Bed bugs are the worst. And when an infestation takes root in a home, it can drive people to take drastic measures to get rid of them—and the bites they inflict. A common response homeowners have after discovering they are dealing with bed bugs in their home is to throw out their mattresses and box springs and replace them entirely. Some people will also get rid of their couch or some other piece of furniture they believe bed bugs are hiding in to eliminate the infestation. It can get to a point where homeowners are throwing out piles of clothing, rugs, bedding, and more in a desperate attempt to rid their homes of bed bugs. None of this behavior is likely to arrest a bed bug infestation because bed bugs can also live in wall voids, behind crown molding, behind baseboards, under carpets, and more. Throwing these items just won’t work and can be extremely costly, but this isn’t the only ineffective DIY bed bug removal method. Here are some other treatment ideas people try and, more importantly, why they’re not effective at getting rid of these biting pests!
Ineffective Methods Of DIY Bed Bug Control
As they’re searching for advice on the internet, many people find out quickly that heat is often used to kill bed bugs. But eliminating bed bugs with heat isn’t easy. You can’t just turn your oven on the hottest temperature and open the door to raise the temperature of your home and eliminate bed bugs, though some have tried this. One woman actually set fire to a five-unit apartment complex because she left her oven door open to kill bed bugs which accidentally ignited the alcohol that had been applied to her kitchen in a previous attempt to treat for those bugs. This led to damages estimated to be around $250,000 and sent three people to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Luckily, no one was seriously injured in this unfortunate incident, but it can and does happen. Therefore, no renter or homeowner should attempt to kill bed bugs with heat. Even when this method doesn’t cause harm, it is still 100% ineffective at eliminating bed bug infestations. In fact, it will only drive the bed bugs in your home deep into walls and make it more difficult to get rid of them by conventional pest control methods administered by a professional.
Many homeowners turn to bed bug traps or sticky traps to capture bed bugs; while these traps are helpful for monitoring bed bug activity, they do nothing to eliminate a bed bug infestation on their own. All the bugs in your home will not come out to feed at once. So even if you manage to capture and eliminate some with this method, you’re still only dealing with a portion of the infesting bed bug population. It is also important to understand that, despite popular belief, bed bugs don’t just bite you when you’re in bed. If sticky traps prevent these pests from feeding on you while you sleep, they will find other ways to get the blood meals they need. They will bite you while you’re watching television on the couch, working at your computer, lounging in your den, and doing other activities that require you to remain seated for long periods of time. So don’t think you can starve these pests either! They are extremely resilient and will find a way to get the blood meals they need and continue to grow their populations in your home!
For some people, chemicals seem like the best solution for dealing with bed bugs;, not only can chemicals be hazardous to the health of everyone living inside the home, but they can also make the problem worse if they aren’t applied correctly. As bed bugs develop, they can create a skin or cuticle that is resistant to chemicals in their environment. Without realizing it, many people actually create chemical-resistant bed bugs in their home as they attempt to exterminate them, making them even harder to eliminate.
We could go on and on about all of the many treatment ideas people try. Some of them are flat-out wrong such as throwing out furniture and belongings to get rid of bed bugs, while some of them have a hint of truth to them like using heat, sticky traps, and chemicals to stop bed bugs; without an education in pest control, however, all of these treatment options fall short. Why? Because bed bugs are extremely difficult to get rid of!
How Innovative Pest Control Can help
At Innovative Pest Control, our service professionals use a systematic approach to effectively resolve bed bug problems. This approach includes inspections, monitoring, steam applications, physical removal, and applications of EPA-approved products over the course of four to eight weeks. This comprehensive treatment protocol ensures that no bugs are left hiding in your walls or under your carpets. During this time, we will also help protect you and your family members from bed bug bites through the application of proactive bed bug products such as mattress encasements and climb-ups.
When you have a professional take care of your infestation, you won’t have to worry about bed bugs coming back to bite you over and over and over again. And you can avoid attempting dangerous control methods that put your family members at risk. It’s a win-win situation! When it comes to bed bug control, therefore, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
If you live in Tyler, Texas or the surrounding area, let the bed bug professionals at Innovative Pest Control help you make sure you get rid of those bugs the first time! To get started, reach out to us today!
Categories:
- Bed Bug Control,
- Bed Bug Prevention,
- Bed Bugs in Texas,
- Home Pest Control
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