What should you do when you have household bedbugs? - briefly
Inspect bedding, furniture, and cracks; isolate contaminated items and apply a certified insecticide or heat treatment. Contact a licensed pest‑control professional to verify the infestation and ensure complete eradication.
What should you do when you have household bedbugs? - in detail
If you find bedbugs in your residence, begin by verifying the infestation. Look for live insects, shed skins, dark spots (feces), and small, raised bite marks on skin. Capture a specimen for identification if possible, then document the affected rooms.
Next, contain the problem. Strip all bedding, curtains, and clothing from the infested area. Place each item in a sealed plastic bag, then wash at the highest temperature the fabric can tolerate (≥ 120 °F/49 °C) and dry on the hottest setting. For items that cannot be laundered, seal them in airtight containers for at least six months to starve the insects.
Proceed with thorough cleaning. Vacuum carpets, floor seams, and upholstered furniture, paying special attention to cracks, crevices, and mattress seams. Empty the vacuum canister into a sealed bag and discard it outdoors. Steam‑clean surfaces that can withstand high temperatures; steam above 130 °F (54 °C) kills all life stages on contact.
Apply chemical or non‑chemical treatments. For small infestations, use EPA‑registered insecticide sprays or dusts labeled for bedbug control, following label directions precisely. Treat seams, baseboards, and hidden voids. Non‑chemical options include diatomaceous earth applied thinly to cracks and crevices; reapply after each cleaning cycle.
If the situation exceeds a few rooms or persists after initial measures, enlist a licensed pest‑management professional. Certified technicians can perform heat‑treatment (raising interior temperatures to 135 °F/57 °C for several hours) or fumigation, both proven to eradicate entrenched populations.
Finally, implement preventive habits. Encase mattresses and box springs in zippered, bedbug‑proof covers. Reduce clutter to eliminate hiding places. Inspect secondhand furniture before bringing it indoors. Regularly wash and heat‑dry linens. Monitor with interceptors placed under bed legs; replace them weekly.
By following detection, containment, cleaning, treatment, professional intervention, and prevention steps, you can eliminate the infestation and minimize the risk of recurrence.