Dealing
with Bedbugs – Surely the Vacuum Will Do It?
Your
questions on dealing with bedbugs answered.
Is there a bedbug epidemic in the UK?
Bedbugs were once rife, especially in thriving cities such as London. It was estimated that most homes in 1930s London were bedbug infested.
With concerted efforts on how to
get rid of bedbugs, the problem was largely eradicated by mid-20th
Century across the country.
But, the bedbug made a comeback
in the 1980s and, it’s fair to say that the number of cases has been steadily
increasing. Bedbugs are not just a problem in London, but in homes across the
country and, it must be said, the world.
Are
they a sign of poor hygiene?
No. The bedbug is an opportunist
and despite it leaving itchy bites on the human body, its ingenuity should be
admired.
The bedbug doesn’t fly and it is
minute, with fully grown adults being the shape of a lentil. Eggs are difficult
to spot, but super-sticky so they cling to where they are laid and young
bedbugs are tiny.
Bedbug hitch a lift on clothing.
The increased opportunities for domestic and international travel have meant
the bedbug has more chances to find their way into our homes, hotels, cafes,
bars, business premises, wherever people and warm-blooded animals may be.
It may be possible that the
washing of clothes and bed linen in environmentally-friendly lower temperatures
of 30° could be contributing
to their numbers. Bedlinen, for example, if washed on 60° or more can zap bedbug adults, young and eggs.
Does
vacuuming the mattress regularly make a difference?
Yes and no. Vacuuming sucks up
insects but not eggs, which are very tough and stick to the mattress.
Also, there are other areas in
the house where bedbugs lurk. For example, crevices in walls, behind electric
wall sockets and so on. Vacuuming thoroughly and often
will help but, there are things you need to consider;
· Vacuuming doesn’t get kill bedbugs.
· The type of vacuum is important – for example,
those with HEPA filters may trap the young and adults in the filter, thus they
remerge into the home if not washed out of the filter with hot water.
·
Not emptying the vacuum after you have used it
means the bedbugs simply crawl out and back into the home.
Is
professional pest control for bedbugs very expensive?
Our pest control services are
affordable and we are always mindful of people’s budgets. But, we also want
people to be able to live
comfortably in their homes, and not be at the mercy of a tiny critter that
found its way into your home on the bottom of your suitcase.
Using professional pest control
for bedbugs means;
· More
effective treatment – there is NO silver bullet treatment when it comes to
bedbugs. It takes knowledge, it takes time, it takes treatments not available
for you to buy over the counter and, more importantly, it takes deep cleaning,
and the application of heat.
· Less
stressful and strenuous – we do
a lot of the work so you don’t have to!
· Better
advice – we always leave our customers with prevention advice and a
guarantee (if it doesn’t work the first time, we come back again!)
