How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Fredericksburg, VA

Dealing with bed bugs requires fast and thorough action. The most effective way to eliminate them is by hiring a skilled exterminator. They can assess the infestation and apply the right treatments to ensure complete eradication.

Expert bed bug exterminators will apply a proven treatment to eliminate the entire bed bug population from your property. Common treatments include:

• Heat Treatment: A method that uses high temperatures to kill bed bugs at all stages of their life cycle. It involves heating the affected area to a temperature lethal to the bugs.
• Steam Treatment: A treatment that uses high-temperature steam to kill bed bugs on contact. It is particularly effective for infested furniture and hard-to-reach areas.
• Insecticides: Chemical solutions designed to target and kill bed bugs. These are applied to infested areas and can come in various forms, such as sprays, dust, or aerosols.
• Fumigation: A treatment that involves sealing the property and releasing a gas to kill bed bugs. It is typically used for large infestations and requires professional application. 

Is Bed Bug Steam Treatment & Fumigation Safe?

While heat and steam treatments offer chemical-free safety, fumigation requires a waiting period to ensure the chemicals are no longer harmful.

Like heat treatment, steam is a highly effective method for eliminating bed bugs. Steam remediation works by reaching deep, hard-to-access areas and applying lethal heat to kill the pests. 

Heat treatment, or thermal remediation, is widely regarded as the most efficient method for removing bed bugs. It’s a chemical-free, low-risk, and non-toxic solution that avoids disruptions and the need to replace belongings. Some of the benefits of heat treatment include:

• Furniture Preservation: Infested furniture and mattresses can still be used once the heat treatment is complete.
• Full-Stage Elimination: Heat above 120ºF effectively eradicates all bed bug life stages, from eggs to adults.
• Single Treatment: The treatment, lasting up to three hours, ensures complete effectiveness, eliminating the need for repeat sessions.

Fumigation is a potent chemical treatment where your property is sealed off and the fumigant is dispersed throughout. While it’s very successful at killing bed bugs, the process is highly disruptive, necessitating your departure for several days, and is often used as a last resort.

Bed Bug Insecticide Use

Conventional insecticides are a widely used method for eliminating bed bugs. Available in liquid and dust forms, they allow for targeted treatments in areas like baseboards, floor and wall junctions, electrical outlets, cracks, and more.

The goal is to target every potential hiding spot to guarantee the complete removal of bed bugs. However, this method is more intrusive than heat treatment and might require additional treatments.

Do Bed Bugs Eat Food?

Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, so there’s no need to worry about them invading your pantry or munching on your food. They are drawn to warmth and carbon dioxide, which is why they target sleeping humans. With proper treatment from a professional, you rarely have to discard items, including your mattress!

How Long Can Bed Bugs Live Without Feeding?

Bed bugs can be surprisingly resilient, surviving up to a year without a blood meal. Depending on the environment’s temperature and humidity, they can live anywhere from 20 to 400 days without feeding. This means that bed bugs could potentially stay in your home for over a year. Even when hungry, they won’t feed on anything other than blood.

Do I Have to Throw Out Food After a Bed Bug Infestation?

There’s no need to toss your food or pantry items during a bed bug infestation, as they have no interest in your food! Many myths surround what needs to be discarded after an infestation, and this is one of the most common misconceptions. Bed bugs are only interested in blood meals, so your food items remain safe and unaffected.

Do I Have to Throw Out My Bed Bug Infested Mattress?

While it may seem like the best option, getting rid of your mattress or box spring won’t fully eliminate the bed bug issue. Bed bugs typically spread beyond just your bed and can hide in other areas throughout your property.

Simply replacing your mattress won’t fix the problem; your new bed could get infested just like the old one! Treating your whole home, including the bed, is the key to preventing the spread of bed bugs. Professional treatment ensures that every area is addressed, stopping the infestation in its tracks.

Do You Need to Throw Away Bedding or Other Furniture?

Typically, there’s no need to discard any belongings during or after a bed bug infestation. With effective treatment, everything can be saved. Instead of tossing clothes or bedding, wash them in hot water to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

Most other furniture can be treated effectively. If you’re already planning to replace old furniture, a bed bug infestation might be a good excuse. Just make sure to treat the furniture before removing it.

What’s the Best Way to Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs can hide in places you might not expect, such as cracks in your wooden furniture. However, discovering a bed bug infestation doesn’t mean you need to panic or throw out everything in your home.

The sooner you call Xceptional for professional bed bug treatment, the better. It can save you from having to throw out food, bedding, and more.