Is It Okay to Treat Bed Bugs Yourself?
Bed bugs have made a major resurgence worldwide. Headlines detail outbreaks in Paris, Singapore, South Korea, and even the Tesla factory in South Buffalo, New York.
Dealing with a bed bug infestation can be a real nightmare, but you don’t have to tackle the problem alone. Data from the National Pest Management Association suggests that 97% of United States pest control professionals have treated bed bugs within the past year. These tiny blood-sucking pests can be found practically anywhere, from single-family homes to hotels, schools, hospitals, and other locations.
Their widespread prevalence makes it easy for one of these bugs to hitch a ride into your home. Bed bugs like to burrow into dark cracks and crevices, coming out at night to feed and causing itchy bites and sleepless nights.
Many people in this situation wonder if a bed bug infestation is one that they can treat on their own or if they need to call for professional help. Let’s explore the benefits and drawbacks of DIY bed bug control and review some guidance from Catseye Pest Control to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of Treating Bed Bugs Yourself
It’s natural to think you may be able to handle the situation on your own. However, it’s a complex process, and your chances of success depend on many factors, including your ability to treat all infested areas. Regardless, DIY bed bug treatment does offer some advantages, including the following:
Cost Effective
In doing it yourself, you pay for the treatment but don’t have to spend any extra money for labor. You can go to your local home improvement store and find treatment options that suit your budget. DIY bed bug control typically costs an average of $100. However, that cost increases significantly with repeated treatments and prolonged infestations caused by ineffective treatment methods.
Immediate Action
No waiting is necessary. You won’t have to make an appointment or wait for a professional to schedule your service. With DIY bed bug control, you can start immediately after identifying the infestation and getting treatment materials.
Privacy
As their names imply, bed bugs often infest bedrooms. Wanting to maintain a measure of privacy, particularly when dealing with intimate spaces, is natural. Handling a bed bug infestation on your own avoids the issue and allows you to maintain your bedroom’s privacy.
Cons of Treating Bed Bugs Yourself
Despite some convincing benefits, several considerable disadvantages exist for going it alone. Let’s take a closer look at the downside.
Limited Expertise
Professional pest control technicians receive extensive training to help them identify pests, handle equipment, and provide innovative, effective pest control measures. As a homeowner, you likely don’t have any expertise in dealing with bed bugs, pesticides, or bed bug control techniques. Your limited expertise increases the risk that you miss something, meaning your efforts may not be effective in the long term.
Risk of Spreading
Bed bugs are very small and love to hide in out-of-the-way spots. The likelihood of eradicating all of them on your own is minimal. You may believe you have effectively treated bed bugs, but in fact, many over-the-counter pest control products repel bed bugs, causing them to spread to other areas of your home.
Pesticide Resistance
At one time, the pesticide DDT killed bed bugs. Today, these blood-sucking pests are resistant to DDT and can survive its use. Although DDT has been banned in the U.S. since 1972, it serves as a cautionary tale. Pests can develop mutations and pesticide resistance that homeowners and anyone not in the industry may not know about or understand. Additionally, frequently using large amounts of a pesticide can encourage future pesticide resistance.
Reinfestation
Taking all the necessary steps to eliminate bed bugs is critical. Not only can it help stop the spread, but it can also help reduce the odds of reinfestation. Females can lay up to 500 eggs during their lives. Miss just a few bugs, and you will be itching and scratching again before long. With professional treatment, monitoring is often part of the plan, allowing professionals to be proactive at the first signs of a reinfestation.
Health and Safety Concerns
Perhaps the most significant concern with DIY bed bug control is the potential for health issues. Handling dangerous chemicals is dangerous, particularly if you don’t know how to do so safely. Used improperly, hazardous materials can be released into the air, putting yourself and your loved ones at risk.
Guidelines for DIY Bed Bug Treatment
If you decide to try bed bug control on your own, it’s essential that you follow some basic guidelines. Doing so can help increase the odds of eliminating all live bugs and eggs.
Notify Everyone Involved
If you live in a multi-family home or an apartment, contact your landlord and talk to your neighbors. If you live in a single-family home, talk to everyone living there and inspect all living spaces.
Create a Plan
Build a detailed plan to help guide you. Note the dates and any locations where you find bed bugs, which can help you track them later as you monitor the effectiveness of your DIY treatment.
Prevent the Spread
Remove all bedding, curtains, clothing, and stuffed animals and place them in sealed plastic bags. Wash everything you can with hot, soapy water. Dry items that can be placed in the dryer for at least 30 minutes using the hottest setting.
Vacuum and Treat
Vacuuming can help contain smaller bed bug infestations. It’s essential to use a vacuum with disposable bags that can be sealed and disposed of outside the home. Vacuum every crack and crevice, including the seams in mattresses and furniture, behind wall hangings, and along baseboards and molding.
Inspect, Inspect, and Inspect Again
Perform routine inspections every few days to look for evidence of live bugs or eggs. Repeat vacuuming and treatment as needed. Continue inspections for up to a year to ensure you have completely eliminated the problem.
Know When it’s Time to Consult a Professional
The longer a bed bug infestation is left unsuccessfully treated, the worse it gets and the more involved the treatment measures need to be. If you do decide to try your hand at effective pest control measures, knowing when to call in the pros is critical. Some of the signs that it’s time to seek professional help include the following:
A Resurgence in Bed Bugs
If you think you eliminated the problem and then find more bed bugs afterward, the infestation is likely more widespread than you know. You may not have treated the root problem, or you may have inadvertently spread the infestation.
You Have Health and Safety Concerns
Whether you’re worried for yourself, your family, or your pets, health and safety is mission critical in the home. Additionally, although bed bugs aren’t poisonous, they can trigger allergic responses and become an itchy nuisance. Professionals can offer a guarantee for their work, ensuring your home’s health will be back in tip-top shape sooner rather than later.
The Infestation Is Large-Scale
A sickly-sweet odor often accompanies large infestations. If you catch the scent or you notice bed bug activity in multiple rooms, the scope of the project will be too large for any DIY measures to handle.
Contact Catseye to Learn More
Catseye has decades of experience and an unparalleled commitment to providing the utmost customer service. With our innovative treatments that prioritize safety while offering maximum effectiveness, we are the go-to solution for bed bugs in the region. Learn more about our effective pest control measures or schedule an inspection to get started. Contact us today.
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