Bed bugs can be a challenging pest to control when they move into your home. To eliminate an infestation, you will need to treat your space with pest control products. Insecticide sprays and dusts can be used to treat for these pests. We’ve gathered information to help you effectively treat your home for bed bugs.
How to Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment
Before you start treating your house, there are a few things you’ll want to do to prep the space. Check out how to prepare your home for a bed bug treatment.
- Identify Infested Areas: Before you begin treating your space, you’ll want to identify the infested areas. Examine the rooms carefully, looking for bed bugs and red or dark stains. A magnifying glass and flashlight can make it easier to spot these bugs.
- Wash & Dry Bedding & Clothes: To help get rid of bed bugs, you’ll want to wash and dry your bedding, linen, and clothes. Using a high heat setting will help to kill bed bugs.
- Remove Clutter: Bed bugs like hiding spots, so you will want to minimize clutter. Pick things up off the floor and organize your space. This will reduce hiding spots and also make it easier to treat the area.
- Vacuum: Vacuuming can help to remove bed bugs and their eggs. You’ll want to vacuum the floor, mattress, baseboards, and upholstered furniture. When you’re done, empty the contents into a sealed bag and place the bag in an outdoor trash bin.
How to Spray for Bed Bugs
Plant-based insecticide sprays are effective against many pests. Our Bed Bug & Flea Killer kills bed bugs and bed bug eggs. When spraying for bed bugs you’ll want to focus on the bed, carpet, upholstered furniture, and luggage. Spray treatments can be repeated as necessary.
- Treating the Bed: Before application, you’ll want to remove any bedding. Remove the mattress and box spring and disassemble the frame. Spray where you see bed bugs and their signs, focusing on the folds, tufts, seams, and edging. You don’t need to saturate the mattress. You’ll want to treat the cracks and joints in the frame, headboard, and footboard too. Allow the mattress and box spring to dry before placing it back on the frame.
- Treating Carpet & Rugs: Spray the area adjacent to or under the bed. It’s best to spray until damp, but you don’t want to overapply.
- Treating Upholstered Furniture: Bed bugs can also hide in upholstered furniture. Spot treat areas where you see bed bugs or their signs, paying attention to the tufts, seams, folds, and edges. You don’t want to spray the entire surface of the furniture.
- Luggage: If you have traveled recently and are dealing with bed bugs, you’ll want to inspect and treat your luggage. You can spray the outer surface of your luggage. Vacuuming your luggage can also help to remove any bed bugs.
How to Use a Dust for Bed Bug Control
Insecticide dusts are also an effective solution for bed bug problems. Our Bed Bug Killer dust provides fast control of bed bugs. It works for up to ten years when undisturbed, providing long-lasting protection.
- Use the Correct Amount of Dust: When applying our Bed Bug Killer dust, you will want to apply 2 oz per 100 sq ft. You can use the puffer bottle to apply a light, visible film. For treatment of cracks, tufts, and folds, you can use a craft or paint brush to help push the dust into these areas.
- Treating the Bed: Take the bed apart to ensure a thorough application. Treat the interior framework, joints, and cracks in the frame. Then, treat the mattress and box spring. Focus your application on tufts, edges, and folds as well as the interior framework of the box spring. Don’t forget to treat your headboard, including the back side of it.
- Treating Furniture: You can also apply the dust to furniture. You’ll want to treat hollow furniture legs and the interior framework. Apply dust to cracks and joints of the furniture as well as any folds, tufts, and the edges of cushions and upholstered furniture. If possible, remove cushions to treat under them.
- Treat Under Furniture: You’ll want to also treat the area underneath your furniture. Use the puffer bottle to lightly puff the dust under the bed, dressers, nightstands, and upholstered furniture.
- Treating Other Areas: Look for areas where bed bugs are present or signs of their activity. Examine your walls for cracks where bed bugs could hide, and apply the dust. You’ll want to treat baseboards and molding as well. Bed bugs can hide in and behind picture frames, so these will need to be treated too.
Bed bugs can be challenging to control, but pest control products can help to kick them out of your home. Whether you choose to use a plant-based insecticide spray or an insecticide dust, it’s important to do a thorough application. If you’re dealing with bed bugs or other pests, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.