A licensed and trained pest professional has several commercial-grade products to choose from to treat a structure for bed bugs. Choosing the right one for your situation is where “professional” comes into play.
There are special techniques and equipment used to safely and correctly apply products in and around infested areas. I cannot say this loud enough: Research the professional you are allowing into your structure! Online reviews give personal and local feedback on these companies: Check them out! And don’t forget to ask questions!
My only complaint with chemical treatments is that bed bugs have evolved. This means, they are becoming more and more prone to chemicals, thanks to all the over the counter products being used. With that being said, chemical methods may take several treatments to break down these nighttime crawlers.
When Choosing a Professional Pest Company
You should learn a few things about the company and person who will be applying chemicals into your structure. After all, misuse from a professional does happen. I’ve made a list of questions to make things a little easier for you:
- How long have you been in business/How many years of experience do you have?
- What type of treatment do you do for bed bugs and what does it entail?
- Do you treat per room or do you treat the whole structure?
- How long does the treatment take?
- How long is your guarantee?
- What is the prep work involved?
- How much would it cost?
A successful chemical treatment should be completed in a minimum of two steps: An initial treatment then another treatment 30-45 days later. The initial treatment is designed to eradicate all living bed bugs. For 45 days after the initial treatment, as bed bugs are coming out of their hiding spots, the chemical will make contact with those bugs and kill them off. The second treatment is to eradicate the newly hatched babies. Again, for 45 days after this second treatment, as bed bugs are coming out of their hiding spots, the chemical will make contact with those bugs and kill them off. This process could continue one or two more times, depending on your infestation.
And FYI, treat your whole structure! What do you think happens if you only treat one room? The bed bugs are going to run to find a safe space, which means they are going to make a home in another room of your structure. That process will continue until the whole structure is treated! Some companies will tell you they can treat for a smaller amount of money by only treating one room or two. It does sound enticing, but it also can cost you more in the long run.
Length of Chemical Treatments
When a professional comes into your structure for each chemical treatment, it will take a few hours to complete. Think about it: They are treating baseboards, carpets, and every single piece of furniture, which includes flipping couches, sofas, love seats, and beds. It should take them a while! If one chemical treatment takes less than an hour, you should question that!
Prices of Professional Chemical Treatments
Commercial products do cost a lot, plus you have to consider your professional’s time, gas, and all the other expenses it takes to complete this several hour service for you. Because of this, the complete treatment will be $1,000 or more. If any less, you may want to question the chemical’s being used. Don’t be afraid to ask! It’s your money and your structure: You have the right to know what will be applied and how!
Prepping for Professional Chemical Treatments
Now is the time to complete your Spring Cleaning… Literally! These professionals need room to move around your structure and flip furniture! Don’t be alarmed when you are told to complete this prep list:
- Remove all clutter.
- Bedding, including pillows and dust ruffles, needs to be removed from beds and ran through the dryer (a minimum of 45 minutes on the highest heat setting.) When done, you must put in a sealed bag.
- All clothing, and we mean all clothing (on floors, chairs, in dressers, closets) must be ran through the dryer (a minimum of 45 minutes on the highest heat setting.) When done, you must put in a sealed bag.
- Curtains and stuffed animals: take down curtains and run them and the animals through the dryer, again, for a minimum of 45 minutes on the highest heat setting. Put that in a sealed bag as well. I mean, stuffed animals: Not living. Though the live animals do need a place to stay for several hours.
- With your pets, you will need to find a place to stay for several hours as well. All must be out of structure during treatment and a few hours after, to allow everything to dry.
- Cardboard: throw out.
- Vacuum, using crevice tool, around baseboards where floors and walls meet. Go ahead and vacuum all carpet areas while you’re at it.
- Do you have treasures under your beds? Those need cleaned up too.
- Every dresser, night stand, cabinet in bedrooms and living rooms: empty those out too.
- Plastic toys needs to be carefully inspected and placed into a sealed garbage bag too.
- If you have books on your bookshelves with little knickknacks: those need to be carefully inspected as well, and placed into a sealed bag too.
If you want to go another route, let’s learn a little more about different treatment options for you by clicking one of the links below:
FUNGAL TREATMENTs
HEAT TREATMENTs
SELF TREATMENTs