Don't Waste Your Time Or Money On This DIY Bed Bug Remedy

Bed bugs can be found on every continent except Antarctica, and discovering bed bugs lurking in your home is one of the most horrifying experiences a resident can have. In a desperate attempt to get rid of them quickly, many people may turn to pesticide foggers as a DIY solution, but there are a few reasons why that's not such a good idea. For starters, generic bug foggers, also known as "bug bombs," won't likely eliminate your bed bug problem. That's because modern bed bugs are genetically resistant to the insecticides in most foggers, and they tend to hide in places where the fog won't reach them.

Secondly, using foggers in your home may actually make matters worse for you, and it could even lead to "super" bed bugs that are even harder to control as a species. Here's why bug bombs are a terrible way to fight bed bugs and what you can do to wipe out those creepy pests for good. 

Bug bombs work by releasing insecticides into the air and general environment. Any insect that comes in contact with the chemicals should be exterminated rather quickly. However, foggers won't always reach into cracks and crevices, and this is where bed bugs tend to hide. Sure, any bed bugs that happen to be out and about could be killed by the fog, but the majority will stay hidden in the corners of your furniture, in creases of your mattress, or behind electrical outlets, keeping them safe. They can survive for months without feeding, so "waiting it out" for the fog to work isn't a good solution either. 

Bed bugs today are also stronger and more resilient than they were just a few decades ago. Modern bedbugs have hard outer cuticles that block and even neutralize pesticides before they can be absorbed into their bodies. If pesticides do penetrate their tough exteriors, bed bugs have developed enzymes to neutralize them in the same way that they detoxify the blood they feed on. All it takes is for a few bed bugs to survive the fogging, and soon they'll repopulate and take over your bedroom again — this time with even more genetic resistance to insecticides. 

If "bug bomb" foggers won't work, what can you do to get rid of bed bugs fast? It is possible to eliminate bed bugs on your own through consistent steaming, sealing, cleaning, and vacuuming. Use a handheld steamer to apply high heat directly to any seams, creases, and other sneaky places for at least 20 minutes. After you've killed the little bugs, wrap your mattress in a sealed protective cover to lock in any remaining bugs and prevent them from feeding. You can also place fabric items in the dryer or in bags outside in the sun if temperatures are above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Use hot soapy water to clean all of the solid surfaces in your home, and swipe a credit card under baseboards to crush as many hidden bed bugs as possible. 

If all this sounds like a lot of work, that's because it is. While it may seem frustrating or embarrassing, hiring a professional exterminator is truly the best solution to kill the bed bugs quickly and prevent them from coming back. Exterminators may use trained canines to sniff out and locate infestation sites in your home, then apply heat treatments, pyrethrin chemical treatments, or spray highly effective pesticide foam into cracks and crevices. If needed, they'll revisit in a few weeks to reapply treatments until your bed bugs are gone.