How can you treat an apartment for bedbugs yourself? - briefly
Remove clutter, vacuum all rooms, and launder bedding and clothing at 120 °F (49 °C) to eliminate hidden insects. Then apply a labeled bed‑bug insecticide or portable heat treatment to cracks, baseboards, and furniture, and repeat after seven days to ensure complete control.
How can you treat an apartment for bedbugs yourself? - in detail
Treating a dwelling for bedbugs without professional help requires thorough preparation, systematic execution, and diligent follow‑up.
Begin by isolating the infestation. Remove all bedding, curtains, and clothing from the rooms. Place textiles in sealed plastic bags and wash them in hot water (≥ 60 °C) for at least 30 minutes, then dry on high heat. Items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in freezer‑grade bags and frozen at –18 °C for a minimum of four days.
Next, declutter the space. Discard or store in airtight containers any items that provide hiding places, such as stacks of papers, shoe piles, and upholstered furniture that cannot be treated. Vacuum every surface—including mattress seams, box‑spring frames, baseboards, and cracks in walls—using a hose attachment. Immediately empty the vacuum canister into a sealed bag and discard it outside the building.
Apply chemical or non‑chemical agents. For chemical treatment, select a registered bed‑bug spray containing pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, or desiccants. Apply according to label directions, focusing on:
- Mattress and box‑spring edges
- Bed frame joints
- Headboard and footboard crevices
- Furniture seams and upholstery folds
- Wall baseboards and electrical outlet covers
- Behind wallpaper and picture frames
For non‑chemical control, use diatomaceous earth or silica gel dust. Lightly dust these substances into the same areas, ensuring a thin, even layer that will not be easily brushed away.
Seal all treated zones. Install bed‑bug interceptors under each leg of the bed and furniture. Replace mattress encasements with certified, zippered covers that trap any remaining insects. Keep all doors closed and use door sweeps to block entry points.
Monitor progress for at least eight weeks. Inspect interceptors weekly, repeat vacuuming, and re‑apply dust or spray to any newly detected activity. Maintain temperatures unfavorable to bedbugs by keeping indoor heating above 25 °C and, when possible, exposing infested items to heat treatments (e.g., portable steamers) for at least 30 minutes.
Document each step, noting dates, products used, and observed results. Consistent records help identify persistent hotspots and guide additional interventions if necessary.