Getting or performing a bed bug treatment comes with a host of worries – you’ve got the concern of having the infestation in the first place, getting rid of it, and concerns about the treatment damaging your home.
To help put your mind at rest, we’re going to guide you through what you do and don’t need to be concerned about when it comes to bed bug treatments.
DO: Avoid DIY Treatments
If you’re heading to Pinterest for good DIY solutions to a bed bug infestation, pump the breaks. While some of these natural “wives tale” solutions will offer a temporary solution, many leave your home at risk of damage.
For example, one suggested solution is steam. While steam may be an effective spot treatment, and a good solution for soft furnishings, it’s not a suitable option for eradicating an infestation in a home. At best, it will leave you with live bed bugs ready to reinfest the home, and at worst, you may risk damaging walls and furniture.
Another suggested option is using turmeric. While turmeric is a very healthy spice to add to your meals, it’s not an effective way to kill bed bugs. Not only do some sites suggest you encase your mattress in it to “starve them of oxygen” which is certainly not guaranteed to work, but you’ll end up with a home that’s stained orange-yellow.
DO: Pick the Right Type of Treatment
Now you know the average DIY option isn’t a good one, let’s look at some of the professional options.
Does a chemical bed bug treatment damage the house?
A chemical bed bug treatment (sometimes called fumigation, depending on the method used) shouldn’t leave any permanent damage, but it’s not a particularly healthy option, either. What you’re essentially doing is covering every inch of your home in a toxic substance designed to kill. Many chemical treatments are also not 100% effective and many bed bugs are developing a resistance to these chemicals, so they’re becoming even less effective over time.
Does a bed bug heat treatment damage the house?
No – a bed bug heat treatment is one of the only form of bed bug treatment that will leave your home damage-free. All a heat treatment is doing is raising the heat level in your home to around 120F – that’s hot enough to start killing any living thing in the home, but not hot enough to damage electronics or furnishings. You may need to remove perishables before treatment since most need to be stored at less than 90F, and of course any pets, but otherwise your home will be left unchanged by the treatment – sans bed bugs, of course!
While some DIY and chemical bed bug treatments may damage your property, professional heat treatments will never do so. Your pest control company will guide you through any precautions you need to take before the treatment, ensuring your home is left in the condition you left it in. If you’re ready to find a bed bug professional near you, click here.