Bedbugs - New Data You Need to Know About Heat Treatments

Finally a study has determined the absolute minimum temperature needed to kill bed bugs. Not only the adult bed bugs, but the immature bed bug (nymph) as well as bed bug eggs.

According to the study, Fundamental Research on the Efficacy of Heat on Bed Bugs and Heat Transfer in Mattresses , 48 degrees celsius for a duration of 90 minutes was the minimum temperature / time to kill all bed bugs and their eggs.

Previously it was thought that 40 - 45 degrees celsius was sufficient to eradicate bed bugs but this new study has determined that higher temperatures are actually needed to attain a 100% kill rate.

Not only have they determined that the temp/time factor must be correct, but they also studied the escape behavior of the bed bugs. It turns out that 38% of bed bugs subjected to gradually increasing temperatures actually escaped the area that was too hot.

What impact does this have on the average bed bug sufferer ?

1) When trying to get rid of bed bugs any items that can be put in a household dryer, bedding, drapes,stuffed animals, sneakers, etc need to be in the dryer on high heat for at least 1.5 hours to attain 100% kill rates.

2) If you hire a company to " heat kill " bed bugs in your mattress, be aware. The whole mattress inside and out must be brought up to at least 48 degrees celsius for 1.5 hours. Surface steam application is a waste of money because no steam applicator can raise the temperature of the inside of the mattress or hold the temperature steady throughout the mattress for 1.5 hours

3) The same problems associated with companies that heat kill mattress infestations are prevalent in whole house heat kill applications. Remember, the WHOLE house must attain lethal temperatures for 1.5 hours. That means baseboards, inside walls, clothing, anywhere a bed bug can hide or lay eggs.

4) MOST IMPORTANT - Any method used to kill bed bugs MUST kill the eggs too. Whether you spend money on heat kill ,chemical kill ,insecticides or natural methods, if eradication is not 100%, if only a few eggs survive, infestation will reoccur.

There are hundreds of companies who claim to get rid of bed bugs, this is a multi million dollar industry. If you can’t or won’t attempt to get rid of you bed bug problem on your own, make sure you research the company you intend to hire. How will they treat the problem, what chemicals will they use, how long will it take,will they provide a guarantee and for how long, will they determine if it’s your dwelling or you neighbor’s dwelling that’s causing the infestation. There is no point in paying a company to kill bed bugs if they just reappear in a few weeks or months.

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