Bed bug Frequently Asked Questions

• 1. How do I know if I have bed bugs ?
  Whether you actually see bed bugs or not, there are other tell tale signs to watch out for. Think about where you spend a lot of time, maybe your bedroom, sitting room, office or even your car, then carefully examine these areas for bed bug signs.
  
  Have residents complained of bites that occurred while sleeping? (people may not feel themselves being bitten, but some people are sensitive to the bites which become inflamed.) You might find blood spotting on bedding, dark excrement spots on, under or in the seams and creases of mattresses and surrounding bed base, there may also be a sweetish almond odour in some heavily infested residences.


• 2. Bed bugs are only present in dirty premises?
  Not true! Bed bugs are not caused by poor sanitation. However, poor house keeping, particularly clutter, can make it much more difficult to control or eliminate a bed bug infestation. It could take longer to spot bugs in a cluttered environment, causing the problem to escalate into ever increasing numbers before action is taken.


• 3. How did I get bed bugs/how do they spread ?
  In order for a new infestation to become established, bed bugs must first be introduced into the previously un-infested environment. Your risk of encountering and potentially introducing bed bugs increases when you travel, or stay in hotels. Suit cases, bags and backpacks can become infected with bed bugs, or bed bug eggs and overnight guests who have unwittingly been around infested areas can bring them into your home. Purchasing used or second hand items, or even having new items such as furniture and bedding delivered, can also bring you into contact with bed bugs etc.


• 4. Bed bugs only live in beds/bedrooms ?
  Not true, bed bugs do not like to be too far away from their hosts, so they will stay anywhere their human hosts spend a lot of time, such as sitting rooms, study, offices and even cars etc. Bed bugs will live in any crack or crevice, as long as they are not far away from their food supply!


• 5. Do I have to throw away my bed/mattress?
  It is very rare for us to recommend that you throw away bedding or items that have come into contact with the bugs however, if you want to get rid of such items, wait until the full treatment has been undertaken before you bring any new items into your home or place of work. If you do put out infected bedding etc make sure that it is made undesirable so no one will pick it up and take it to their homes.


• 6. Do bed bugs spread disease when they bite ?
  Although they have the potential to transmit disease there is, as of yet, no scientific proof that they can carry infection.You may develop an itchy red welt or localised swelling which can appear a day or so after the initial bite however, some people have little or no reaction. Constant scratching of the bite can cause skin infections and scars.Stress, anxiety and insomnia are also some of the problems that people can suffer with an infestation.


• 7. How long does it take to do the treatment ?
  This all depends on the size of the property, number of rooms and ease of accessibility. Each room, on average, takes 30 minutes to 1 hour on the first visit.


• 8. How long does it take for the treatment to work ?
  There is no magic cure for dealing with bed bug infestations
  
  Claims to eradicate your problem within a first visit should be taken with a pinch of salt, bed bugs will not disappear in these amazingly short time spans! A professional treatment takes between 14 and 28 days depending on infestation size and success of first application. Their eggs are very tough and can hatch a while after the first treatment, dependant on temperature,though most hatch in 4 to 5 days. Many people do not clean their houses well enough, remember, your treatment also needs you to follow your cleaning instructions fully to prevent the pests returning.Most places need at least two treatments, especially with larger infestations. We use our knowledge of the bugs natural habits and latest scientific information which proves that using several successful methods at the same time works best. Catching the bugs dealing with their eggs and stragglers that might be left behind means treatment can take time, their very habits mean treatment can never work 100% in one day only.


• 9. Is there anyway I can avoid being bitten ?
  There are a few measures that you can try to cut down on biting Use double-sided sticky tape and make a line around the side of your bed, at the top of the mattress and the legs of bed This is a cheap way to make a bed bug trap - any that try to climb across to get at you should stick to it. If the bed has legs try putting them into glass jars as bed bugs cannot climb glass.


• 10. Is it better to cover myself completely in clothes right up to my neck at night so I don't get bitten?
  Not necessarily. If you are going to do this, leave an arm, or any limb outside of your clothing, otherwise it is likely you will be bitten on the face, remember, bites may scar, especially if you scratch them and the face is not a discreet or nice place to be carrying bed bug bites.


• 11. would it be easier if I just vacated the house for the whole duration of the treatment ?
  No, this isn't necessary and isn't going to do anything to solve your problem. In fact it might make the infestation last longer, if the bugs know you are there they will come out of their hiding places and make contact with the treatment, if they don't sense you are there, they might stay within their harbourages, bed bugs have been known to go for a whole year without feeding.

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