What off-the-shelf products can I use against bed bugs?
Answer:
Unfortunately, many products available at your local grocery or hardware stores are not going to be very effective against bed bugs. There are a couple of reasons for this:
They may be using outdated ingredients. When they were first made, certain synthetic chemicals were plenty effective at killing bed bugs. However, over time some strains of bed bugs developed resistances to these chemicals. Now, it’s estimated that as many as 90% of the US’s bed bug populations can be resistant to a single compound, making it effectively obsolete. Unfortunately, those chemicals are still being sold under familiar brand names.
They may not be targeting bed bugs specifically. Often, pest control products are labeled for a very broad range of pests, and bed bugs are simply included in the list after some positive lab testing results. Unfortunately, these products may not actually be that effective against bed bugs in the real world. Bed bugs are a unique enemy, and must be targeted by unique methods. A one-size-fits-all bug spray may not do the trick.
They may be used for open-space spraying only. Bug bombs and foggers are very popular for dealing with outbreaks of ants, roaches, termites, and more. However, they aren’t very good at penetrating deep into your walls, floorboards, and furniture, and probably won’t reach the bed bugs hiding in those places. To kill bed bugs thoroughly, you’ll need methods that can get into those cracks and crevices.
The may be outright ridiculous. In the wake of this ongoing bed bug epidemic, some products have popped up that are simply outrageous in their claims. Swallowing a pill or putting a patch on your skin is not going to magically keep bed bugs from biting you. Chemistry just doesn’t work that way.
We founded Bed Bug Supply as a result of seeing so many off-the-shelf bed bug “solutions” that aren’t effective solutions at all. Bed bugs aren’t like other pests - spraying a single product around the house isn’t enough to kill them. You need to use a more holistic approach, such as the steps outlined in our proven 4-step solution. With the right combination of the right products, you can be bed bug free.
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