The tiny bedbug is a difficult-to-eradicate nuisance
Since 2000, bed bugs have been a growing problem worldwide, particularly in highly populated urban centers. Although bed bugs generally do not spread disease, an infestation will bring itchy welts, anxiety and sleepless nights. The flat-bodied insects can hide in the tiniest of crevices and live more than a year, so extermination will take strict cleaning measures as well as a professional's hand.
Cleaning
Before treatment, eradicate as much of the bed bug infestation as possible through cleaning. Wash all bedding and dry in a hot dryer, and dry clean any woolen blankets. Vacuum any infested furniture in the room: the bed including the mattress, box springs and headboards, sofas and chairs. Vacuum the carpet, particularly where it meets the wall. Throw out the vacuum bag immediately. Consider steam-cleaning the carpets. Seal your mattress in an airtight, zippered plastic cover and leave this cover on for at least a year, as bedbugs can survive that long without nourishment. Cover the bed's foundation as well. Clean up all clutter on the floor in infested rooms. With severe infestations, be prepared to throw out infested furniture and replace the carpet.
Pesticides
Cleaning alone usually will not completely eradicate a bed bug infestation. A professional exterminator probably will have to use chemicals to remove the last traces of the insects. Find an exterminator licensed by your state, and check the company's credentials with your state's applicable environmental agency. Ask the exterminator to use the least toxic pesticide possible. Observe to make sure the exterminator uses only small amounts of the poison on furniture seams rather than coating it with the poison. Ask how long you should stay out of treated rooms. The exterminator might have to return two or three times for additional treatments. Some bed bug populations have developed resistance to certain pesticides, but there is no way to detect that without trial and error.
