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Bed bugs — an absolute nightmare for homeowners and business managers in the hospitality sector. Urbanization, a sharp incline of international tourism, and more diverse, high-volume accommodation options have aided the proliferation of bed bugs.
These highly resilient, parasitic insects have stood the test of time and are more prevalent today than ever. Since 1921, Western Exterminator has been developing the best bed bug inspection and treatment methods to protect your home and business from this tiny pest.
Bed bugs
Get the bed bug facts to protect your home or business.
Control bed bugs: the Western way
Western Exterminator offers home and business owners the most comprehensive bed bug detection, treatment, and prevention solutions. We offer a variety of treatment options for property owners to get rid of this biting pest. Our bed bug control options vary and can depend on:
- Infestation size
- Infestation location
- Property type (residential or commercial)
Before deciding on a treatment method, your Technician will perform a bed bug inspection to examine the areas of suspected bed bug activity. Depending on the situation, your Technician will perform the inspection visually or with passive or active bed bug detection devices. All inspection methods will find where the bed bugs are hiding, helping your Technician decide on the best control method.
Bed bug treatments
Professional techniques using conventional, steam, and heat treatments are proven to be more efficient and powerful than DIY solutions or natural home remedies. Western Exterminator’s bed bug control methods are environmentally friendly and include:
- Insecticide treatments
- Fumigation
- Heat treatment
- Steam remediation
- Bed bug mattress covers
- Bed bug canine detection
Bed bug insecticide treatments
The primary and most-used approach for the removal of bed bugs is the use of several insecticide formulations. Liquids, dust, and aerosols are typically required for a thorough bed bug service because of varying types of surfaces, materials, and circumstances in both homes and businesses.
Bed bug fumigation services
Bed bug fumigation involves the release of fumigants into a sealed, enclosed space. The gas penetrates all items within the fumigation space, exterminating all life stages of bed bugs present - hidden or inaccessible - during the exposure period.
Bed bug heat treatment
Heat treatment is a chemical-free method of bed bug control using a targeted application of raised temperatures to eliminate eggs, larvae, and adult bed bugs in a single treatment. Heat treatments denature and destroy essential proteins in the insect and kill them by desiccation - drying them out.
Bed bug steam remediation
Steam remediation is a chemical-free method of bed bug control using the application of steam to treat the surfaces of mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture. It is highly effective in reducing the active bed bug populations where the use of insecticides is restricted.
Bed bug mattress liners and covers
Mattress liners and covers are two great preventative measures against bed bugs. Western Exterminator offers ActiveGuard mattress liners that impact the bed bug on lethal and sub-lethal levels. Mattress encasements can be added on as they prohibit mattresses and box springs from becoming infested by providing a barrier that bed bugs cannot penetrate through.
Bed bug canine detection
Specially trained bed bug sniffing dogs help the Technicians at Western Exterminator accurately detect and locate the presence of bed bugs without disruption to your home or business.
*This type of inspection is only available in certain locations. Contact us to see if our Canine Teams service your area.
Read moreWhy do I need bed bug control?
Without proper bed bug control, bed bugs can spread fast, quickly infesting your entire home. This biting pest can live for a very long time without a meal. Female bed bugs lay eggs daily and can lay as many as 500 eggs in their short lifetime. If you have only a few bed bugs in your room, it won't be long before it becomes a severe infestation.
In addition to having tiny bugs around your home or business, bed bugs feed on human blood and will leave irritating bites on your skin. Though bed bugs do not transmit diseases, experiencing a bed bug infestation can be a very emotional and highly stressful experience. Having bed bugs on your commercial property is a nightmare for brand reputation and can cause a loss of sales and bookings for your business.
Signs of a bed bug infestation
Bed bugs are elusive, nocturnal creatures often surfacing from cracks and crevices to feed on human hosts for a few brief hours in the night before returning to secluded hiding places for up to 5 - 10 days.
The first thing a professional bed bug exterminator does is to look for the signs of a bed bug infestation. This process can be challenging, which is why we may sometimes recommend a canine bed bug inspection, but adult bed bugs can be seen with the naked eye and you may be able to spot them if you know where to look.
Check areas such as bed frames, headboards, mattress seams, baseboards, inside electrical sockets and fittings and look out for these telltale signs:
Blood stains
Usually found on your sheets, pillow cases and bed clothes
Dark or rusty spots
Bed bug excrement on sheets, mattresses, bed bugs and walls
Sickly sweet scent
An offensive musty odor from the bed bugs’ scent glands
Skin sheds
Nearly translucent shells left behind in a clutter
How to get rid of bed bugs
Bed bugs can be hugely aggravating for home and business owners alike and be particularly troublesome to control. More often than not, people will attempt a DIY solution using home remedies to manage the bed bug infestation before contacting a pest control professional. Here are a few steps you can try if you decide to have a go at it yourself:
Inspect hot spots
Check bed bug hiding areas such as mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, wall joints, edges of carpets and nearby furniture for live insects.
Wash the bedding
Strip the bedding, place it in a garbage bag and transfer it to the washing machine. Wash infested bedding at temperatures of at least 140°F for 90 minutes.
Vacuum thoroughly
Vacuum your bed, mattress and areas where you have spotted bed bugs. Use the hose attachment to clean along walls and edges. Empty your vacuum into an outside bin.
Freeze them out
Place infested items such as pillows and duvets into your freezer. Maintain temperatures below 0°F for at least 4 days.
Seeing as they are some of the most slippery hitchhikers, the most effective way to control bed bugs is to enlist the help of a professional bed bug exterminator. At Westen Exterminator, the treatments we employ eliminate the bed bug infestation at all stages of the life cycle, getting rid of the adult bed bugs but also removing all eggs and larvae.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main causes of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers. If you have bed bugs in your home, there is a really good chance that you picked them up during a stay away from home. Bed bugs can also be brought into your home through an item that was previously infested and carried into your house. If you live in an apartment, bed bugs can travel from unit to unit, so it is likely that there is an infestation in a room in your building.
Where do bed bugs hide in your home?
Bed bugs like to hide anywhere that humans rest for an extended period as they prefer to be as close to their food source as possible. Their most common ‘hiding’ spots are beds, couches, and reclining chairs. As an infestation grows, bed bugs can extend to unusual places like baseboards and curtains, along ceilings, in electrical outlets, and behind pictures.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Since bed bugs breed quickly, we do not recommend attempting DIY bed bug control. Bed bugs are very tiny making it difficult for the untrained eye to find all of them. Working with a professional pest control company like Western Exterminator is the easiest and best way to get rid of bed bugs. Our Technicians are trained in finding and eliminating bed bugs at all life stages.
What kills bed bugs instantly?
Any treatment method provided by a professional pest control company is your best option for killing bed bugs as quickly as possible. These methods include conventional treatment, fumigation, heat treatment, or steam remediation. Every bed bug situation is unique and your Technician will choose the appropriate method to eliminate the bed bugs in the quickest manner.
How do I permanently get rid of bed bugs at home?
Working with a professional pest control company like Western Exterminator is the best way to get rid of bed bugs at home. A Technician will inspect your home, find where the bed bugs are hiding, and pick the right treatment service to ensure the bed bugs are gone. Our control methods include conventional treatment, fumigation, steam remediation, and heat treatments. DIY bed bug control methods are ineffective, and an ineffective treatment will likely only make the infestation worse.