Clothes or bed bugs are common. They can get into the house from neighbors, they can be brought into the house from a trip or from guests. Thanks to the special structure of their legs, bedbugs easily nest in seams, pockets, and hoods. It is very difficult to breed insects; it is enough for one pregnant female to remain alive and in a month and a half the population of individuals will resume in its original quantities.
These insects rarely choose closets and wardrobes as their habitat; they prefer to be in close proximity to humans. But bedbugs can live in thick, synthetic clothing for a long time. Therefore, in order to completely eliminate the repeated attack of insects, it is necessary to treat clothes and things with a suitable option.
Treating things against bedbugs
Bedbugs
“Grandma’s” techniques, in which you need to rearrange things in closets with various strong-smelling herbs, have not gained popularity. In addition, this method is unproductive. Today, several effective techniques are known that will help get rid of bedbugs. Among them, treatment with chemicals and drugs comes first.
On a note! Processing things by increasing or decreasing the temperature is no less useful.
The most common ways to remove bedbugs from clothes and other things:
- Insecticides;
- Heat treatment;
- Freezing.
Insecticides or Chemicals
Dichlorvos
When choosing a product, the buyer first of all pays attention to the result, which is guaranteed by the packaging. Quite often he has to be disappointed and purchase the next drug. After a comparative analysis, it was found that the most effective means are:
- "Dichlorvos".
- "Raid".
- "Raptor".
“Dichlorvos” - today a product under the well-known name has a common active substance with its predecessor - dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate. The remaining complementary components have been replaced with ones that are safer for people and pets. Dichlorvos helps against bedbugs, but you need to remember how to use it correctly. In order to remove insects using this aerosol, it is necessary to detect places where bedbugs accumulate and direct the stream of the product directly at them.
The disadvantages of this drug are its strong odor and volatility. After use, you must leave the room for at least 30 minutes. Also, “Dichlorvos” is not intended for spraying over long distances; it only acts locally, in places where insects are crowded.
Raid
On a note! “Raid” - the popular drug contains insecticides belonging to the pyrethroid group: cypermethrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin. They affect the central nervous system of insects, instantly immobilizing and affecting not only young but also adult individuals.
It is worth noting that there is no special means for killing bedbugs under the Raid brand. Although complex preparations are quite effective in helping to get rid of insect infestations. In order to process things and clothes, you need to place them on the film. You need to spray the aerosol from a distance of 30 cm, without staying in one place for more than 2 seconds.
Despite the perfumed fragrance, the “Raid” product has a heavy odor. Before spraying, it is better to remove people and pets from the premises. After treatment, an oily coating remains on things, so you need to remove dead insects from things and wash them at high temperatures.
"Raptor" - cypermethrin, tetramethrin, piperonyl butoxide - three main components that are constantly renewed and do not allow insects to get used to the poison. This drug is quite effective against bedbugs and does not require direct application to the site of accumulation. An insect, passing through the treated area, absorbs the poison into its legs, and upon contact with other individuals, transfers the insecticide to them. As a result, all bedbugs are affected in a short time.
The product "Raptor" has a pungent odor with a fragrance, so when using it you must wear a respirator. It is also not advisable for people and pets to be in the room where clothes and belongings were processed.
Features of bedbugs
Being the most nasty parasites, bedbugs reproduce almost instantly. It will take no more than one day for the female to lay eggs. In less than two months, the larva will turn into a full-fledged adult bug, ready to reproduce. Both young and adult parasites feed exclusively on blood. Since the body of an insect is a kind of shell, it is almost impossible to crush a hungry parasite. Things are much simpler with a well-fed bug, which, when pressed hard, bursts like a soap bubble. Parasites can only be detected in an apartment at night, when they emerge from their hiding places to hunt.
Steaming clothes
Steam generator for bedbugs in an apartment - reviews are always positive
Insecticides are used if things cannot be treated with high temperature. Those that can be heat treated are best washed at temperatures above 60°C and ironed with a hot iron. You can also use a steam cleaner against bedbugs. In the latter case, it is possible to guarantee that not only all individuals, but also the eggs will die.
Destruction of bedbugs with steam is a modern and effective method. In addition, it is harmless to the human body. The steam generator is used to disinfect premises, things and clothing. Does not harm parquet and laminate. But some types of fabrics may be susceptible to high temperatures, so before you get rid of bedbugs on things, you need to familiarize yourself with the properties of the material indicated on the labels.
On a note! Before treating clothes against bedbugs, you need to steam treat the apartment.
It should be remembered that it is prohibited to use a steam generator on household appliances and other electrical appliances. Upholstered and cabinet furniture will not suffer from this. The cost of a steam cleaner is from 3,500 to 4,500 rubles*
Freezing out bedbugs
One of the reliable ways to rid clothes and belongings of bedbugs is freezing. To do this, it is enough to place the items to be processed in a tight bag and freeze at a temperature of −20°C. In winter you can take them outside, in summer you can put them in the freezer. It must be kept for at least 7 days, then shake thoroughly and wash at a temperature of 60°C.
How do bedbugs get into an apartment or house?
Bedbugs are small in size; their size is determined by satiety and can range from 3-8 mm. A hungry insect has a flattened body shape, which provides it with protection from mechanical stress. Bed bugs are only attracted to the blood of humans or warm-blooded animals.
Bed bugs
On a note!
It is not always possible to reliably identify the cause of pests. The myth that bloodsuckers choose to live in premises with unsanitary conditions has long been dispelled. Bed bugs are equally likely to be found in a luxurious mansion and in a shabby barracks.
There are several ways pests can enter your home:
- pass from neighbors through utility lines, cracks in walls, ceilings;
- after visiting places where parasites live: hostels, hotels, motels, bedbugs in things are by no means uncommon; several individuals may well take a liking to the luggage and subsequently settle in the apartment;
- buying clothes, used furniture;
- Bedbugs are carried in clothes and shoes - it doesn’t cost an insect anything to get lost in folds, pockets, hoods; both the homeowner and his guests can bring bloodsuckers into the house in this way.
Review
Due to the nature of my work I have to travel frequently on business trips. There are different hotels; in some, traces of bloodsuckers are visible to the naked eye. My wife is worried that bed bugs on her clothes will get home. Therefore, in order to prevent insects from trying to enter the suitcase, I always keep it closed. Upon arrival home, the spouse immediately puts all things into a large hermetically sealed bag and hangs them in the closet only after washing.
Vladislav, Moscow
Reviews
Raptor
Olga, Udmurtia: “When I bought a used sofa, I didn’t immediately realize that it had bedbugs. It was summer, hot, mosquitoes. I attributed my bites to them. My bedding set was dark, with a black pattern. One morning I saw THEM and panic seized me. How so? After taking time off from work, I ran to buy all the products I could find, as long as they had the signature “from bedbugs” on them. Having processed the entire apartment, the next morning I did not find a single corpse, and only a few living insects hastened to hide from the sunlight. I went shopping again and purchased a Raptor. After thorough treatment with this product, I counted more than 50 dead bodies. Vacuumed them. I didn't see any more bedbugs. After some time, I noticed that any insects in my apartment did not stay long. The flying mosquitoes and flies fell dead. I definitely recommend it."
Lyudmila, Moscow: “A friend advised me to use the method of exterminating bedbugs. She also rented out her steam cleaner - it looked like a teapot with a long spout. We found a lot of bedbugs behind the wallpaper, at the very top, where I wouldn’t even have thought to look if I hadn’t read it on the Internet. I did the treatments every 3 days, then less often, once a week, and so on for a whole month. Although a lot of effort was spent, there are no pests!”
On a note! If bedbugs appear in an apartment, you should use proven methods - chemical or temperature treatment. If you can’t remove the parasites yourself, you can call special services.
*Prices are current as of August 2021.
Destruction of bedbugs - consideration of options
If you decide to remove bedbugs yourself, first of all, you should clarify what the most effective methods are, since specific cases require the use of certain means. The main ways to destroy bloodsuckers are:
- Destruction using toxic substances, among which you can choose “Combat”, “Executioner”, “Korbofos”, “Dichlorvos”. The main thing is to carry out targeted treatment of the entire room, and not just an armchair or sofa.
- Burning or freezing. The first method is to warm up living spaces using industrial fans for several hours. In this case, a temperature of at least 50C is achieved. The second option for removing bed bugs from an apartment involves cooling the room by sharply and continuously lowering the temperature. Furniture infested with parasites is also taken out into the cold.
- Collect insects by hand or using a vacuum cleaner. This rather labor-intensive method will not be able to get rid of parasites at home, but can be used in addition to other methods.
- Use of products with a strong odor. The use of turpentine, dust, and denatured alcohol will not kill bed bugs, but will force them to suddenly leave the room.
- Calling a team of specialists who know with absolute accuracy the locations of parasites and effective methods of exterminating them.
Important! Blood-sucking parasites spread throughout the apartment, and are discovered by the owners only in bed.
Removing bloodsuckers from upholstered furniture
Upholstered furniture is a favorite location for bedbugs. Here the temperature required for them is constantly maintained, and food is in close proximity. And also the risk of being crushed and dying during feeding is minimal. However, upholstered furniture is considered an easily processed item. Mattresses and beds can be kept in the cold, treated with insecticides or scalded with boiling water.
The main thing is that before removing bedbugs from armchairs and sofas at home, make sure that the insects have not multiplied throughout the apartment. Otherwise, you will waste your time and effort. Upholstered furniture can also be treated with denatured alcohol or turpentine, which will repel bloodsuckers. However, these methods will not be able to completely remove bed bugs.
Removing bedbugs with chemicals
Removing bedbugs that have settled in an apartment requires taking certain precautions. When carrying out the procedure, you must use a respirator, as well as rubber gloves, to reliably protect yourself from toxic fumes and splashes of chemicals. After finishing treatment in residential areas, you should wash your face, wash your hands with soap, change clothes and leave the treated area.
To destroy bed bloodsuckers, there are numerous drugs that allow you to permanently get rid of insects at home. They differ in composition and release forms. These can be emulsions, aerosols, gel substances or solid substances in which the main active component is organophosphorus compounds or pyrethroids. Having a minimum threshold of toxicity, they contribute to the rapid elimination of domestic bugs, after some time, splitting and becoming harmless. An apartment treated with such products will be suitable for living in just a couple of days.
Removing parasites from clothes
The simplest method of removing bedbugs is heat treatment, all methods of which bring positive results:
An excellent result can be obtained by putting things in plastic bags, spraying them with insecticide, and tying them tightly. This folk method will kill insects in a few hours. Then the clothes must be washed thoroughly.
