecal matter of the bedbugs, shed skin, and egg casings are all signs that can be detected. Look around cracks in furniture, under wallpaper, behind picture frames, under baseboards and other loose moldings, and especially bed frames and bedding. In extreme infestation cases, they have even been found behind electrical switch covers and outlet covers.
Management of bedbugs can and should involve a variety of methods.
The bugs do not respond well to cold temperatures, so removing contaminated to the outside if temps are below 45 degrees are a good way to kill them. make sure that they are not in direct sunlight, as this may warm surface temps above 45 degrees. Also seal the items being removed in plastic to prevent migration to other uncontaminated areas during their removal.
Badly contaminated soft goods may need to disposed of. heed the above warning sealing the items prior to removal.
Cleaning is the primary method if eradication. Thorough vacuuming is essential for proper removal. Make sure that the vacuum cleaners are thoroughly cleaned out themselves after use. Using vacuuming equipment that has disposable collection bags is preferred, and following their removal from the machine, sealing the intake opening is required to prevent cross contamination.
Wet cleaning with higher temperature water is also effective, especially with our patented Steamatic re-circulating hot water extraction carpet and upholstery mattress cleaning equipment.
Controlled demolition may be required to get to those “hard to reach” areas, which will then almost definitely require thorough cleaning also.
Chemical methods include spraying of residual insecticides, paying particular attention to cracks and crevices where the insects may be hiding. Through cleaning prior to application is a necessity to allow proper penetration of the products. Avoid using high pressure applications as these tend to disperse the insects. Also, most insecticides are not to be used on bedding, so read all labels prior ro use. It is not unusual to both pre-treat major infestations prior to cleaning and then follow-up with another application after cleaning.
Bed bugs can be a nuisance but they also can be effectively controlled if proper inspections and techniques are in place for a prompt response. Please contact Anderson Bros. Steamatic for additional information and estimates if you are having bed bug problems in your residence or building.
www. absteamatic.com or toll-free at 800-564-4491
