Inspect after drying, then proceed to spray entire area. Allow sprayed articles to thoroughly dry before use. Spray only those garments and parts of bedding including mattresses and furniture, that cannot be either laundered or dry cleaned.
If you want to treat your mattress and keep it, spray an aerosol can of bed bug treatment (see recommendations below) directly onto the mattress. Focus on the seams, tufts, and folds and don't worry about the mattress getting damp – just allow it to dry.
Extreme temperatures are the best way to kill bed bugs. Washing your clothing and bedding in a high heat wash should effectively kill off any bugs, as well as any eggs they've possibly laid. It's important to exercise caution in moving infested linens during the process to avoid spreading the bed bugs to other rooms!
You may continue to sleep in your bed after treatment. Encasements should be put on mattresses and box springs. Any surviving bed bugs in the mattress or box spring will not be able to escape the encasement or bite.
Spray on areas where bed bugs are hiding. These areas include box springs, mattress seams, dressers, closets, nightstands, carpet and rug edges, molding, and any place bed bugs would be hiding. Repeat in 2-4 weeks.
How Long Do Bed Bugs Survive After Extermination? If your home is treated with insecticides/chemicals, any bugs caught by the spray will die in a few hours or less. Insecticides are incredibly effective and remain active for several days after use.
Bed bugs may live for several months after incorrect spraying. These resilient pests will migrate to other crevices that did not receive the treatment. It will take about three weeks to eliminate bed bugs if sprayed correctly.
The number of treatments needed to get control is (national average) 3 to 4 treatments. The first step to treating the problem yourself is taking your bed apart. The frame should be completely deconstructed to reach all cracks and crevices. For any unreachable areas, aerosols are useful.
There are no magic sprays that kill bed bugs very well. Most commercial insecticides will kill bed bugs if applied carefully and directly to the insects and their hiding places. An exception is “Bug bombs”, or aerosol foggers. Foggers are mostly ineffective in controlling bed bugs.
The Pesticide Specialist explained that some bed bug populations have developed resistance to common insecticides, so certain sprays may be ineffective, no matter how much is used. Over-use or daily pesticide applications should be avoided to prevent the bed bugs from spreading out or developing resistance.
Clean Your Sheets
You may be thinking, can you get bed bugs from not washing your sheets? No—bed bugs have absolutely nothing to do with cleanliness levels. However, washing your sheets regularly gives you the opportunity to look for and remove any possible bed bug infestations.
Technically, bed bugs can live through a cycle in the washing machine. The truth is that while washing your clothes or linens will kill most of the bed bugs, the heat of drying your items is what will ultimately exterminate any and all remaining bugs. As we mentioned above, bed bugs do not tolerate heat.
At least weekly, maybe more depending on your situation. Wash your bed linen weekly.
A cluttered home provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes locating and treating them harder. If bed bugs are in your mattress, using special bed bug covers (encasements) on your mattress and box springs makes it harder for bed bugs to get to you while you sleep. Leave the encasements on for a year.
Pesticides are not to be applied to pillows but should be just washed and dried to address bed bugs that may be infesting them. Transfer the bedding into a large plastic bag then into the washing machine. Toss them in your washing machine on the highest heat setting then follow up with a high heat cycle in the dryer.
It is normal to see them coming out after the spray because it only means that they were sprayed by the chemicals that will kill them. Bugs will come out because they are trying to escape the sprays applied to them.
It may be DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or Picaridin. Regardless, you need to wash it off afterward using plain soap and water. It's a chemical, after all. And while chemicals like these are safe when used correctly, there's no need to force your luck by allowing them to remain on skin once you've returned indoors.
You can either manually inspect the same areas each day, or some clients find it helpful to put a sticky adhesive trap around the bed legs which would pick up bed bugs that are on the move. If no bed bugs show up in the trap after several days, that's one indication that they have been completely eradicated.
If you're using our all-natural bed bug-killing spray, which works best when sprayed directly onto live bed bugs, the best time to treat is right before dawn. “They live close to where people sleep, rest, or sit for long periods of time and are active at night and generally hide during the day,” explains the UME.
It is perfectly fine to resume sleeping on your bed after a bed bug treatment. However, note that you may have to wait for around four to five hours after the treatment to return to the house. Also, ensure to use bed casings before getting on the bed.
Keep all clothing etc quarantined until the second treatment and you know they have been eradicated. This means keeping clothes that have been washed and dried in plastic bags/totes. This is to keep clothes being re-infected.
Extreme heat is an effective way to kill bed bugs in all life stages. Generally speaking, it takes about 20 minutes at 118 degrees Fahrenheit to kill them. One method is to use a hand dryer set on high heat. You'll have to hold the dryer in place for about 30 minutes, so this option is best for smaller items.
In general, you shouldn't have to throw out any items in the midst of or after a bed bug infestation. With proper treatment, all items should be able to be salvaged. Instead of throwing out clothing and bedding, it's recommended to wash them in a hot water washing machine. High heat will kill bed bugs and their eggs.
Summary. So, when asked the question – can I vacuum after bed bug treatment? Yes, you can, and this can happen anywhere from three hours to a few days or a week after treatment. You must vacuum as soon as possible to control the bed bug infestation.