DIY Bed Bug Treatment Craze

October 30, 2019

The DIY Bed Bug Craze - Should You Hop On This Train?

"Bed Bugs" most of us get itchy all over just thinking about them. The idea of sharing a bed with dozens of tiny blood-sucking insects, not to mention their shed skins, droppings, and eggs; could any expense be too high to avoid waking up to that?

Well, a growing number of homeowners delay or avoid hiring licensed, professional exterminators like us, and resort to home remedies or cheap pesticides to do the job themselves because they do fear our services are too expensive. From mothballs to baking soda, talcum powder to tea-tree oil... there's someone on the all-knowing internet promising us that it's a miracle cure. Some people are even suggesting dousing infested areas with rubbing alcohol (please don't turn your bed into a giant can of Sterno). What makes these products so inviting is the idea that they can save you a lot of money, that they are easy to use, and that they are just as effective as the ones that exterminators use (FYI…they're not.)

Like any DIY project, there's more than just the cost of materials to consider. Things like:

The quality and effectiveness of the treatments.
Cost of additional equipment (personal and furniture protective gear, clean-up materials, etc.)
The value of your time, of course.
The investment value of your home.
Whether or not you have the skills/knowledge to do it right the first time.
DIY cost and effort do not guarantee results.
No insurance against damage to your property or belongings.

And, most importantly, of course - the stress and health risks to your family. Not only are they at risk from allergic reactions and infection from bites, but anxiety, sleeplessness, and even phobias. Not to mention possible reactions to unfamiliar or over sprayed chemicals.

When you factor these into the equation, it becomes clear that a better price doesn't necessarily equal the better value. As with many home remedies, a few of these can help in getting rid of some of your infestation, they rarely achieve 100% success...and when it comes to Bed Bugs, with their frightening speed of reproduction, it is literally all or nothing.

The truth is that most folks don't even realize that they have a Bed Bug issue for several days, by which time these little nasties can become an entrenched and rapidly growing army. One that must be defeated quickly and efficiently, before it can spread to the rest of your house.

Knowing where to look is another critical skill. Most people hear "Bed Bugs" and think, "Well, they must be in the bed." Bed Bugs are also happy to nest in couches, headboards, stuffed animals, chair cushions, purses, coats, and even inside lamps, electrical outlets, computers, digital clocks and shoes. And, again, to avoid the risk of re-infestation, we know how to get them all.

As professional exterminators, we will locate the source of the infestation, formulate a targeted plan of treatment, use professional-grade products, and, with our training and experience, maximize the impact of the extermination. That's a good investment!

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