Why Does Your Bedbug Infestation Keep Returning?

Bed bug infestations are notoriously difficult to get rid of. No matter where they came from, once they're in your home, it requires a complicated and well-coordinated effort to get rid of them. This is mainly due to their eggs, which are usually hidden and difficult to destroy. In addition, if any bed bugs survive an extermination, they will quickly repopulate; if a property is evacuated, the bugs can go for months without eating.

All this means that, if you've got a recurring infestation, you're not alone. What you need to do is determine just where your extermination plan has broken down.

Relying On Pesticides

Spray pesticides are generally only effective against bed bugs while wet, so spraying down an area and relying on it later killing or deterring bed bugs doesn't work. Waiting until you see bed bugs and spraying them is effective – but only at killing the bed bugs you can see. Powders such as diatomaceous earth are effective at killing bugs, but they can be messy to apply, and it's crucial to keep using them for at least a week after you no longer see any bed bugs, since hidden eggs may still hatch during this time.

Pesticides can be a very effective part of eradicating bed bugs, but it's nearly impossible – apart from complicated professional fumigation – to get rid of bed bugs with pesticides alone.

Heating Laundry But Not Home

Bed bugs don't do well in the heat; that's why it's recommended that people wash their clothes and run them through a hot dryer after coming home from traveling. However, you can't heat all the areas that can harbor bed bugs yourself. While they like bedding and linens, they can also be found in mattresses, the crevices of furniture, or even in the corners of rooms and in cluttered areas.

It's important to note that you should not try to heat your home to get rid of bedbugs yourself. Your home thermostat won't go high enough – 120 to 130 degrees – and trying to use a space heater for this is a serious fire hazard. Professional pest control specialists have equipment that can be used to close off and heat rooms to the temperatures required to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Not Using All Your Options

No matter what method you're using, it's likely to fail if it's the only method you're using. Bed bugs are tenacious, and that's why it's recommended by the EPA that you use integrated pest management. That means combining as many methods as possible to fight bed bugs in all areas of the home and at all life stages. Working with a professional can be a great aid in creating an IPM strategy to get rid of your bed bug problem – for good.


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