How can one get rid of bedbug eggs? - briefly
Apply high‑heat treatment—drying, steaming, or washing at ≥120 °F—to all fabrics, bedding, and infested items, then vacuum the area and seal the vacuum bag for disposal. Finish with a residual insecticide approved for egg-stage control to eliminate any remaining ova.
How can one get rid of bedbug eggs? - in detail
Bed‑bug eggs are tiny, translucent capsules attached to seams, folds, and hidden crevices. Because they hatch in about a week, immediate action is required to prevent a new infestation.
• Vacuum every mattress, box spring, furniture, and floor surface. Use a hose attachment, move slowly to dislodge capsules, and discard the vacuum bag or empty the canister into a sealed trash bag outside the home.
• Wash all removable textiles—sheets, pillowcases, curtains, clothing—on the hottest setting the fabric tolerates (minimum 60 °C/140 °F) and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Heat kills eggs and any emerging nymphs.
• Apply steam (minimum 100 °C/212 °F) to mattresses, upholstered furniture, and cracks. Hold the nozzle for 10‑15 seconds per spot; the combination of heat and moisture penetrates the protective coating of the eggs.
• Encase mattresses and box springs in zippered, bed‑bug‑proof covers. Leave the encasement on for at least one month; any eggs trapped inside will die without a blood meal.
• Expose small items to extreme cold: place them in a freezer at –18 °C (0 °F) for a minimum of four days. Freezing destroys egg viability.
• Use a residual insecticide labeled for bed‑bug egg control. Apply according to label instructions on baseboards, behind headboards, and inside wall voids. Focus on crevices where females deposit eggs.
• Consider professional heat treatment: technicians raise room temperature to 50‑55 °C (122‑131 °F) for several hours, ensuring penetration into hidden layers. This method eliminates eggs without chemical residues.
After treatment, install sticky monitoring traps under legs of beds and furniture. Check weekly for several months; the presence of new hatchlings indicates surviving eggs and necessitates repeat intervention. Consistent sanitation, thorough heat or cold exposure, and targeted chemical application form a comprehensive strategy to eradicate bed‑bug ova.