How to get rid of bedbugs in a house and an apartment? - briefly
Vacuum, steam‑clean, and launder all fabrics at ≥60 °C, then apply an EPA‑approved insecticide or professional heat treatment to seams, cracks, and furniture. Seal items in encasements, use monitoring traps, and repeat inspections until no activity is detected.
How to get rid of bedbugs in a house and an apartment? - in detail
Eliminating a bed‑bug infestation requires a systematic approach that combines thorough inspection, targeted treatment, and ongoing prevention.
Begin with a detailed survey of all sleeping areas, upholstered furniture, baseboards, and cracks in walls or flooring. Use a bright flashlight and a fine‑toothed comb to detect live insects, shed skins, or dark spotting. Mark any confirmed sites with tape to track progress.
Prepare the environment before applying controls. Remove clutter that can hide bugs, wash all bedding, curtains, and removable fabrics at 60 °C (140 °F) for at least 30 minutes, then dry on high heat. Vacuum carpets, mattresses, and furniture, discarding the vacuum bag or sealing the canister in a plastic bag and discarding it outdoors. Seal the mattress and box spring in encasements designed to trap insects for a minimum of one year.
Apply treatment methods in the following order:
- Heat treatment – Raise room temperature to 45–50 °C (113–122 °F) for several hours; heat penetrates cracks and kills all life stages.
- Steam – Direct steam (≥100 °C) onto seams, folds, and crevices of furniture and bedding; steam instantly kills exposed bugs.
- Chemical sprays – Use EPA‑registered insecticide aerosols or residual liquids labeled for bed‑bugs. Apply to baseboards, behind headboards, under furniture legs, and within wall voids. Follow label directions precisely to avoid resistance and health hazards.
- Desiccants – Dust diatomaceous earth or silica‑gel in voids where insects hide; these products abrade the exoskeleton and cause dehydration.
- Interceptors – Place under each leg of the bed and furniture to capture crawling insects and monitor activity.
After the initial treatment, repeat vacuuming and steam applications weekly for at least three weeks. Inspect interceptors and replace or clean them regularly. Conduct a follow‑up visual inspection after 14 days; if any bugs remain, repeat the chosen control method or consider professional pest‑management services that can combine heat, fumigation, or advanced insecticide formulations.
Prevent future infestations by maintaining a clean environment, sealing cracks in walls and flooring, using protective mattress covers, and inspecting second‑hand furniture before introducing it into the dwelling. Regularly wash and heat‑dry linens, and keep luggage elevated when traveling. By adhering to this structured protocol, the likelihood of a successful eradication and long‑term control of bed‑bugs in both houses and apartments is maximized.