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Bed bug infestations are not only a physical attack on your body, but a psychological attack that can cause insomnia, anxiety and increased stress. Many people describe having bed bugs as one of the worst feelings they've experienced. Bed bugs can greatly impact you and your family, which is why we've developed proven solutions to this ongoing epidemic spreading across the United States.
The following professional protocol explains in detail how to effectively get rid of bed bugs from start to finish.
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As you read on, we?ll explain how to rid your home of bed bugs using methods that can be done yourself.
Our program is broken down into 4 steps, which will keep the bed bugs from biting the very first night! The four steps are:
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Encase Your Mattress |
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| Bed bugs and their eggs are most likely located in or on your mattress, box spring and pillows, which is why Certified Bed Bug Proof Mattress Encasements must be applied. Our bed bug proof encasements from SafeRest are used to protect and seal off the mattress and box spring while preventing bed bugs from entering, escaping or feeding through its proprietary fabric (non-vinyl). Also, with our encasements, you will not need to dispose of your mattress set saving you hundreds of dollars. Don't forget to encase your box springs as well if applicable as they're hollow and can create an ideal environment for bed bugs to hide. |
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A) Begin by stripping off your bedding from the mattress and then place them into sealed garbage bags
to prevent bed bugs from escaping and infesting other parts of the room or home. |
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B) Once you're in front of the washing machine, carefully unload your bedding directly inside and wash using the "HOT WATER" setting. Upon completion, dry the bedding on the "HIGH HEAT" setting if possible. The "wash and dry" method kills bed bugs and their eggs allowing you to sterilize your bedding.
*Be sure to reseal the garbage bag the bedding was initially placed in and dispose of properly. |
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C) While your bedding is being washed, use a HEPA Vacuum to remove any bed bugs, shells, fecal droppings or eggs that may be present along the seams of your mattress, pillows and box spring. Also, don't forget to vacuum the bed or frame itself thoroughly inside cracks and crevices where bed bugs might be hiding. Although most regular vacuums may be used for this step, the preferred vacuum to use is a Sealed True HEPA PCO Vacuum. These vacuums are designed specifically to collect bed bugs and their eggs into a sealed HEPA filter (nothing gets out).
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D) Once the mattress and bed have been vacuumed, our Steamers can be used to effectively penetrate deep inside beds, frames, mattresses and box springs in order to kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. Beds bugs are highly susceptible to heat, which is why a steam treatments are used to efficiently treat large surface areas in just a short period of time. Simply use the included cloth attachment provided with each of our steamers to limit the moisture expelled by the steamer during treatment. When steaming, move at about 1 inch per second within 1 inch of the surface being treated to ensure that an even application of hot steam is applied.
An alternative to steaming your mattress is to use STERI-FAB. Steri-Fab can be sprayed directly onto the mattress and box spring in order to kill bed bugs on contact. Lightly spray your mattress along the top and bottom seams and allow to dry for 30 minutes or until fully dry. Broadcasting the entire mattress with Steri-Fab is often not necessary unless the mattress is heavily infested. When applying Steri-Fab to the box spring, we recommend removing the bottom dust cover allowing access to the inside of the box spring. The dust cover does not have to be re-applied once removed as it's there mainly for aesthetics.
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E) Once the mattress and box spring are vacuumed, steamed and completely dry, the zippered mattress, pillows and box spring covers should be applied and fully zipped up. Encasements again are crucial to success as they prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping the mattress and box spring (they also help eliminate popular hiding places). Without a blood meal, they will eventually die inside the cover. Encasements should not removed for 18 months to ensure all beds bugs are dead.
After the Bedding Encasements have been applied, you may now add your recently cleaned and bed bug free bedding including sheets and pillows cases.
You're now done with step 1. |
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Elevate and Intercept |
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| With your mattress and bedding now free from bed bugs, it's important to keep it that way by adding Climbup interceptors to each leg of your bed touching the floor. Bed bugs are not just found in your bed often hiding in furniture, along baseboards, inside walls, crack and crevices. Attracted by CO2 and body heat while you sleep, bed bugs will leave these hiding places in attempt to make their way to you by way of the bed legs to feed. Climbup Interceptors, applied to each bed leg, deny bed bugs an entry way into the bed by trapping any inbound bed bug into a clever perimeter pitfall. |
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A) Before applying the Climbup Insect Interceptors, we must first ensure the mattress is elevated off the ground. Bed bugs often travel from hiding places within 5 feet of the bed in order to feed so creating a barrier between you and the bugs through elevation is a must. A common mistake people often do when dealing with bed bugs is to throw away their bed frame and mattress resorting to sleeping on the floor or on an air mattress. This is actually the worst thing you can do as there is nothing to stop bed bugs from getting to you. Remember, bed bugs cannot jump or fly so they must climb to reach you. Elevating the mattress through the use of a bed or bed frame creates limited access points bed bugs must use to reach you. Only the legs or castors of your bed should be in contact with the floor (bed skirts should be removed).
If your bed has storage below the mattress that is touching the floor horizontally, it will need to be removed as it creates an easy access opportunity for bed bugs to climb up and into the bed. If your bed contains a large amount of cracks and crevices, you may also want to temporarily use a traditional bed frame until your infestation has been eradicated. However, you may be able to use a Bed Bug Steamer to treat these cracks and crevices if there are accessible access points. A simple metal bed frame, however; is the best way to elevate the mattress and box springs off the floor.
*If there is anything hanging above your mattress (ex. Shelves) they should be removed or the bed should be moved away as bed bugs can fall onto your mattress from above. |
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B) Our Climbup Interceptors create a barrier preventing bed bugs from climbing up your bed legs where they would normally reach you in order to feed. This step is crucial as bed bugs must have at least 5 blood meals in order to reach all five stages of development where reproduction may then occur. With the interceptors installed, you are essentially cutting off their feeding cycle while creating an effective trap that will capture bed bugs while you sleep.
Preventing bed bugs from feeding also offers relief both physically and emotionally as you can sleep bite free! Simply place an interceptor below each leg or castor touching the floor. Once applied, Climbup Interceptors will begin collecting bed bugs using a patented outer pitfall feature allowing you to monitor the population daily if desired. For example, if you see a majority of the bed bugs stuck in one leg of the bed, you may be able to also locate directionally where bed bugs are coming from (perhaps a nightstand or furniture near that leg). With the bed now elevated and the interceptors installed, we will now move on to the "Steam and Clean" portion of our protocol (step 3).
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Steam and Clean |
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A) Bed bugs are likely in different parts of your room including along the edges of carpet, inside wood cracks, behind picture frames and inside books, magazines, furniture, etc. In this 3rd step, we are going to clean, declutter, vacuum and steam areas of the room where bed bugs might be hiding. This will remove and knock down a good portion of the bed bug population while also making it harder for them to hide (by removing clutter). This may also be a good time to go through your closet to dispose of anything you may no longer need. Items needing to be disposed of should be sealed in thick trash bags to prevent infesting other areas of your home or building during removal.
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B) To kill bed bugs and reduce their hiding places, we recommend removing clothing found in dresser drawers and treating them inside a dryer for 45 minutes (only fill dryer half way to ensure adequate heat delivery). Once treated, clothing that you don't normally wear should be stored inside garbage bags outside of the infested room if possible. Clothing that you normally wear on a weekly basis can be conveniently stored in a sealed plastic bins to limit possible re-exposure. We don't recommend removing clothing hanging in the closet unless there is a heavy infestation. The goal here again is to limit bed bug hiding places as well as the risk of carrying bed bugs into other parts of the home or to other locations including your car, job or friends house. |
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C) A HEPA Vacuum works great to suck up as may bed bugs and their eggs as possible. Use the narrow attachments of the vacuum to get inside deep cracks and crevices, along baseboards, behind picture frames, around window sills, as well as below and behind furniture. Once finished with the vacuum, the bag should be replaced or the canister cleaned to limit exposure of bed bugs to other parts of the house or apartment. . |
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D) A great way to treat sofas, chairs, furniture, mattresses, cabinets, walls and just about anything else after vacuuming is with a Bed Bug Steamer. Our steamers produce 200+ degree steam, which is needed to kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact. A steamer can also be used on carpets and is one of the best ways to treat baseboards, cracks and crevices. Remember when applying steam to move at one inch per second within 1 inch of the treatment surface to kill bed bugs and their eggs on contact.
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E) An easy way to treat difficult items such as books, papers, luggage, shoes, dry clean only clothing or most any other items is by using our PackTite Bed Bug Heater. With the PackTite Bed Bug Heater, you can place belongings that cannot be washed into the PatckTite where it automatically kills all stages of the bed bug life cycle. PackTite is also popular as a preventative tool travelers can use to treat their luggage after returning from a trip. Upon arrival from a trip, simply place your luggage into the PackTite, plug it in and let the PackTite do the rest!
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We are now at the final step!
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Spray and Powder |
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| With the bed cleaned, covered, elevated, intercepted and the room cleaned, vacuumed and steamed thoroughly, its time to apply the bed bug sprays and powders. |
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| Spray |
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To kill bed bugs we use a combination of different products designed specifically for bed bugs, which are made up of both contact and residual sprays. Contact killers, as the name implies, will kill bed bugs quickly, but offer no long lasting protection or residual. Residual sprays, applied after the contact killer spray, offer protection against future bed bugs for between 2-12 weeks, but kill slower (this is why we use both). Our Bed Bug Kits include everything you need to treat bed bugs including contacts, residuals and powders.
When treating bed bugs, you need to think like a bed bug in regards to areas where they may likely be hiding. Bed bugs prefer tight dark hiding spaces where they can remain safe until their next meal. This includes cracks, crevices, the seems of mattresses, furniture and along baseboards. Be sure to inspect every square inch of the infested room for potential hot spots. If we can treat all the hiding spots, we can kill all the bed bugs. One common mistake people make is applying sprays all over the room and not solely in these hiding spaces. Spraying all over the floor and carpeting will not improve the treatment and is not recommended. Always read the products label and read the MSDS available on each one of our product pages to ensure proper usage and to see what areas the product is specifically labeled to treat. |
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A) To effectively treat small or large infestation, begin by blitzing your bed bug bugs with a contact killer spray. STERI-FAB is a very popular alcohol based spray with a synthetic pyrethroid that kills bed bugs effectively on contact. We also recommend JT Eaton Contact Killer, which uses natural pyrethrum to kill bed bugs quickly (both contact killers are supplied in our Bed Bug Kits). Start by spraying along baseboards, below drawers and on drawer slides, behind cabinets and behind night stands (please see the bedroom illustration below). The Red Bottle of JT Eaton Bed Bug Killer or STERI-FAB work fast and will kill a large percentage of the population within 24 hours. |
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B) Immediately after the contact spray has been applied, a residual will then be used on the same areas as the contact offering long lasting protection against returning bed bugs. We recommend using Bedlam Plus inside cracks and crevices throughout the room and JT Eaton Kills Bed Bugs Plus along the seams and folds of mattresses, box springs as well as below the cushions and bases of sofas, chairs, edges of carpets and other fabric items. (Bedlam Plus and JT Eaton Kills Bed Bugs Plus residual killers are supplied in our Bed Bug Kits). As with our contact killers, residual sprays are designed to treat hiding places where bed bug are or may be. Sprays should only be applied inside cracks and crevices and not in areas that we touch, walk on or sit on. Residual again means that the spray will continue to kill for 2-12 weeks normally depending on the surface applied to. Repeat both the contact and residual application steps every two weeks making a total of 3 applications. To see a helpful illustration of where to apply the contact and residual sprays scroll down to the bottom of this page.
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| Powder |
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| One bed bug sprays have been applied and completely dry, its time to put down the bed bug powder. |
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A) Our Bed Bug Powder is an essential tool used during an infestation as there are no resistance issues as well as it continues to kill bed bugs indefinitely as long as it remains dry. Our bed bug powder works by coating the exoskeleton of the bed bug causing dehydration and asphyxiation.
Bed bug powder is applied into confined areas where it will not be stirred up into the air. Examples include below the edges of carpeting, inside deep cracks and wall voids as well as inside electrical outlets and switch plates by first removing the faceplate with a flat head screwdriver (never apply powder where electronics are plugged in and always turn the power off first to reduce the risk of electrocution). Bed bug powder is often misused and should never be dumped all over the floor in clumps where it can be stirred up in the air and inhaled. We recommend using a dust mask during application.
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B) We offer a Professional Powder Applicator, which offers better control when applying the powder. The applicator also allows the user to gain access into hard to reach areas. Unless the powder is disturbed, becomes wet or is vacuumed up, no additional application are necessary.
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| Active Bed Bug Traps and Monitors (used with our 4-step solution in unoccupied rooms) |
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When treating for bed bugs, you must also understand how they are drawn to their next blood meal. Bed bugs are attracted by body heat and carbon dioxide (CO2). Without such attractants, they can remain dormant and inactive for several months. This makes treating infested rooms that are unoccupied more difficult as there is nothing to draw them across the applied powders and sprays.
One example is someone that moved from the master bedroom to the spare bedroom after being bitten. Many of the bed bugs will remain behind, but some may follow the person to the spare bedroom or adjacent wall. If the person returns to the master bedroom, there may now bed bugs in two rooms. This person can only be in one room at a time so an active attractant is needed to draw the bed bugs out in the unoccupied room during treatment.
Another example is a vacant apartment where the tenants moved out because of bed bugs. Spraying for bed bugs may no be effective without an attractant present to re-activate and make the bed bugs mobile again.
Fortunately, there is a solution to both of these examples. We carry Bed Bug Monitor and Traps that can be placed in infested rooms such as spare bedrooms, living rooms, family rooms and bathrooms to draw out bed bug from walls, cracks and crevices during treatment. These products include the Bed Bug Beacon, Verifi Bed Bug Monitor and Trap and NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor. Give us a call or visit each product page to see how our bed bug attractors and traps can help make your treatment more effective especially in unoccupied rooms. These units can also help users monitor the progress of their treatment to ultimately know when bed bugs are finally gone. |
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| What to Expect:
Week 1 (First Application) Most of the bed bugs will be killed during the first application (within 3-4 days of initial treatment) - However, for up to 5 days after your initial treatment, eggs were being actively laid (5 a day each) by the dead or dying females, which will hatch in 7-14 days.
Week 2 Eggs laid during week one are beginning to hatch and these newborn bed bugs are now in search for their first blood meal. Remember it takes 5 feedings in order for a bed bug to be able to reproduce. As long as they come in contact with our bed bug powders, sprays or traps before the 5th time they feed, they will die and never have a chance to lay eggs.
Week 3 (Second Application)The remaining eggs left over from the dead adult bed bugs will hatch or have already hatched by now. The second treatment is intended to kill off all of the baby bed bugs and any remaining adult bed bugs. Keep up the barrier! You're almost done!
Week 4 All the eggs have hatched by now and no new eggs are being produced. This is the mop-up week where you will be killing the few bed bugs that managed to survive until now.
Week 5 (Third Application) The third application is mostly precautionary just to make sure we've killed 100%. You are now bed bug free! |
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| After all 4 steps are completed you should be bed bug free.
To prevent bed bugs from spreading, powder and spray is recommended to be used in rooms adjacent to the infested room. Be sure to continue sleeping in the infested room until the bed bugs are eradicated as you don't want them to follow you to another room.
In order for this program to work, all steps must be thoroughly followed. Due to treatment practices and variables outside of our control, Bed Bug Supply is not liable or warranty any outcome against bed bugs. Bed bug supply is also not liable for the misuse of any product we carry. Always adhere to each products label and MSDS for effective and safe usage.
All information contained in this 4-step protocol is furnished free of charge and is intended for your evaluation. In our opinion the information is, as of the date of this Protocol, reliable, however, it is your responsibility to determine the suitability of the information for your use. You are advised not to construe the information as absolutely complete since additional information may be necessary or desirable when particular, exceptional or variable conditions or circumstances exist or because of applicable laws or government regulations. Therefore. you should use this information only as a supplement to other information gathered by you and you must make independent determinations of the suitability and completeness of the information from all source to assure both proper use of the material described herein and the safety and health of employees. Accordingly, no guarantee expressed, or implied is made by Levita LLC D.B.A Bed Bug Supply as to the results to be obtained based upon your use of the information nor does Levita LLC. assume any liability arising out of your use of the information or products supplied on our site. Always follow each products label and MSDS.
At Bed Bug Supply we have the solutions you and your family needs to sleep comfortably without bed bugs.
Call today to speak to one of our bed bug experts at: (866) 238-9868 |
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STERI-FAB
STERI-FAB is a disinfectant that kills bed bugs, lice, dust mites, roaches fleas and a host of other insects. STERI-FAB is also used to disinfect mattresses and is popular with state inspectors.
| Our Price: $16.28 |
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Bedlam Bed Bug Insecticide Spray Aerosol
Bedlam® controls Bed Bugs, Dust Mites,Fleas, Lice and Ticks by killing on contact and providing lasting residual performance. Bedlam is labeled for use in the toughest hiding places. As a water-based product, it won’t stain water-safe fabrics and it is non-irritating to humans and animals. Bedlam works for the most demanding jobs—rest assured.
| Our Price: $19.95 |
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Topia Organic Bed Bug Insecticide Spray 17 oz.
Organic spray for bed bugs has been in high demand and now it's now it's finally here. Using only natural ingrediants, Topia Bed Bug Spray is an effective aerosol spray that is people and pet safe.
| Our Price: $19.99 |
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Phantom Aerosol Insecticide 17.5 oz.
Phantom Aerosol Insecticide is quickly becoming one of the top choices for bed bug treatment given its excellent success rate.
| Our Price: $26.35 |
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J.T Eaton Kills BedBugs II (contact killer)
JT Eaton Bed Bug Killer II is a contact spray in that it kills bed bugs quickly on contact.
| Our Price: $11.99 |
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NightWatch Bed Bug Trap and Monitor
Detects bedbug infestations early
Popular with pest control companies to lease to customers
Provides an early detection mechanism for bedbug outbreaks worldwide
| Our Price: $499.95 |
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Bed Bug Beacon Monitor And Trap
The bed bug beacon is a hot new product that monitors and traps bed bugs by using natural carbon dioxide. The beacon is popular for individuals and pest control operators wanting to know if bed bugs are present.
| Our Price: $49.95 |
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Climbup Insect Interceptor Bed Bug Monitor
Climbup? Insect Interceptors are a unique and easy-to-use monitoring system to aid in the early detection of bed bug infestations. These specially designed plastic cups are pesticide-free and are coated with a thin layer of talc which makes them too slick for the bugs to crawl out. Bugs approaching the bed (or other furniture) from the floor will fall into the outer well while bed bugs leaving the bed will be captured in the center well.
| Our Price: $17.95 |
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PackTite Portable Bed Bug Heat Treatment Device
PackTite is a must have for those looking to prevent or treat bed bug infestations. Many bed bugs infestations occur after returning from a business trip or vacation where bed bugs were present. With PackTite, you can routinely place your luggage inside the easy to use heater in order to kill all stages of bed bugs. This can offer peace of mind and greatly reduce the chance of infecting your home.
| Our Price: $309.00 |
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Green Professional Powder Applicator For Hard To Reach Areas
The Professional Bed Bug Powder Applicator is the perfect way to dispense bed bug powder. This versatile applicator can spread bed bug powder into hard to reach areas for different treatment needs.
Using the professional powder applicator is key to applying bed bug powder into hard to reach cracks and crevices. When handled upright (black cap on top), the powder applicator creates a very fine dusting resulting in an invisible barrier that bed bugs will likely not notice. When inverted (black cap on the top) the powder will flow out more freely to fill in large cracks. If you hold the applicator with the black cap sideways, it will disperse in between. We suggest using the powder applicator outside in the grass to before using it inside to learn how to use it.
| Our Price: $14.99 |
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Hefty Sealed Big Bags With Patented One Zip Feature For Travel & Bed Bug Infestations
Whether traveling or treating bed bug infestations Hefty Bed Bug Bags offer the ultimate in protection with their patented One-Lock water tight seal. No other bed bug bag provides this level of protection offering peace of mind knowing your belongings are secured.
| Our Price: $9.99 |
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