What should I do about bed bugs in an apartment at home? - briefly
Inspect the unit, isolate infested areas, and apply a certified insecticide or arrange professional heat treatment; then wash all bedding, clothing, and curtains in hot water and dry on high heat. Seal cracks, reduce clutter, and monitor with interceptors to prevent re‑infestation.
What should I do about bed bugs in an apartment at home? - in detail
Dealing with a bed‑bug infestation in a rental dwelling requires a systematic approach that combines identification, containment, treatment, and prevention.
First, confirm the presence of insects by inspecting seams of mattresses, box springs, headboards, furniture joints, and cracks in walls or baseboards. Look for live insects, molted skins, and small dark‑red spots of excrement. Use a flashlight and a magnifying lens to improve detection.
Next, isolate the problem area. Wash all bedding, curtains, and removable fabric items in hot water (minimum 60 °C) and dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. Place non‑washable items in sealed plastic bags for a minimum of two weeks, as bed bugs cannot survive without a blood meal for that period.
Apply chemical or non‑chemical treatments according to the severity of the infestation:
- Apply a certified residual insecticide to cracks, crevices, and baseboards, following label instructions and safety precautions.
- Use a steam‑cleaner (temperature ≥ 100 °C) on mattresses, upholstered furniture, and hard surfaces; steam penetrates hiding places and kills all life stages.
- Deploy interceptors under bed legs to monitor activity and capture wandering insects.
- Consider professional heat treatment, which raises ambient temperature in the apartment to 50–55 °C for several hours, ensuring complete mortality.
After treatment, maintain vigilance. Conduct weekly inspections for at least three months. Replace or rotate mattress encasements that are certified to be bed‑bug proof. Reduce clutter that provides hiding places, seal gaps in walls and flooring, and keep luggage off the floor when traveling.
If the landlord is unresponsive or refuses to address the infestation, document all findings, communications, and expenses. Provide written notice of the problem, referencing local housing codes that obligate landlords to provide a pest‑free environment. Should legal action become necessary, retain copies of photographs, inspection reports, and receipts for professional services.
Finally, adopt preventive habits: inspect second‑hand furniture before bringing it indoors, avoid placing luggage on beds in hotels, and regularly launder bedding. Consistent application of these measures minimizes the risk of recurrence and restores a livable environment.