We Stop Bed Bugs Before They Spread Like Wildfire

Bed bugs multiply quickly; the sooner you detect them, the faster you can exterminate them. Since a couple of bed bugs can turn into thousands in a couple of months, it is vital that at first signs of a bed bug problem you contact a professional to avoid future headaches of a massive bed bug attack.

We have been eliminating bed bug problems in the Seattle area since 1981. There is not one issue our pest control technicians have not been able to solve. With over 100,000 satisfied residential clients, you can rest assured we will protect your home from a bed bug infestation.

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How Do I Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are challenging to treat as they multiply quickly, and in a couple of months, a few bed bugs can turn into thousands if left untreated. Our well-trained bed bug exterminators can detect and treat even the most difficult of bed bug problems.

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Our Bed Bug Extermination Process

If you think or have seen a bed bug in your home, the first step is to contact us. Our certified trained bed bug exterminating specialist will come to your home and asses if you have a bed bug issue. During this process, our technician will inspect your bed and furniture. We check cracks and crevices as bed bugs like to hide.

Once our inspection is complete, our pest control technician will recommend the best course of action if they detected bed bugs in your home. We will proceed to address your bed bug issue with proven methods that will get rid of bed bug larvae and the active community in your home. Our goal in this step is to exterminate the bed bugs to prevent them from breeding and biting you.

Since bed bugs are challenging to exterminate our pest control specialist will come back to your home for follow-up visits to ensure the treatment was effective in eradicating them. We will also provide you with guidelines to keep your home bed bug free.

Frequently asked questions

Bed bugs are notorious for their resilience and for causing sleepless nights. These tiny critters can infest even the cleanest of homes, and once they make themselves comfortable, they can be tough to eradicate. But fear not! Let’s delve into the most effective methods to eliminate bed bugs from your sanctuary.

  1. Professional Extermination: This should be your go-to choice if the infestation is severe. Licensed pest control experts possess the know-how and equipment to deal with bed bugs efficiently. They often employ a combination of chemical treatments and heat treatments to ensure a bug-free home.
  2. Heat Treatment: Bed bugs and their eggs are highly susceptible to heat. By exposing all infested areas to high temperatures (usually above 120°F), you can kill them. Large heating units can be rented, but for a thorough job, professional help is recommended.
  3. Diatomaceous Earth: This is a natural powder made from fossilized aquatic organisms. When bed bugs come into contact with this powder, it dehydrates and kills them. Sprinkle it around bed frames, baseboards, and other infested areas. Make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth.
  4. Encasements: Invest in mattress and box spring encasements that trap bed bugs. These prevent bugs from getting into or out of your mattress, eventually causing trapped ones to die.
  5. Regular Cleaning: Vacuum your home frequently, especially the bedroom. This can remove bed bugs from the surface of mattresses, carpets, and cracks. Make sure to seal and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after.
  6. Wash and Dry: Bed bugs can’t survive in extreme heat. Wash all your linens, clothes, and curtains in hot water, then dry them on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Freeze Them Out: Bed bugs also can’t tolerate freezing temperatures as they detest heat. Items like shoes or stuffed toys can be placed in the freezer for several days to kill any residing bugs.
  8. Seal Cracks and Crevices: Deny bed bugs in any hiding places. Seal all cracks, crevices, and gaps in your home’s structure and around windows and doors.
  9. Stay Alert: After any treatment, remain vigilant. Regularly inspect your home, particularly the bedroom, for any signs of bed bugs. Early detection is key to preventing a full-blown infestation.

While DIY methods can be effective against smaller infestations, consulting a professional is often the best course of action for peace of mind and guaranteed results. Remember, prevention is always better than cure, so stay informed and proactive in keeping these pesky invaders at bay.

Bed bugs are pesky critters known for their blood-sucking habits and can turn up virtually anywhere. The leading cause of bed bugs isn’t related to cleanliness or the condition of a home. Instead, the primary reasons for their presence are:

  1. Travel: Bed bugs are seasoned hitchhikers. They often attach themselves to luggage, clothing, and other personal items in an infested location, such as a hotel or a hostel. When you return home, they move in with you, leading to an infestation.
  2. Second-Hand Furniture: Buying used furniture, especially mattresses and sofas, is a common way to introduce bed bugs into your home inadvertently. Always inspect and, if possible, treat second-hand items before bringing them inside.
  3. Close Proximity: If you live in a multi-unit building, like an apartment complex, and one unit gets infested, bed bugs can easily spread through wall voids, electrical outlets, and other small spaces to neighboring units.
  4. Visitors: Friends or family who have an infestation at home can inadvertently bring bed bugs with them when they come over.
  5. Public Places: Anywhere with a high turnover of people can be a hotspot for bed bugs, including libraries, theaters, public transportation, or waiting rooms. They can latch onto your belongings and travel back to your home.
  6. Lack of Awareness: Not being aware of the signs of bed bugs or not taking precautions when traveling can inadvertently lead to infestations.

It’s essential to note that bed bugs don’t discriminate. They can be found in both clean and dirty environments. Their presence does not reflect sanitation standards or cleanliness but rather their ability to find a blood meal and a place to hide. Being vigilant, regularly inspecting potential hiding spots, and taking preventive measures when traveling can help keep these pests at bay.

Bed bugs are primarily drawn out of hiding by the prospect of a blood meal. Their behavior is primarily driven by the need to feed, and certain factors act as triggers to bring them out of their hiding spots. Here’s what draws bed bugs out:

  1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans and animals exhale. This is one of the primary cues they use to find a host to feed on.
  2. Body Heat: The warmth of a human or animal body also attracts bed bugs. Their thermal sensors can detect temperature changes, helping them locate a host.
  3. Odors: Humans produce various pheromones and other organic compounds that bed bugs can detect. Some of these odors act as attractants for these pests.
  4. Darkness: Bed bugs are generally nocturnal. They are more likely to come out to feed in the dark, so bites often occur when people are asleep at night. However, they may venture out during the day if they’re hungry and the infestation is significant.
  5. Hunger: If a bed bug hasn’t fed in a while, it might be more motivated to come out of hiding in search of a meal, even under less-than-ideal conditions.
  6. Lures and Traps: Pest management professionals sometimes use lures that mimic some of the attractants mentioned above (like CO2) to draw bed bugs into traps.

Understanding these attractants can help in managing and detecting bed bug infestations. For instance, if you suspect you have bed bugs, one method to confirm their presence is by using an interception device or trap under the legs of your bed. These devices exploit the bugs’ need to feed, capturing them as they attempt to reach you during the night.

Bed bugs, unlike ants or bees, don’t create “nests” in the traditional sense. Instead, they establish harborage areas where they congregate, hide, and reproduce. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, finding these harborages is crucial to address the problem effectively. Here’s how to locate them:

Check the Bed: As their name suggests, bed bugs often congregate around beds. Start with:

  • Mattress: Examine the seams, piping, and tags. Look for bugs, their eggs, and fecal spots.
  • Box Spring: This is a very common hiding place. Check the underside, particularly the wooden frame and the stapled fabric.
  • Bed Frame and Headboard: Inspect cracks, crevices, and any hollow sections.

Furniture Close to Bed: Nightstands, dressers, and other furniture nearby can also be harborage spots. Check:

  • Drawers: Remove them and inspect the inside, outside, and the undersides.
  • Behind Furniture: The space between furniture, the wall, and the wall itself.

Other Furniture: Couches, chairs, and other upholstered furniture can also harbor bed bugs, especially if people sleep or recline on them regularly.

  • Cushions and Seams: Examine these carefully.
  • Under the Furniture: Often overlooked, but a common hiding spot.

Walls and Flooring:

  • Baseboards: Bed bugs can hide in the cracks or under lifted edges.
  • Wall Hangings: Behind pictures, posters, and other adornments.
  • Carpet Edges: The perimeter of rooms where the carpet meets the baseboard or wall.
  1. Electronics and Appliances: Alarm clocks, radios, TVs, and even computers can be hiding places, especially if they are near the bed.
  2. Clutter: Reducing clutter in your home can help eliminate potential hiding spots.
  3. Use a Flashlight: Bed bugs can be hard to see, so using a flashlight can help, especially in darker corners and crevices.
  4. Use a Credit Card or Similar Tool: The edge can be used to scrape and probe crevices and seams, making it easier to dislodge and identify bed bugs or their evidence.

Remember, while adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and can be seen with the naked eye, their nymphs (juveniles) and eggs are much smaller and might require a magnifying glass for better visibility. Always look out for signs like tiny black fecal dots, shed skins, white, rice-like eggs, and live bugs. If you do identify an infestation, it’s essential to take action quickly, either through DIY methods or by seeking professional help.

If you’ve discovered bed bugs in your sleeping area, the instinct might be to abandon your bed or even move to a different room. However, some strategies are more effective than others. Here’s what you should consider:

Stay in Your Bed: It sounds counterintuitive, but there’s logic behind it. If you move to a different room or sleeping spot, the hungry bed bugs will follow your CO2 and heat trail, potentially spreading the infestation to other home areas. By staying in your bed:

  • You keep the infestation localized, which can simplify treatment.
  • You can use yourself as bait for traps and treatments. For example, placing bed bug interceptors under your bed legs can trap bugs trying to climb up.

Preparation for Sleep:

  • Encase Your Mattress and Box Spring: Use specialized bed bug-proof encasements. This traps bugs inside (preventing them from feeding) and makes new bugs easier to spot.
  • Move Your Bed Away from Walls: This prevents bed bugs from easily accessing your bed from the wall or nearby furniture.
  • Eliminate Bed Skirts: Bed bugs can use these as ladders to climb up to the mattress.
  1. Wash and Dry Bedding: Launder all bedding in the highest heat setting. This will kill bed bugs and their eggs.
  2. Clean and Declutter: Bed bugs can hide in clutter around your bed and room. Regularly vacuum, reduce clutter, and inspect areas around your bed.
  3. Avoid Sleeping on Couches or Spare Beds: This can spread the infestation. If you must sleep elsewhere, ensure you don’t bring any infested items to the new area.
  4. Consult a Pest Control Professional: If you’re overwhelmed or unsure about the next steps, it might be time to call in the experts. They can guide how to handle sleeping arrangements and treatments.

Remember, while it’s distressing to sleep in a place where you know bed bugs are present, the key is to manage the situation strategically to effectively get rid of them. If you take steps to protect and monitor your bed, you can continue to sleep there while dealing with the infestation.

Bed bugs are indoor pests and are not as influenced by seasonal changes as many other insects. They can infest a location and thrive at any time of year, given they have access to a blood meal (typically humans). However, certain factors can lead to a perceived increase in bed bug activity or infestations during specific times of the year.

  1. Travel Peaks: Bed bugs are notorious hitchhikers. They often spread by clinging onto luggage, clothing, or other personal items. Periods of high travel, like summer vacations or holiday seasons, might lead to a rise in bed bug incidents as people stay in hotels, hostels, or other accommodations where they might contact these pests.
  2. Moving and College Start Dates: Late summer and early fall, when college students move into or return to dormitories or when families tend to relocate, can see a spike. With their high turnover and close living quarters, dormitories can be particularly susceptible to infestations.
  3. Warmth Can Speed Up Reproduction: While bed bugs thrive indoors and can survive a wide range of temperatures, slightly warmer temperatures can speed up their life cycle, meaning they might reproduce faster. However, this difference is typically minor given the controlled environments (like heated homes) where bed bugs usually live.
  4. Increased Awareness: Sometimes, bed bugs are not more prevalent at certain times of the year, but awareness and reporting might spike due to media reports or public health campaigns.

While certain times of the year might see a perceived increase in bed bug activity due to factors like travel or moving, bed bugs are a year-round concern. Regular inspections and vigilance, especially after travel or receiving second-hand items, are essential regardless of the season.

Still, have questions?

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