It can be very unsettling to discover bed bugs in your bedding or furniture. Left to their own devices, these tiny insects can leave itchy red bites and trigger unpleasant infections. That’s why it’s important to schedule pest removal as soon as possible. Here’s a basic guide to the steps involved in eliminating bed bugs and preventing their return.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

1. Identify & Isolate

Before a specialist begins the removal process, you must identify the infestation's full extent and isolate these areas to halt the spread of the bed bugs. While you can carry out a basic search on your own, it's often best to leave this to a professional who will understand the best places to look and have dedicated equipment for isolating pests. Apart from beds, bed bugs can often be found in baseboards, between cushions, under wallpaper and decorations, and in other hard-to-reach areas.

2. Heat Treatment

Bed bugs will die if they're exposed to temperatures of 113 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes, so the next step is to seal and heat-treat any infested materials. To guarantee bed bugs are eliminated, pest removal professionals use whole-room heat treatments that can heat a room to between 135 and 145 degrees.

3. Eliminate the Bed Bugs

The most effective way to kill bed bugs is with professional-grade chemical pesticides. The most commonly used pesticides are pyrethrins and pyrethroids, which are derived from chrysanthemum flowers and toxic to bed bugs. Other options include desiccants, which dry out the protective outer layers of bed bugs' bodies, and bug bombs, which release vapors that can penetrate difficult-to-access cracks and gaps to ensure hiding bugs are wiped out.

4. Monitor & Re-Treat

Bed bug infestations can be persistent and may require several treatments to eliminate. Following the initial treatment, it's important to monitor the affected areas, checking about once a week for signs of renewed bed bug activity. Pest removal technicians may recommend using bed bug interceptors, which are placed under the feet of a bed frame to trap any bugs as they attempt to get back into bedding. It may be necessary to use these for up to 12 months following treatment.

If you have a bed bug infestation, turn to Rochester Pest Pro in New York for prompt, reliable pest removal. These specialists have more than 20 years of experience identifying, isolating, and destroying bed bugs and other pests to restore comfort and health to homes. To schedule an inspection or treatment, call (585) 486-4815. To learn more about how they can help you, visit their website.