Fight bed bugs with steam
Bed bugs spread rapidly and are very hard to get rid of, so when you discover these parasites in your home or work place, it is normal to feel overwhelmed. Your first reaction might be to call an exterminator, but this solution often turns out to be very expensive and can be inefficient. Exterminators use toxic chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment. Sometimes, even the harsh products cannot kill the bed bugs eggs, which means your pest problem will return a few weeks later.
Bed bugs HATE heat!
Fortunately, bed bugs have one true weakness: heat. As resilient as they seem, all it takes to kill those pesky bugs is exposure to high temperature steam (the higher the better). This is why Dupray steam cleaners are your best option for exterminating bed bugs, as they produce extremely high temperature steam that the bugs simply cannot tolerate.
When done correctly, one single steam treatment can get rid of those parasites – for good. This natural cleaning and disinfecting solution is also less costly and can be used for a wide variety of other cleaning applications in your home or business.
Steam cleaners can be used everywhere to:
Kill bed bugs, dust mites and other parasites hidden in mattresses, cushions, and on upholstery.
Exterminate bed bugs found on furniture including nightstands, beds, and dressers.
Remove bed bugs from carpets and flooring.
Get rid of bed bugs found in box springs.
"As resilient as they seem, all it takes to kill those pesky bugs is exposure to high temperature steam."
3 ways to detect bed bugs.
Bed bugs tend to stay close to their food source, which is blood. So if you or someone in your household discovers some red itchy bumps, you might have bed bugs. Bed bugs are generally found in mattresses, pillows, cushions, clothing, boxsprings and furniture. They look like tiny black dots all gathered together and they spread fast, which is why it is important to detect them as soon as possible and act immediately. Follow the steps below to determine whether you have bed bugs:
Search the stitches
Bed bugs hide in the small corners or crevices of mattresses, linens, pillows and clothing. The first place to check is the stitching of the mattress itself, then places where bed bugs are most commonly found such as sheets, pillows, and cushions. Look for very small black dots (bed bug eggs) grouped together.
Check furniture and floors
If you detect bed bugs after Step 1, it’s also a good idea to check your furniture and carpeting as they can spread very quickly throughout your home. Despite their name, bed bugs like to live on a variety of surfaces in your home. Carefully inspect all furniture, carpets and curtains, especially in or near the bedroom.
How to kill bed bugs with steam.
Once you've determined that you do have bed bugs, it is very important to act quickly and get rid of them.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you eliminate bed bugs using a steam cleaner:
Clean up and clear out
Clean up and clear the clutter to eliminate hiding spaces.
Vacuum your carpets, furniture, mattresses and box springs to get rid of dust and debris.
Wash all linens and clothing in hot water. Dry, then seal in plastic bags to keep them protected.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect your vacuum and any accessories used in the process.
Make sure to throw all bags in the trash outside your home.
Start steaming
Fill your steam cleaner with water and turn it on.
Install the appropriate tool on the hose or extension tubes. The best tool for bed bug removal is the triangle tool with a microfiber cloth.
The key here is to work slowly, to ensure the steam has time to heat up the surface and penetrate it in depth. Take your time and steam everywhere very slowly.
Steam your environment top to bottom, beginning with curtains or drapes and working your way down to other furniture.
Steam your mattress by attaching a microfiber cloth to your triangle tool, this will insulate the steam as you slowly move over the entire surface of the mattress.
Set the steam cleaner on low or medium pressure to avoid pushing the bed bugs deeper into the mattress rather than killing them.
Slowly pass steam on all six sides of your mattress and repeat as needed to make sure you have steamed absolutely everywhere.
Dry out, and wrap up
Allow any steamed surfaces to dry.
Wrap mattress, box spring and any freshly steamed furniture in tear-resistant plastic for two weeks to ensure all living organisms will die.
Examine the furniture carefully for feces, skins, or living bed bugs.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect your vacuum and any accessories used during the cleaning process.
If signs of bed bugs are found after a week, repeat the entire process.