10 Tried and Tested Techniques to Eliminate Bed Bugs

Bed bugs have been annoying household pests for over 3,500 years (fossil records). The first documented presence of bed bugs dates back to the pre-Islamic era in Egypt. Even Aristotle mentioned them in 400 BC. Germans mentioned them in the 11th century, followed by France in the 13th century and England in the 15th century.

How did they end up in the Cayman Islands and other parts of the world? These bloodsuckers made their way into other countries through ships and by piggybacking on humans. Every year, 1 in every five homes is affected by bed bugs. Moreover, it takes around seven weeks for a bed bug infestation to be discovered.

Bed bugs are smart; they can even survive in sub-zero temperatures without feeding for days. Once they finish feeding on a host, they hide in furniture, electrical appliances, beneath wall hangings, and even close to the ceiling.

In this blog, we will discuss bed bug pest control treatment in the Cayman Islands. Let’s get started.

Top 10 Steps To Identify & Eliminate Bed Bugs At Your Property

Bed bug treatment comes much later. First, you need to figure out where the culprits are. Bed bugs are smart, and they hide in places we can’t even imagine. You need to keep your eyes open and identify every hiding place, followed by proactive treatment measures, leading to the elimination of bed bugs.

1. Look for the first signs of bed bug infestation - As stated above, bed bugs are sneaky pests, and you may not realize their presence until they start feasting on your blood. When these pests bite, they leave you with an after itch. What do these bites look like?

Mostly, these bites can be in lines or clusters, several red-colored bites with substantial swelling. Don’t think clothing can keep you safe. Bed bugs can bite you around the neck, arms, back, hands, and other parts of the body. In many cases, these bites can turn into fluid-filled blisters.

If you see rust-colored stains on your bedsheets, those are signs of bed bugs’ fecal matter. After these bed bugs drink your blood and digest it, they leave the fecal matter on your bedsheets. Try and sniff around; if you experience a musty odor in your room, it might indicate the presence of bed bugs around your house.

2. Clean all your fabrics - Have you identified all the hiding spots of bed bugs at your property? Now, it is time to take them to the task. Try the bed bugs heat treatment; it works well in killing bed bugs. Next, wash your bedsheets, mattresses, pillows, stuffed toys, and everything that has been in contact with your bed.

Wash all the fabric at the highest temperature possible, then dry it at high heat. The double shot heat treatment should finish off every sneaky bed bug in contact with your fabrics. Throw in your shoes, socks, and other objects where you can expect these pests to hide. Why give them a pause and a chance to multiply again? For nooks and corners that you are unable to reach, consider hiring professional pest control specialists.

3. Don’t ignore your mattresses - In addition to your bedsheets, pillows, etc., pay special attention to your mattresses. First, use a sturdy scrubber and brush off the mattress's surface, including the sides and the back. Now, your bed and room may be free of bed bugs, but they have found a new hiding spot - the vacuum cleaner.

After cleaning up the bed, mattresses, and your room, pick up the vacuum cleaner and transfer it to a sealed plastic bag. Leave it outside your house for a few days; the bugs will suffocate to death. Follow the same process for your mattress, place it in a bedbug-proof case and leave it in the basement or attic for a year.

4. Wall cracks - These sneaky bed bugs can hide in any corner of the room. Look out for cracks in the walls where bed bugs hide, lay their eggs, and reproduce. Also, if your room’s walls have wallpapers, bed bugs may be hiding behind them.

Conduct a thorough inspection of your property’s walls. Stuff the cracks with wet cement, plaster, or caulk. Remove the wallpapers if required and do what is necessary to keep bedbugs in check. Houses or properties in plush localities can also be infested by bed bugs.

5. Remove unnecessary items - Many people are under the impression that bed bugs only visit poor, impoverished homes. It is a misconception because bed bugs exist wherever litter and dirt exist. Get rid of unnecessary objects and junk, don’t leave anything in huge piles.

Be it tables, drawers, closets, cabinets, etc.; no place should be untidy and disorganized. Too much work, but you need to clean up your house to get rid of bed bugs and prevent them from returning. Prepare a monthly cleaning schedule for every corner of your home or hire a company specializing in residential pest control services.

6. Seal what you can’t clean - You managed to thrust the bedsheets and other items in the dryer, sealed the mattresses, but what about tables, chairs, and other objects in the room? Don’t forget, bedbugs can hide anywhere. Seal such items in plastic cases; the bedbugs should die in a year or so. If you feel some items are unnecessary, get rid of them.

Leave them by the roadside for the sanitation worker to pick them up, label them - Bedbug Infested. Doing this will warn other people who may want to take them away for personal use.

7. Steam Clean More Frequently - Steam cleaning is a great way to keep your home free of bed bugs. The intense heat produced by a professional steam cleaning machine can kill bedbugs and their eggs. Grab your steam cleaner and clean every corner of your house, including the cabinets, drawers, rugs, carpets, sofas, baseboards, etc. Ensure that the steamer’s temperature is set to 71 degrees celsius and that the airflow is low because high airflow can cause the bedbugs to disperse and reproduce later.

You will be surprised to know that bedbugs can even hide in laptops, desktops, CD cases, or cardboard boxes. Don’t steam clean them but put them in a thick plastic bag with no-pest strips. Dichlorvos - the main ingredient in these pest strips will terminate these bed bugs, but its smell can put you off.

8. Find a Company Specializing in Bedbug treatment in the Cayman Islands - You can watch videos, tutorials and read endless articles about eliminating bedbugs, but some things are best left to professionals. Professional pest control service providers understand bedbug behavior, plus they have the relevant experience and tools to finish off these pests for good.

Before hiring a pest control company, talk to them about their methods to eliminate bedbugs and how much they charge. Don’t finalize anything before the initial inspection. Mainly, a second session is required to completely rid your house of bedbugs. After the two sessions, you need to implement preventative measures to prevent these pests (bedbugs) from returning.

9. Ready Your House for Pest Control Treatment - Now that you have found the ideal company that provides home pest control services, it is time to get your house ready for the procedure. The pest control treatment procedure lasts for at least six hours.

All your family members will have to endure some discomfort for a short period, but it needs to be done. You don’t want bedbugs as permanent tenants in your house, do you? Seal all your assets, including furniture. No need to move heavy furniture away from the walls. Leave your bed, couch, dining table, refrigerator as they are.

9. Schedule Regular Inspections - Once the pest control company has finished the bed bug treatment procedure, you can relax and remain worry-free, right? No, you need to be careful and take steps to ensure that bed bugs don’t make a reappearance at your place.

Keep your eyes open and if you still find bedbugs, contact the pest control company. If you feel that the present company is not doing a good job, find a reputable company that delivers results. Regular maintenance and inspection are the keys to keeping bed bugs away from your property.

Key Takeaways

Bedbugs are not deadly like scorpions or snakes, but they can make your life hell. They sneak into your house, infest every room and object. The next thing you know, they are feeding on your blood. Look for the key signs of infestation.

1. Bloodstains on your bedsheets, mattresses, or pillowcases.
2. Dark or rust-colored spots on mattresses and bedsheets are an indication of bedbug excreta.
3. Bedbug fecal spots, eggshells, or the shed skins in bed bug hiding spots
4. An offensive musty odor in the room.
5. Itchy red spots on your body. These spots are mostly bug bites, and you would typically find them in a line across your hands, back, or torso.

If you observe the following signs, don’t hesitate to call an experienced company specializing in bed bug pest control treatment in the Cayman Islands.