How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Bed Bugs? The Cost of Extermination

Our fully inclusive guide on the different methods of getting rid of bed bugs, and the true cost of exterminating them for good.

Even talking about bed bugs makes our skin crawl – literally. There’s nothing quite so unappealing as considering the possibility of small insects crawling into our beds at night, biting us, and feeding on our blood, is there? Yuck.

The truth is, when it comes to getting rid of bed bugs, you want to be thorough in order to make sure that once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. But what is the true cost of exterminating bed bugs?

Read on for our fully inclusive guide on the different methods of getting rid of bed bugs, and to find out the real cost of getting rid of them for good.

What Signs Indicate that I May Have a Bed Bug Infestation?

Before spending the money on getting rid of bed bugs, you’ll want to be certain that it is actually bed bugs you are dealing with.

Because of this, it’s so important that you look out for the signs which indicate you might have a bed bug infestation.

Read on to find out what these are in some more detail.

Finding Bites on Your Skin

Finding bites on your skin is one of the first, and most obvious indications that you may have a bed bug infestation inside of your home.

Unlike a flea bite, the bite from a bed bug will often show up in in groups, rather than as an individual blemish.

Usually, they are arranged in a straight line. This is because bed bugs, rather than settling with biting in one location, will tend to travel up your arms and legs, biting and feeding as they go. Think of it as a continuous series of blood tests. Yuck.

Red / Rusty Stains

Finding red and rusty stains on yourself, your bed, or other kinds of upholstered furniture is another sign you may have bed bugs.

These red and rusty stains are usually blood – either yours from being bitten, or the bed bugs from being squished.

Small Black Dots

Small black dots are another indicator of bed bugs.

To be precise, these small black dots tend to be the faecal matter of the bed bugs. Either that, or the skin they shed as they turn from babies to being fully grown.

Egg Shells

Egg shells of bed bugs can be found in the areas in which they have infested.

These are hard to spot sometimes, as they are miniscule and light in colour. Look out for tiny specks of ivory material either on your bed, in the carpet, or on other upholstered furniture.

Live Bugs

The final indicator that you might have bed bugs in the home – and one of the most obvious ones – is that you’ve actually seen the live bugs moving around.

From time to time, if you have an infestation, you are likely to spot the bed bugs moving around. Sure, they’re tiny, but if you look closely enough you should be able to spot them sometimes.

Once they have fed, they actually get bigger and redder, making them easier to spot.

Home Methods of Getting Rid of Bed Bugs

The cheapest method of getting rid of bed bugs tends to be the home method, which tends to cost absolutely nothing!

But what are the most effective home methods of getting rid of bed bugs?

Read on to find out more!

Use Your Vacuum Cleaner

The vast majority of us – and those who don’t own one, need to purchase one – will own a vacuum cleaner, which plays an integral role in the cleaning of our homes. But did you know it can also help with the eradication of bed bugs?

A powerful setting on the vacuum can be just enough to suck up the little critters and keep the infestation at bay. This method may not be considered as being 100% effective by professionals, but there are some handy tips and tricks you can use in order to get the best possible results.

Let’s take a look at what these are:

•         When hoovering on fabric, don’t press down on the hoover attachment too harshly. Doing this can actually knock the bed bugs off the said piece of furniture and onto another surface, which is exactly what you don’t want.
•         Once you have hoovered up the bed bugs, you’ll want to remove them from the vacuum bag immediately. Remember that simply hoovering them up won’t kill them, and therefore you don’t want them to escape back into the open. Before you throw away the vacuum bag, be sure to seal it properly.
•         If you don’t have a vacuum bag, you should be sure to empty all of the contents of your vacuum into a bag which you can then seal, and throw away. If this is the case, you should be certain to remove the plastic container from your vacuum where the bed bugs were collected, and clean it thoroughly with hot, soapy water.

Wash All of Your Clothes and Bedding

Another cheap and almost – free method, minus the electricity bill, is putting all of your clothes and bedding into a hot wash.

The simple instructions for doing this effectively are just below:

1.       Keep all of the infested bedding and clothing separate from your other laundry. You should do this by keeping them in sealed bags. This should be an obvious point, really.
2.       Be sure to dispose of these bags safely once they’ve served their purpose.
3.       When it comes to actually washing the clothing and bedding, this should be done on the highest heat that that material in question can stand. The same applies for drying.
4.       If you want to cut corners and spend less time, then washing isn’t necessarily crucial, although we would always recommend it for hygiene reasons. Alternatively, you could put your affected clothes and bedding in the tumble dryer on a thirty minute setting, on a high a heat as the material can withstand. This should be enough to kill the bed bugs and their eggs.

Steam Clean the Affected Areas

Using a steam cleaner on the affected areas within your home is an effective method of killing bed bugs and their eggs.

If you already own a decent steam cleaner – then great! This is free! but if you want to buy one, it could cost you anywhere between $30.00 and $300.00. The better the steam cleaner, the better the results – and remember it has many additional uses you can utilise once you’ve used it on your bed bug affected areas.

This is a great option for the areas you can’t reach with your vacuum cleaner. This is because the heat from the steam will kill the bed bugs and their eggs, so long as the heat used is exceeding one hundred and forty degrees Fahrenheit. This is what we mean by a “decent” steamer – one that will reach this level of heat. Make this a priority if this is the main reason why you’re purchasing a steamer.

In order to avoid damaging your furniture, be certain to follow the instructions on the steamer.

Bottled Alcohol

Got some bottled alcohol lying around the home? This is another cost – effective method of getting rid of bed bugs. Even if you don’t have it lying around, you can purchase spirits for a cheap enough price at the local store. Remember, it doesn’t have to be the good stuff!

Simply pour the alcohol in a spray bottle, and spritz away on the affected areas! The alcohol actually kills the bugs on contact.

Call in a Professional Exterminator

Last of all, but by no means least, if you don’t like the idea of taking on the responsibility of getting rid of the bed bugs yourself, you might want to call in a professional pest exterminator.

It’ll cost more, but likely be more effective. First off, the pest control expert will usually carry out an inspection of your home, which can be free of charge. It all depends on the company you use.

Once the initial inspection is complete, they’ll formulate a plan that caters to the needs of your home. Following this, they’ll come back and treat your home, using treatment which can range from heat boxes, to sprays, and all the way to fumigation.

Before turning to pesticides, if the infestation isn’t too severe, pest control companies may begin by attempting the vacuum / steamer method. Remember, they’ll also know how to do this most effectively.

How much does it cost to get your bed bug issue exterminated by a professional pest control expert? There is no one answer! The cost can be anywhere between $995.00 and $2500.00. This will vary depending on the size of the property, and the severity of the infestation. It might sound pricey, but it’s the only sure method of getting rid of the pests once and for all.

 Thanks for reading!