Treatment Procedures. Infested and
infestation-prone bedding and garments
will need to be bagged and laundered
(120°F minimum) since these items
cannot be treated with insecticides.
Another effective and efficient option
is to place clothing, toys, shoes,
backpacks, etc., in a clothes dryer
set at medium to high heat for 10 to
20 minutes. This will kill all bed bug
life stages and can be done alone or
in conjunction with laundering.
According to textile experts at the
Drycleaning & Laundry Institute
(Laurel, MD), most garments designated
as ‘dry-clean only’ (e.g., cotton,
wool, silk, linen, rayon, nylon, poly
blends) will not be harmed provided
they are dry before being placed in a
clothes dryer at moderate (less than
160?F) settings. While dry cleaning
procedures also kill bed bugs, there
is risk of infesting the establishment
when buggy items are de-bagged, tagged
and sorted.
Items which cannot be put in a washer
or dryer can sometimes be de-infested
by wrapping in plastic and placing
them outdoors in a hot, sunny
location, closed vehicle, etc. for at
least a day. If this method is
attempted, packing fewer items per bag
makes it harder for the bugs to find
cooler places to hide. Monitoring with
a thermometer is prudent, with a
target internal temperature of at
least 120°F. Bed bugs also will
succumb to cold temperatures below
32°F, but the freezing temperatures
must be maintained for several days.
Consequently, throughout much of the
country, heating tends to be a faster,
more reliable option than chilling.
Attempts to rid an entire dwelling of
bed bugs by raising or lowering the
thermostat will be unsuccessful,
although some companies are having
success using supplemental heaters.
General housecleaning measures, such
as vacuuming floors and surfaces,
seldom reaches the places where bed
bugs hide. Targeted vacuuming of
infested harborages, however, can help
remove some of the bugs before
treatment with insecticides. Bed bugs
and especially the eggs can be
difficult to dislodge. Optimum results
will be achieved by moving and
scraping the end of the suction wand
along infested areas such as seams and
fabric folds of beds and sofas, and
the perimeter edge of wall-to-wall
carpets. Afterward, dispose of the
vacuum contents in a sealed trash bag.
Some pest control firms also employ
commercial steamers or rapid freezing
equipment to treat areas where bed
bugs are found or suspected. Used
correctly, they kill both bugs and
eggs on contact. Neither method,
however, affords residual protection
against bed bugs which may have been
missed. At times it may be necessary
to throw out infested items,
especially beds and upholstered
furniture. Knowledgeable pest control
firms are able to advise clients on
what can stay and what should go. When
infested items are discarded, bagging
or wrapping them prevents dislodgement
of bugs en route to the Dumpster®.
While the aforementioned measures are
helpful, insecticides are important
for bed bug elimination. Professionals
treat using a variety of low-odor
sprays, dusts and aerosols. Baits
designed to control ants and
cockroaches are ineffective.
Application entails treating all areas
where the bugs are discovered or tend
to crawl or hide. This may take hours
of effort and follow-up visits are
usually required. Some bed bug
species are parasites of bats or
birds, and may bite people if the wild
hosts are no longer available. If bat
bugs or bird bugs are involved,
roosting and nesting sites should be
the primary focus of treatment and the
animals excluded from the building.