How to get rid of bed bugs and when to call an exterminator

Bed bugs have small, flat bodies that make them difficult to spot and get rid of. Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images To get rid of bed bugs, you should first control the infestation by cleaning your bed. Act quickly to kill bed bugs with DIY methods or by calling an exterminator.

  While extermination is expensive, it’s the most effective way to get rid of bed bugs permanently. Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. Since they’re less than a quarter of an inch long, they’re almost impossible to spot.

But they can be found anywhere, from houses to nursing homes and hotels.  The tell-tale sign of bed bugs is small bites clustered in a group or line on your skin. Although bed bug bites are itchy, they’re usually harmless.

“In the vast majority of cases, bed bugs are a nuisance rather than genuinely dangerous to health,” says Sreedhar Krishna, a dermatologist at TalkHealth London. In fact, the CDC says that bed bugs don’t spread disease.  Can you get rid of bed bugs by yourself?While you can try to get rid of bed bugs on your own, professional extermination is likely to be more effective.

In some cases, a bed bug infestation can become worse during the time you take to try to get rid of bed bugs yourself. How to get rid of bed bugs Treating bed bugs can be complex and time-consuming, especially since infestations are usually severe by the time people notice them. A methodical approach can help you get rid of bed bugs and sleep easier.

 Here’s how to get rid of bed bugs, whether you want to call an exterminator or do it yourself.  Step 1: Look for the signs of bed bugsAt the first sign of a bed bug infestation, it’s best to take action immediately. Bed bugs can reproduce rapidly and lay up to five eggs daily, which hatch after 4 to 12 days.

The earlier you spot a bed bug infestation, the better chances you’ll have at getting rid of them—not to mention the time and money you’ll save.  If you see any of these tell-tale signs, you may have a bed bug problem at hand:Live bed bugs. Red, bumpy, and itchy bite marks on your skin, often occurring in a straight line.

Small, reddish-brown stains on your sheets, mattresses, or walls, resulting from bed bug excrements or crushed bed bug remains.  Small (about <1mm) white or pale yellow grain-like objects, which are likely bed bug eggs. Yellowish-brown husks, which are likely bed bug exoskeletons or "shell casings.

“A sweet, musty odor in the room, often likened to coriander, berries, or almonds. Extra step: Check common bed bug hiding placesBed bugs are experts at hide-and-seek and can be found almost anywhere. With their small, flat bodies, they can crawl into the smallest of cracks and hide for a long time without being detected — even without a meal.

They tend to seek hiding places that are dark, tight, and undisturbed. They also prefer warm and humid areas, which is also why they’re attracted to the warmth of living bodies. Before calling a professional, you can do a self-inspection of common bed bug hiding places:In the mattress and box spring seams.

In the open spaces around your headboard, bed frame, or baseboard. Inside the cracks of door or window frames. Inside your electronics or appliances.

Inside your dresser and clothing. Inside electrical outlets. Inside book spines or bindings.

Inside or under loose screw heads. Within the seams and tags of your upholstery. Behind loose wallpaper.

Behind wall hangings, paintings, or posters. Between the seams of your carpet and wall. Between furniture joints.

Big infestations are easily spotted. Smaller ones, on the other hand, may require the expertise of an exterminator to spot. Step 2: Control the infestationOnce you realize that you have bed bugs, the first step is to try to control the infestation so that it doesn’t spread.

For many people, the first inclination is to sleep somewhere without bed bugs, like in a guest bedroom or on the couch.  Unfortunately, doing that can bring bed bugs into other areas of your house, so experts recommend thoroughly cleaning your bedroom and continuing to sleep in there. When you notice a bed bug infestation, immediately take these steps to help curb the spread of bed bugs: Strip your bed and put all the bedding in two trash bags.

Wash all the bedding in hot water, and dry the bedding on high for at least 30 minutes — the heat will kill the bugs and any eggs. Throw the bags in the trash and take the trash out of your home.  Vacuum your bed.

Pay close attention to the crevices and creases where bed bugs hide. When you’re finished, empty the vacuum outside. Continue to empty the vacuum after each use until you’re sure the bed bugs are gone.

 Get a bed-bug-proof mattress protector. This encasement will zipper around your whole mattress, preventing the bugs from biting you or escaping. It’s important to buy a protector specifically designed for bed bugs since this has a zipper designed to ensure that bed bugs can’t get out.

 Buy bed bug interceptors. These are small cups that go under the legs or the frame or the bed, trapping bed bugs trying to get onto (or off of) the bed. If your bed is currently on the floor, purchase a frame.

 After you’ve taken these steps, you can make your bed and know that you have a safe space to sleep while you handle the infestation. Step 3: Treat the infestationIf you don’t want to hire an exterminator, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends trying certain do-it-yourself remedies to kill bed bugs:  Heat treatment. Bed bugs die when they’re exposed to heat above 130°F.

You can put bedding in the dryer on high heat or use a steam cleaner with a gentle air force to heat your bed.  Cold treatment. You can put your bedding in a sealed bag and stick it in a freezer set to 0°F for four days to kill bed bugs.

 Pesticides. Desiccants, which dry out the bed bugs, are very effective but can take months to work. Some foggers (also known as bug bombs) can be used to fight bed bugs, but they’re less effective because they don’t penetrate the small cracks where bed bugs hide.

  Note: If you decide to use pesticides without professional help, it’s important to follow the directions closely to avoid any health side effects.  Why bed bugs are hard to killSome are pesticide-resistant: Though pesticides are the most effective way to kill bed bugs, some bed bugs have developed thicker skin or special enzymes to fight back against exterminators’ go-to tools.  They can multiply undetected: Bed bugs are able to lay hundreds of tiny eggs, so they can quickly grow in population without anyone noticing, as their small, flat bodies are nearly impossible to spot.

  They like to hide: Bed bugs often hide in cracks and crevices around your bed. “Sometimes it can be very hard to tell if you have bed bugs as they remain in hiding places through the daytime and only come out at night to feed when we are in a deep sleep,” says Rick Young, owner of UK-based Young’s Pest Control.  How to check for bed bugs To identify bed bugs, the most common signs include:  Bed bug bites that appear in a cluster or line on your skin.

Bites will appear red on light skin or could look dark on darker skin. They will be smaller than mosquito bites. Red or rust-colored stains on your mattress or sheets.

This can occur when you inadvertently squish bed bugs. Dark brown or black stains on your mattress or sheets. They may almost look like they were drawn by a marker.

These are bed bug feces.  Molted skins of bed bugs. These will look like coffee grounds and will appear in the seams and crevices of your mattress.

 Eggs or egg shells. They appear as tiny dots, about 1 mm long.  A sweet, musty odor.

This is brought about by the bug activity. Tips for DIY bed bug controlIf you’re taking a DIY approach to getting rid of bed bugs, follow these steps:Identify the source. Try to figure out which room is the source of your infestation and whether the bed bugs may have spread to other rooms.

 Be methodical. Treat all furniture in the room with your pesticide of choice. Start by moving all the furniture to one side of the room.

As you treat each piece, move it across the room, away from the pieces that may still have bed bugs lurking. Pay close attention to places like screw heads or cracks in the furniture, where bed bugs can hide. Monitor your progress.

Keep track of where and when you see signs of bugs. That can help you determine whether your efforts are working or whether you might need professional help.  Although it’s tempting, don’t throw your bed or bedding away.

Replacing it would be expensive, and you’re probably better off spending that money on a professional exterminator.  Natural bed bug treatmentsThough professional pest control is probably the most effective route to bed bug extermination, you can help keep an infestation at bay with non-toxic and chemical-free treatments.  Here are some natural bed bug treatments that are worth a try:VacuumingGiving your beds, sofas, and other furniture a deep, thorough vacuuming can help curb the bed bug population.

For maximum effectiveness, make sure to vacuum regularly every day or at least every few days. Be sure to vacuum all the surfaces of your bedroom. This means your floor, carpets, ceiling, and even the insides of your drawers, cabinets, and electronics.

 Another crucial step is to discard the vacuum bag somewhere far away from your home. If left alone, bed bugs can easily crawl out of the vacuum and spread to new places. If possible, burn the bag’s contents to kill off all bed bugs.

If the vacuum bag can’t be removed, transfer all the contents to a sealed container bag and dispose of it properly. SteamingAs mentioned earlier, high heat is a great way to get rid of bed bugs. A portable steam wand will be the best tool for this because it’ll allow you to reach even the tightest spaces.

Aim for a temperature range of about 160-180°F to ensure that no bed bugs survive.  Quick tip: Always consider the fabric or material of the surface you’ll be steaming, as some materials, such as suede or waxed fabrics, are sensitive to high heat. Steaming is most effective against bed bugs when done regularly.

If you’re actively trying to kill bed bugs, you may want to use the steamer 2-3 times in one day, going over different hiding spots each time. If you are looking to prevent bed bugs, you may want to steam clean on a weekly basis.  Frequent launderingWashing your clothes and bedding in hot water and drying them in high heat is also a simple and easy way to kill bed bugs.

 Sort your clothes and garments according to washing instructions and place them in sealed bags to prevent bed bugs from crawling out. Once they’re washed and dried, inspect each piece of clothing as you fold them to make sure there are no bed bugs left.  Before going home, place your clean and bed bug-free clothes in a sealed bag so that you can keep your clothes away from infested areas and prevent re-infestation.

 Diatomaceous earthDiatomaceous earth is a type of desiccant that acts as an inexpensive, natural pesticide that you can easily purchase from your local grocery or hardware store.  It’s pretty straightforward to use — just spread evenly on all infested areas. For your safety, make sure to use a face mask and protective gloves during application.

This method takes time and patience, as you’ll need to reapply it every few days. It may take a week or longer to see its effects on your bed bug population. BiopesticidesBiopesticides are plant-based pesticides and contain no harmful chemicals.

A Rutgers study shows that many of these biopesticides are effective in contact-killing bed bugs.  Simply spray the biopesticide thoroughly on all infested areas. Note that biopesticides are most effective when sprayed directly on bed bugs.

You can purchase biopesticides at most grocery stores. Just make sure that you buy only EPA-certified ones. Look for the EPA-certified logo when shopping for products or search for products on a designated website.

 When to call an exterminator An exterminator will follow the same basic approach to eliminate bed bugs but with professional resources. They’ll disassemble and clean your furniture and make recommendations for rearranging your space to prevent further infestations.  Exterminators use the same tools — heat or pesticides — but they have access to higher-quality equipment that can work more quickly and effectively.

 “There are a number of home remedies which one can try, but these are unlikely to eradicate the problem,” Krishna says. “This is because bed bugs can hide in very tricky to reach areas ,and so professional help is often required. “What’s the cost? Bed bug treatment can be expensive.

You’ll likely pay between $500 and $1,500 for extermination, although more severe infestations can cost thousands to treat. If you rent, your landlord may be responsible for some of the cost of treatment, so certainly talk to them.  Most bed bugs will be killed after initial treatment by a professional exterminator.

Typically, treatment takes 30 minutes to two hours, but the exterminator will tell you when it’s safe to reenter your space based on the pesticide that they used.  After the extermination is complete, you should continue to monitor for signs of bedbugs for at least two weeks. If you see any, the exterminator may need to come back and repeat their treatment.

It’s not uncommon for exterminators to come back multiple times to get rid of the bed bugs.  The EPA has additional guidance on selecting a pest control company. Be sure that the person you hire uses the principles of integrated pest management (IPM).

That includes helping you know what to look for in terms of signs of continuing infections.  Prevent bed bugsPrevention is the best cure, and the same applies to bed bugs. Here are ways you can prevent a bed bug infestation in your home:Vacuum your home often, especially under and behind your bed.

Carefully inspect new items you bring home—both new and used. Reduce and avoid accumulating clutter. Regularly wash your clothes and bedding.

Clean using the highest temperature settings about once a week. When coming home after traveling, inspect your bags and belongings for any stow-away bed bugs. FAQsHow do people get bed bugs?Bed bugs can come from anywhere.

They usually enter your home by hitching a ride on any surface that came from an infested area. The most common culprits are used furniture or clothing.  Where do bed bugs hide on your body?While bed bugs depend on blood meals to survive, they cannot live on your body.

Instead, bed bugs choose to live near the host, such as under your mattress or inside your headboard. What kills bed bugs instantly?While there are multiple ways to tackle a bed bug infestation, these are the three most effective ways to deal with them: extreme heat (above 130°F), extreme cold (0°F and below), and pesticides. Is there a bed bug spray?Yes, and they’re usually readily available in grocery and hardware stores.

 Most pesticides contain harmful and toxic chemicals. However, there are also plant-based pesticides available that are effective against bed bugs. What are the signs of bed bugs?The usual tell-tale signs of a bed bug infestation are blood stains on your bedding, itchy and red bite marks on your body, and finding small bed bug eggs or shell casings on your bed.

Insider’s takeawayBed bugs are creepy, but they’re mostly harmless, and there are effective ways to get rid of them. Remembering that can help you stay calm if you notice the signs of a bed bug infestation in your home.  “You never need to panic if you have bed bugs,” Young says.

“There are qualified people and correct methods of safely exterminating your problem. “Read the original article on Insider.