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Useful information |
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Please make use of the free information provided in this section of the site. If there is anything specific that you feel needs to be added please contact us and time permitting it will be added. In this section Selecting a pest control professional Advice for frequent travellers Pre treatment procedures Post treatment procedures Linked documents
Selecting a pest control professional Finding out you have an infestation of bed bugs can be an unpleasant experience and eradicating them quickly and efficiently is most likely your highest priority. When selecting a professional to treat your premises we would offer the following advice: 1. Check with companies house to make sure the company you are looking at actually exists. There is no point in hiring cowboys and this is the easiest way to check: 2. Make sure the company you call are experienced in dealing with bed bugs. They are a problematic pest at the best of times and without experience it is possible to spread them around the property. Make sure that they deal with a significant enough number, ideally a minimum of 6 or 8 per week for urban areas, in rural areas experience can be a lot harder to find. 3. If they tell you that you need to dispose of all furniture from the infested rooms without inspecting your premises they clearly do not understand how bed bugs live and breed, in the last 3 years we have only recommended the destruction of 2 bed which in both cases we supervised to ensure the infestation did not spread. 4. Make sure that they are appropriately insured to carry out the work at your property. 5. Checking with the trade association for professional pest controllers can be a good place to start (www.BPCA.org.uk) but do not assume that because they are members they are experienced at dealing with bed bugs. Experienced professionals outside of London are very difficult to find, a high proportion of our out of London work is to remedy poor treatments from other companies, in some cases this has even been misdiagnosed as BedBugs. 6. When discussing treatment options ask about pre treatment and post treatment procedures and the health and safety of what they are using. Professionals are rarely too busy to let you know what they are doing and to make sure that you a fully briefed but at the same time if you wish to have a long and protracted discussion email is often best.. 7. Professional pest controllers primarily use products that require a license and qualification to purchase they will not usually supply you with a home use kit if they suggest you get something from the internet we would suggest they are not suitably experienced. 8. Removal of bed bugs requires co-operation between the professionals and yourself, if you don't get the feeling that the service being offered is comprehensive it may not yield efficient results. 9. We are not aware of any miracle overnight solutions to bed bug problems; if the person on the phone makes miracle promises then they are unlikely to be able to deliver them. 10. Ask any potential pest controller what quantity of insecticide they typically use in bed bug situations. Many seem to use between 5 and 10 litres per treated room. Obviously their methodologies are what they find works for them, we however rarely need to use anywhere near that quantity which we feel is better for your health and the environment. Advice for frequent travellers One of the main reasons for the increase in incidences of bed bugs is increased travel. If a room that you stay in has an infestation of bed bugs they can easily spread to your bags and clothes before you experience any of the symptoms such as bites. There is an equal risk of picking up a couple of unwanted travelling companions regardless of whether you are staying in a five star hotel, a hostel or on a friends sofa bed.
We advise frequent travellers to protect their luggage with a protective layer of cling film or pallet wrap during long haul flights, this is to avoid picking up bed bugs from adjoining bags in the cargo hold. Although this is a small risk and one of the more infrequent methods of transmission, as the problem increases globally it is likely to become more common.
Before unpacking your bags a 3 minute check of the room for signs of bed bugs can save days of misery and discomfort. Always check the bed and any surrounding furniture for the following signs:
· Clusters of eggs and live insects around the head board especially near joints in the wood and behind any pictures that hang above the bed. · Signs of excreted blood near the junction of the wooden slats and bed frame (see example pictures in the gallery section). · Signs of live insects or excreted blood on the mattress most commonly on the darker side or against a wall.
Bed bugs usually nest within a few metres of potential food sources and invariably in small gaps and crevices. If the signs appear dull or diffused it may indicate an old problem which has been successfully treated.
If you are in doubt about a room request a change to another part of the accommodation. A sensible host or hotelier will be aware that rapid identification and treatment is the only solution for the effective eradication of bed bugs.
Even if the room appears clear never place you bag beneath the bed. In the earliest stages of an infestation visible evidence may be scarce and the insects are most likely to be in the same area that they were deposited in, often on the previous occupant’s bag.
In the event that you have been exposed and notice either bites or unexplained blood spots on the sheet of the bed, take time out of your schedule to perform the following steps prior to checking into your next destination:
1. Open you bag and repack all items sorted into washable loads sealed in refuse bags. 2. Examine the bag including all seams, zips and pockets for signs of bed bugs. If any eggs or live insects are found the bag must either be sealed in a refuse bag and disposed of or soaked in boiling water and scrubbed to manually remove and destroy the insects. 3. Purchase a new outfit, change into it and immediately proceed to a laundrette to wash all your clothes. All items must either be thoroughly inspected by hand for signs of bed bugs or washed at a minimum temperature of 60˚C. 4. Items that are not washable such as books and electronic equipment must be inspected and if in doubt left sealed in the refuse bag until they can be professionally treated.
There is some evidence that tumble drying on high heat for 2 hours per load will also dehydrate and kill bed bugs. In our experience however the use of microwave ovens and hair dryers is not recommended as the time required to kill the bed bugs would do damage to the equipment.
Upon arrival at your next long term destination take the time to unpack and inspect all your items to ensure that no unwanted hitch hikers have come along for the ride.
The use of mosquito nets can be a relief against the bites of adult bed bugs if fitted correctly and must always be held away from contact with the body. To be effective in the control of bed bugs nets must be sprayed every 14 – 18 days to ensure that the poison remains active.
Early detection and identification of the source are the most important issues in successfully controlling and eradicating bed bugs. If you don’t discuss your experiences with the owner of the room you picked up the bed bugs from, they may not be aware of the problem - after all not everybody gets bitten. Pre treatment procedures The first step in clearing an infestation is to identify the source and ensure that it is professionally treated. To facilitate this the room should be thoroughly checked for signs of bed bug activity. Avoid moving or disposing of items from the room as too much disturbance may spread the infestation to adjoining rooms. For detailed information please contact us for guidance. If you have been previously treated or have used any store bought products it is helpful for our own health and safety for you to be able to identify what products have been previously used. In particular any dusts or powders must be removed from the area prior to the assessment. Some of these products simple act as a deterrent for bed bugs and do not solve the issues in the long term. It is important not to dispose of any furniture until it has been treated, replacing the bed may give temporary reprieve for a few days but the problem will return. If any furniture is too infested to be treated your pest controller will advise you during the inspection phase, to date we have recommended the destruction of 5 or 6 items of furniture out of 1500+ cases. Avoid moving furniture and bedding between rooms and where possible clothes that are not being used should be washed at a temperature above 60°C degrees and sealed in plastic bags. The bed should be left in its usual place but special care should be taken to ensure that the area around and under the affected beds are kept free and clear. More specific advice on treatment and control can be provided through an assessment visit. Post treatment procedures There is no standard procedure for post treatment as it is very much case and extent dependant. It is however highly recommended that you keep an accurate bite diary to record activity in each treated area and precisely follow all recommendations made but the treatment technician. If your infestation is being treated by us the technician will leave you with a 40 page instructions pack detailing everything that you need to do to maximise the efficiency of the treatment. This pack must be followed to the letter to ensure our continued support in clearing your infestation. |
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Useful information and professional treatment solutions |
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www.Bed-Bugs.co.uk |
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Providing the UK’s most extensive information on bed bugs since June 2005 |
