Dangers of DIY Bed Bug Treatments | Be Gone Pest Control

The Dangers of DIY Bed Bug Treatment Why Professional Help is Essential

If you have ever dealt with bed bugs, you know how frustrating and overwhelming they can be. These tiny pests can cause serious problems, including physical discomfort and emotional distress.
If you are thinking about taking matters into your own hands and attempting a DIY bed bug extermination, we encourage you to reconsider and at a minimum have a free inspection done first. While it’s tempting to try to save time and money by doing so, this DIY project can actually backfire – and professional help is almost always required.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at why that’s the case

Does DIY Bed Bugs Treatment Work?

Bed bugs are a nightmare for any homeowner. These tiny pests can cause sleepless nights, itchy skin, and even serious health problems. And unfortunately, bed bug infestations are on the rise across the Caribbean.
As a result, many people are turning to DIY bed bug extermination methods, such as using essential oils or bug bombs, instead of calling in a professional exterminator.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t really work.
Take essential oils, as an example. These oils, such as tea tree oil and lavender oil, are often touted as natural remedies for bed bugs. However, there is little scientific evidence to support the use of essential oils as an effective bed bug treatment.
While some oils may have insecticidal properties, they are typically not strong enough to kill all bed bugs and their eggs.
And the list of ineffective treatments does not stop there. While methods like heat treatments do work, that’s only with the right skills and techniques to back them up.

Why is DIY Bed Bug Extermination Dangerous

There are all kinds of myths out there about bed bugs – one of them being that it’s totally fine (and just as effective) to use DIY methods to get rid of them. Let’s take a closer look at why this isn’t a great idea.

#1. It May Not Actually Get Rid of the Infestation

A DIY bed bugs treatment may not necessarily get rid of the infestation. You may end up buying pesticides or other chemicals that either don’t target the bugs effectively or only attack a small portion of the population.

And even when you kill some of them, bed bugs are notoriously resilient creatures and can quickly repopulate if they’re not all eliminated at once. This can lead to a prolonged infestation and even more headaches and cost down the line.

#2. You May Not Be Able to Get To Hidden Bugs

Another problem with DIY bed bug treatment is that you may not be able to get to all the bugs. Bed bugs are incredibly good at hiding in hard-to-reach places, such as inside the mattress, in the legs of bedside tables or underneath floorboards.

Even when you think you’ve gotten rid of all the visible bugs, there may still be a significant population lurking somewhere out of sight. In other words, the bed bugs you see are only a small fraction of the total population.

#3. The Chemicals Can Harm Your Health

One of the most concerning aspects of DIY bed bug treatments is that everything isn't safe to use indoors.

DIY bed bug treatments often involve the use of harsh chemicals or pesticides that can be harmful to your health. These chemicals can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other adverse side effects, especially if not used correctly.

Even if you’re careful with the chemicals, there’s always a risk that they’ll contaminate your home or cause long-term damage to your property. This is a risk that’s especially important to note if you have children or pets.

#4. You Might Be Giving Them Time to Breed

DIY pest control can give the pests time to breed and multiply, making it harder to control their spread. Professionals will use a range of methods to control an infestation and make sure that bed bugs are prevented from breeding. They will also provide advice on how to prevent future infestations

#5. Some DIY Treatments May Pose a Fire Risk

Heat treatment is a popular method of getting rid of bed bugs, but as you might expect, it can pose a serious fire risk.

Excessive use of heat in confined areas (and without the right tools and know-how) could cause a fire or an explosion, injuring your family and damaging your home. In addition heat treatments alone require painstaking targeting to be successful, because eggs only die above 119 degrees Fahrenheit, with sustained exposure.

Got Bed Bugs? Here’s What You Should Do Instead

Don’t let bed bugs keep you up at night or make you resort to DIY treatments that will be costly and may not work. Hiring a professional pest control service to handle your bed bug infestation is the best way to get rid of the problem quickly, safely, and effectively.

If you’re in need of a helping hand, give Be Gone Pest Control a call. We know how to handle even the most severe bed bug infestations. With our help, you don’t have to worry about:

Deciding if and what furniture to throw out.
What furniture to replace and when.
Where else Bed Bugs might be hiding.
How did they get into your home in the first place.
What to do to reduce the risk of them coming back.

We're in the peace of mind business. Give us a call and book your no commitment free inspection today and take the first step to joining our family of satisfied customers!