How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Provided by

Don’t Panic

Plan of Action

Bed Bug Free!

Bed bugs are not life threatening.

Choose a plan of action that’s right for you.

Execute your plan and be bug free!

Our first word of advice is Don’t Panic.  You can get rid of bed bugs. Most people become extremely distressed when they learn they have bed bugs, which is understandable. But if you get bed bugs, it’s important to put the situation in perspective.

Bed bugs are not dangerous.They are annoying, but they will not give you disease. Think of mosquitoes (or more specifically mosquitoes in areas that have no malaria.) Mosquitoes might make you itch and so, of course, you don’t want avoid getting bitten by them. But they will not actually harm your health. The same is true with bed bugs—itching is no fun, but you will not be seriously harmed by them.

DON’T PANIC1

You can get rid of bed bugs!It takes a lot of energy and time and to some extent, money (to purchase supplies), but you can eradicate bed bugs from your home.  We will provide you with all of the information you need to get rid of bed bugs in your home.

ZappBug recommends two different approaches to get rid of bed bugs in your home. Continue to find the approach that’s right for you.

Extra Credit: Watch Andrew talk about his bed bug experience.Join the Kill Bed Bugs facebook group.

DON’T PANIC1…

Choice 1: The 8-Step Approach to Get Rid of Bed BugsThis is a do-it-yourself, 8 step approach. It includes selective heat treatment of your personal items, thorough cleaning of your residence, and use of diatomaceous earth. It’s very effective if all of the steps are followed.

Pros/Cons• Least Expensive• 100% Effective• Do It Yourself• 8 Comprehensive Steps• Time Consuming

Plan of Action2

Choice 2: Professional Heat Treatment of Entire HomeWith this method, you hire professionals to heat treat your entire home. Industrial heaters and fans are used to gradually heat up your entire residence to bed bug killing temperatures.

Pros/Cons• Requires Minimal Personal Time• 100% Guaranteed (by select professionals)• Expensive – As Much As $1000 Per Room

We’ll review this choice first because the majority of this lecture focuses on the 8-Step Approach to get rid of bed bugs.

Plan of Action2…

Professional Heat Treatment of Your Entire HomeThis involves bringing in a team of professionals who will use industrial heaters and fans throughout your residence to heat up the entire structure to bed bug killing temperatures. Because the electricity required is so high and would blow the circuits in your home, the heaters and fans are linked to cables that run out your windows and doors to portable generators outside. With this method you are essentially making your entire home into a giant bed bug oven.

The advantages of this method are that, if done correctly, it is a very effective way to eliminate bed bugs and it saves you from putting in a lot of personal time and effort.

2: Professional HT3

The main disadvantage is that this process is cost prohibitive for most people. Prices can run over $1000 per room, depending on who you use for the treatment.

Things to keep in mind.Another potential problem is that if the heat treatment is done incorrectly, bed bugs can easily return. All of the wall voids must be heated up to killing temperatures, which is difficult to do. If this is not done properly, bed bugs can survive in those wall voids and then re-infect your home. So you really need to use competent professionals who are going to do the job right. If you choose this method, we recommend that you get a guarantee that if bedbugs return, your home will be re-treated for free.

If you live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse, bed bugs can re-infest your home from units that were not heat treated. You must take additional steps to prevent this. See Step 4, Step 5 and Step 7 of the 8-Step Approach.

2: Professional HT3…

For most people this is the most practical solution, because it is far less expensive than professional heat treatment.

The 8 Steps are:Step 1:  Create a Safe ZoneStep 2:  Dealing with Your Personal BelongingsStep 3:  Deal with Large FurnitureStep 4:  Use Diatomaceous EarthStep 5:  Seal Cracks and CrevicesStep 6:  Clean Floors and RugsStep 7:  Consider Using PesticidesStep 8: Visiting Friends

1: 8-Step Approach4

Dealing with bed bugs is stressful and time consuming. It’s important to maintain your energy and keep up a positive attitude; and for this, proper sleep is vital. The first thing you will want to do is make your bed a safe zone, completely free of bed bugs and proofed against re-infestation.

Creating a Safe Zone is a 5-Step Process1. Launder and Heat Treat All of Your Bedding2. Encase your Mattress and Box Spring (and Pillows)3. Use the Proper Bed Frame4. Create a Safe Perimeter Around Your Bed5. Observe Good Protocol – Keeping Your Bed Safe

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1

Step 1.1 Launder and Heat Treat All of Your Bedding

Remember to follow proper protocol when laundering your bedding:

• Put washables in one sealed bag. Put non-washables (comforters, pillows) in a

different sealed bag.

• Heat treat the bedding, either in ZappBug or your washer/dryer.

• Remember do not lift items out of the bags. Rather “dump” them directly into

the washer or dryer.

• After cleaning/heat treating put items into new, unused plastic bags.

Click here for a video of the proper laundering technique.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.2 Encase your Mattress and Box Spring (and Pillows)

It is essential that you encase both your mattress and box spring. We also recommend encasing your pillows. If you wish, you can also put diatomaceous earth inside your box spring.

Here are the mattress encasements we recommend. Visit our Amazon store for a full list of supplies.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.3 Use the Proper Bed Frame

We recommend using a metal bed frame, because it is more difficult for bed bugs to climb metal. And you must make sure your head board is bed bug free.

When you are putting your box spring and mattress onto the frame, we recommend putting diatomaceous earth between the box spring and mattress.

You can pick-up a simple, metal frame at our Amazon store.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.4 Create a Safe Perimeter Around Your Bed

You must create a perimeter around your bed, blocking out bed bugs. To do this, you must:

1. Thoroughly clean the area around your bed, making it bed bug free. a) Spread diatomaceous earth around where your bed will go.b) Vacuum up the diatomaceous earth.c) If it’s a carpeted area, then shampoo the carpet.d) After carpet has dried, put more diatomaceous earth down.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.4 Create a Safe Perimeter Around Your Bed (continued)

2. Prevent bed bugs from re-entering your bed area, using a layered defense.a) Use Bed bug interceptors / cups on the feet of the bed frame.b) Make sure your blankets do not touch the floor.c) Lay down a thick line of diatomaceous earth, encircling the bed.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.4 Create a Safe Perimeter Around Your Bed (continued)

2. Prevent bed bugs from re-entering your bed area, using a layered defense.a) Use Bed bug interceptors / cups on the feet of the bed frame.b) Make sure your blankets do not touch the floor.c) Lay down a thick line of diatomaceous earth, encircling the bed.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Step 1.5 Observe Good Protocol – Keeping Your Bed Safe

It is extremely important to observe very strict protocol in regards to keeping your bed a safe zone. Never cross the bed perimeter without first stripping off all of your clothes.

Do not sit on your bed to remove your clothes or take off your shoes.

This is to prevent you from inadvertently transferring bed bugs to your bed.

Within the perimeter only put on clothes that have been properly launder / heat treated and sealed in plastic bags.

8-Step ApproachStep 1: Create a Safe Zone4.1…

Deal with Your Personal Belongings.First, put all of your personal belongings into sealed plastic bags. This will stop bed bugs in their tracks and keep bed bugs from spreading.

Once everything is in a sealed plastic bag, you need to kill the bed bugs. Bed bug eggs are small and nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye. So you need to assume that all of your personal belongings are infested. This is critical. You must assume that everything is infested and treat it accordingly.

To kill bed bugs in your personal belongings, you have 3 options:• Heat Treat• Store for Over 18 Months• Dispose

8-Step ApproachStep 2: Personal Belongings4.2

Heat Treat Your BelongingsThis will be the most common choice for your personal belongings. The goal of heat treating is to kill bed bugs. To do this, you simply need to ensure that your personal belongings reach a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (or greater) for one hour.

Heat treating can be done with a household clothes dryer set on high and a bed bug oven such as the ZappBug or the Packtite Closet. Use caution when heating your personal belongings. Some methods can be dangerous and we do not recommend any specific methods other than a clothes dryer (set on “high”) or the ZappBug. Use common sense and proceed with caution.

Common Tools for Heat Treatment:• Clothes Dryer• Bed Bug Oven

8-Step ApproachStep 2: Personal Belongings4.2…

Store Personal Belongings for 18 MonthsIf you choose to store some of your personal belongings make sure that you can live without these item for at least 18 months. Bed bugs can survive for one and a half years without feeding. It is possible for bed bugs to re-infest your home if items are not stored for the proper amount of time. This is a great option things you want to keep but don’t use such as old files, records, pictures, books, etc…

Bags & Bins for StorageIt is important that all items are stored in a sealed, air-tight bag or storage bin. There are several types of bags and storage bins on the market. For storage bins, we recommend either using a bins with an airtight gasket or encasing the bin in a large plastic bag.

8-Step ApproachStep 2: Personal Belongings4.2…

Dispose of Your Personal BelongingsAs you go through your belongings, you will probably find things that you no longer want or need. Now is a great time to get rid of the clutter in your home. Think of it as a bed bug inspired spring cleaning! When you find something that you want to get rid of, simply seal it in a plastic bag and then throw it away. Make sure to seal in it a plastic bag before you throw it away because you don’t want to inadvertently spread bed bugs.

Reminder: Get rid of all of the cardboard in your home. Bed bugs love to live in the corrugation.

8-Step ApproachStep 2: Personal Belongings4.2…

Deal with Large FurnitureSmall pieces of furniture can be heat-treated in ZappBug. For large pieces of furniture that won’t fit in ZappBug, you could, in theory, construct a giant home-made bed bug oven (see our blog post about this). However, for most people this is not practical. Instead you will want to take one of two approaches, depending upon whether or not the piece of furniture is upholstered.

Upholstered FurnitureUpholstered furniture is the most challenging because it’s especially easy for bedbugs to hide in the upholstery. Despite what some pest control professionals will tell you, steam cleaning is usually not effective, because it’s difficult to get the steam to penetrate deep enough and thoroughly enough through the upholstery.

8-Step ApproachStep 3: Large Furniture4.3

Using Diatomaceous EarthDiatomaceous earth (D.E., for short) is an extremely helpful tool in both eradicating bed bugs and proofing a home against re-infestation.

D.E. is a chalky substance that is derived from fossilized sea creatures. It acts as a desiccant, disrupting the waxy shell of bed bugs, making them more prone to eventual death by dehydration. Remember that d.e. does not kill the bugs immediately—it can take up to 7 to 17 days. Also if you use a thick enough bead of D.E., it acts as a mechanical barrier and bed bugs will avoid crawling through it.

There are two types of diatomaceous earth on the market:1. Regular diatomaceous earth (which is pesticide free).2. Pesticide impregnated diatomaceous earth.

8-Step ApproachStep 4: Diatomaceous Earth4.4

Be sure to only use regular, pesticide-free diatomaceous earth in this step. Pesticide-free D.E. is non-toxic and safe to handle. However, if you are spreading D.E. around and getting it airborne, then you will want to wear a dust mask to prevent it from entering your lungs.

How to use diatomaceous earth:1. Pull everything away from the walls. 2. Work diatomaceous earth into the crevice between the wall and floor as

well as where the molding meets the wall.3. Work diatomaceous earth around the edges of wall-to-wall carpeting,

where the carpeting meets the wall.4. Put diatomaceous earth behind all the electrical face plates and light

switch face plates.

8-Step ApproachStep 4: Diatomaceous Earth4.4…

Seal Cracks and CrevicesBed bugs can reside in wall voids. So, as much as possible, you want to seal with all holes, cracks and crevices in your home. To do this, you can use caulk, wood filler, tape, or anything else that provides an airtight seal.

8-Step ApproachStep 5: Seal Cracks4.5

Clean Floors and RugsWith vacuuming and carpet washing, you are not killing bed bugs, rather you are trying to mechanically remove any bed bugs that might be lurking. You should only use a vacuum that has disposable bags. Do not use a bag-less vacuum such as a Dyson.

Clean Floors and Rugs• Remember to ONLY use a vacuum with disposable bags. Do not use a bag-

less vacuum.• Before you begin vacuuming your floors and carpets, first vacuum up

some diatomaceous earth.• When changing the disposable bag, take the entire vacuum

cleaner outside, remove the bag and dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag.• After a vacuuming session, change the bag immediately. Do not leave the

vacuum sitting around for long periods of time without changing bags.

8-Step ApproachStep 6: Clean Floors4.6

Consider Using PesticidesIt is important to realize that pesticides are just one weapon in the arsenal against bed bugs. Pesticides alone will not get rid of bed bugs – you must take the additional steps. That said, we feel that they do have a place, so long as the proper pesticides are used. Also, we realize not everyone is comfortable with their use.

Proper use of the right pesticides is helpful as one more tool in eradicating bed bugs. But it’s important to realize that using pesticides alone will not get rid of bed bugs. Pesticides are only effective as one component of an overall plan.

Pesticides are potentially unhealthy for humans. But you have to weigh that risk against the additional help they have in getting rid of bed bugs.

8-Step ApproachStep 7: Consider Pesticides4.7

If you choose to use pesticides, you should educate yourself and be a knowledgeable consumer. Know what pesticides should be used, whether you apply the pesticides yourself or hire a professional to apply them.

Using the Correct PesticidesShould you decide to use pesticides, we recommend getting a professional to apply them. But be sure they are using the correct pesticides. Unfortunately there is a lot of misuse of pesticides in the pest control profession. Be a knowledgeable consumer. In this video, we arm you with all the information you will need.

8-Step ApproachStep 7: Consider Pesticides4.7

How to Ensure that You Do Not Spread Bed BugsGetting bed bugs can feel isolating. Unfortunately there is some social stigma attached to bed bugs. Friends might be worried that if you visit you will inadvertently bring them unwanted guests.

We feel it’s important to maintain your social contacts and support as you go about eradicating bed bugs – you are going to want to keep up a positive attitude.

8-Step ApproachStep 8: Visiting Friends4.8

Visit ZappBug’s Website for More Information:How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs

8-Step ApproachAdditional Material4.8