Why is it so hard to get rid of bed bugs - Gale E. Ridge
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Date: 2025-07-20
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Comments and reviews: 20
zelousfoxtrot3390
We got rid of our bedbugs in what was probably the least safe way to do it, but it worked in a home where we were quoted $10k by the exterminator. Needed: candy thermometer, extension cords, and multiple cheap electric heaters with fans. Take the safety over-ride switches out of the heaters. suspend the candy thermometer in the center of the room by about 3 feet off the floor (I used yarn and a tack from the ceiling. Using multiple extension cords (so that all the heaters are not on one circuit) roast the room for about 4 hours at 140 degrees F. The fans need to be circulating the air in the room well, be sure the doors to the closets are open, but the room door is shut. Then do next room, then next, then next. Do not leave the house, but check that the heat doesn't get over 160F- and be sure to get anything flammable out of the rooms. The goal is to get everything in the room up to an internal temp of 130F, the bugs can't take it. Prop mattresses sideways, pull dressers from the walls, drawers out, etc. Extra fans to move air is good. It took about 4/5 heaters for a 20ft by 20ft room. Good luck!
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We got rid of our bedbugs in what was probably the least safe way to do it, but it worked in a home where we were quoted $10k by the exterminator. Needed: candy thermometer, extension cords, and multiple cheap electric heaters with fans. Take the safety over-ride switches out of the heaters. suspend the candy thermometer in the center of the room by about 3 feet off the floor (I used yarn and a tack from the ceiling. Using multiple extension cords (so that all the heaters are not on one circuit) roast the room for about 4 hours at 140 degrees F. The fans need to be circulating the air in the room well, be sure the doors to the closets are open, but the room door is shut. Then do next room, then next, then next. Do not leave the house, but check that the heat doesn't get over 160F- and be sure to get anything flammable out of the rooms. The goal is to get everything in the room up to an internal temp of 130F, the bugs can't take it. Prop mattresses sideways, pull dressers from the walls, drawers out, etc. Extra fans to move air is good. It took about 4/5 heaters for a 20ft by 20ft room. Good luck!
reply
jaspermcjasper3672
I lived in Manhattan and worked in firms where the staff traveled around the world, spending days in hotel-rooms, their luggage touching other luggage in various places, Despite working in firms where bed-bugs were detected every now and then, I never had a problem. I sat on a LOT of shared, cloth-upholstered furniture in those firms. I never had a problem with bed-bugs, despite not having a bed up on legs whose feet were in little cups of diatomaceous earth, and I've wondered why. I think it's because I've always had more fans going in my bedrooms than other people. I needed the fan's noise to mask other noise, and I just like moving air. I speculate that this prevented a buildup of carbon dioxide in any one area of the room, maintaining an even concentration of CO2 throughout all the air in the room. That CO2 is a guide to bed-bugs trying to figure out where to go for dinner. If the CO2 levels are the same everywhere, they have no idea where to go.
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I lived in Manhattan and worked in firms where the staff traveled around the world, spending days in hotel-rooms, their luggage touching other luggage in various places, Despite working in firms where bed-bugs were detected every now and then, I never had a problem. I sat on a LOT of shared, cloth-upholstered furniture in those firms. I never had a problem with bed-bugs, despite not having a bed up on legs whose feet were in little cups of diatomaceous earth, and I've wondered why. I think it's because I've always had more fans going in my bedrooms than other people. I needed the fan's noise to mask other noise, and I just like moving air. I speculate that this prevented a buildup of carbon dioxide in any one area of the room, maintaining an even concentration of CO2 throughout all the air in the room. That CO2 is a guide to bed-bugs trying to figure out where to go for dinner. If the CO2 levels are the same everywhere, they have no idea where to go.
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noradrenalina11
I don't know man, I believe bed bugs are a major threat than DDT. The video only offered two solutions: heat and vacuum cleaning. These will just reduce the number of bed bugs, but it won't eliminate them at all.
This is no joke, a few years ago I had never heard of these pests, now whenever my family sleeps anywhere they bring back bed bugs with them. And I who don't like traveling, end up being their main target.
I think I killed the last batch of bed bugs by washing my blanket, bedspread and pillow, but I'm always looking for new bites. Now I'm buying a steamer and diatomaceus earth before the next batch arrives.
P. S. Diatomaceus earth can be damaging to your vacuum cleaner, watch out.
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I don't know man, I believe bed bugs are a major threat than DDT. The video only offered two solutions: heat and vacuum cleaning. These will just reduce the number of bed bugs, but it won't eliminate them at all.
This is no joke, a few years ago I had never heard of these pests, now whenever my family sleeps anywhere they bring back bed bugs with them. And I who don't like traveling, end up being their main target.
I think I killed the last batch of bed bugs by washing my blanket, bedspread and pillow, but I'm always looking for new bites. Now I'm buying a steamer and diatomaceus earth before the next batch arrives.
P. S. Diatomaceus earth can be damaging to your vacuum cleaner, watch out.
reply
jaspermcjasper3672
Do yourself a favor and get luggage with metal and rubber exteriors. The cloth upholstery on luggage, in the luggage-hold of an airplane, is probably a huge vector. If you have cloth luggage, you can't do anything about the other cloth luggage carried in the airplane, but you can improve the chances that the next person will escape by never putting that luggage down on any cloth surface. Put it in on a wooden desk or the linoleum floor of the bathroom if you have to, or even in the tub when it's dry and not occupied. (Also if the room itself has bed-bugs, you won't get them)
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Do yourself a favor and get luggage with metal and rubber exteriors. The cloth upholstery on luggage, in the luggage-hold of an airplane, is probably a huge vector. If you have cloth luggage, you can't do anything about the other cloth luggage carried in the airplane, but you can improve the chances that the next person will escape by never putting that luggage down on any cloth surface. Put it in on a wooden desk or the linoleum floor of the bathroom if you have to, or even in the tub when it's dry and not occupied. (Also if the room itself has bed-bugs, you won't get them)
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ted_ed
Several years ago when I lived in an apartment, I got a letter saying there were several units that had bedbugs and they were going to get an exterminator to come in and check every unit for infestations.
I was not prepared for the person to walk through the door with a dog! The dog went around the couch and chairs and around every mattress, concentrating on the corners. Literally, less than 5 minutes later, the guy (and dog) took off towards the door while saying you're clear just before the door closed behind him and that was it, no bedbugs, no treatment needed. It was wild lol.
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Several years ago when I lived in an apartment, I got a letter saying there were several units that had bedbugs and they were going to get an exterminator to come in and check every unit for infestations.
I was not prepared for the person to walk through the door with a dog! The dog went around the couch and chairs and around every mattress, concentrating on the corners. Literally, less than 5 minutes later, the guy (and dog) took off towards the door while saying you're clear just before the door closed behind him and that was it, no bedbugs, no treatment needed. It was wild lol.
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crazyashlii
. half a centimetre long.
Me: sees 5cm and get's heavily confused
Me: realises there's a decimal point before the 5
OMFG please if you're going to use metric then use it correctly; the reason architects and draftspersons use millimetres INSTEAD of centimetres is EXACTLY TO AVOID THIS CONFUSION!
There is zero crticism here (pardon the language used to communicate) because I understand that no one is going to understand it and get it correct all the time, I just please urge that we can learn from this and improve our knowledge collaboratively
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. half a centimetre long.
Me: sees 5cm and get's heavily confused
Me: realises there's a decimal point before the 5
OMFG please if you're going to use metric then use it correctly; the reason architects and draftspersons use millimetres INSTEAD of centimetres is EXACTLY TO AVOID THIS CONFUSION!
There is zero crticism here (pardon the language used to communicate) because I understand that no one is going to understand it and get it correct all the time, I just please urge that we can learn from this and improve our knowledge collaboratively
reply
shojibmahmud9667
Cloth Washing Dittergent Powder is also lethal to Bed Bugs. During my Dormitory Days, there were a massive invation of them. Then I made liquid potion with Water, dittergent and an anticeptic cream. Spread them into the corners of my bed where they hide and lays eggs.
They and their egg died instantly.
one interesting Fact about bed bugs is that they don't transmit HIV. their guts has some engime that desolve HIV's protine body. There some researchs going on that as well. Maybe one days these foes will turn friends.
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Cloth Washing Dittergent Powder is also lethal to Bed Bugs. During my Dormitory Days, there were a massive invation of them. Then I made liquid potion with Water, dittergent and an anticeptic cream. Spread them into the corners of my bed where they hide and lays eggs.
They and their egg died instantly.
one interesting Fact about bed bugs is that they don't transmit HIV. their guts has some engime that desolve HIV's protine body. There some researchs going on that as well. Maybe one days these foes will turn friends.
reply
ted_ed
This TEDx talk leaves out the one thing that actually works: Diatomaceous Earth. It’s a cheap, non-toxic white powder that kills bedbugs on contact by shredding their exoskeletons - no chemicals needed. Just sprinkle it around the perimeter of your bed, couch, and baseboards - anywhere they’d crawl to reach you. It takes a few weeks, but it will wipe them out completely! Exterminators won’t tell you because it’s too cheap to profit from. It's pet friendly also. This saved me - hope it helps someone else.
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This TEDx talk leaves out the one thing that actually works: Diatomaceous Earth. It’s a cheap, non-toxic white powder that kills bedbugs on contact by shredding their exoskeletons - no chemicals needed. Just sprinkle it around the perimeter of your bed, couch, and baseboards - anywhere they’d crawl to reach you. It takes a few weeks, but it will wipe them out completely! Exterminators won’t tell you because it’s too cheap to profit from. It's pet friendly also. This saved me - hope it helps someone else.
reply
FBI-A16
As someone who have this problem, DAMN THEM! We literally did almost everything, we disposed the pillows, we disposed the bedframe, we disposed the matress and blankets, we sprayed insecticides, we sprayed hot water to eery part of the bedroom, we even smoked me and my brothers bedroom, we repainted the walls. AND THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW SOME BEDBUGS IS ALREADY LAYING EGGS ON YOUR NEWLY BOUGHT MATTRESS, PILLOWS AND BLANKETS AND BEDFRAME!
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As someone who have this problem, DAMN THEM! We literally did almost everything, we disposed the pillows, we disposed the bedframe, we disposed the matress and blankets, we sprayed insecticides, we sprayed hot water to eery part of the bedroom, we even smoked me and my brothers bedroom, we repainted the walls. AND THEY JUST KEEP COMING BACK WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW SOME BEDBUGS IS ALREADY LAYING EGGS ON YOUR NEWLY BOUGHT MATTRESS, PILLOWS AND BLANKETS AND BEDFRAME!
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albertdadzie4567
My younger brother brought bed bugs from school, became a heavy infestation but went to the agric shop and was given two pesticides mixed with kerosene and water. Sprayed everywhere, killed the eggs and all its whatever. Not seen one since then, and it’s been over 5 years. They are a nuisance but definitely can be eliminated. I believe this video was produced for viewing purposes as they ain’t aware about current bed bug control pesticides.
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My younger brother brought bed bugs from school, became a heavy infestation but went to the agric shop and was given two pesticides mixed with kerosene and water. Sprayed everywhere, killed the eggs and all its whatever. Not seen one since then, and it’s been over 5 years. They are a nuisance but definitely can be eliminated. I believe this video was produced for viewing purposes as they ain’t aware about current bed bug control pesticides.
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joelashworth1037
Once stayed in a cheap hostel just before moving into my new flat. Stayed one night and got over 100 bites. What's worse my luggage was with me in the hostel. When i moved into my flat the next day i took two cans of insect killer and went to town on my luggage and mattress. Slept in those fumes for days, but no bed bugs so well worth the health costs i probably incurred. Needless to say my new flat mates werent impressed
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Once stayed in a cheap hostel just before moving into my new flat. Stayed one night and got over 100 bites. What's worse my luggage was with me in the hostel. When i moved into my flat the next day i took two cans of insect killer and went to town on my luggage and mattress. Slept in those fumes for days, but no bed bugs so well worth the health costs i probably incurred. Needless to say my new flat mates werent impressed
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daxx238
If you have a bed bug infestation, just watch the video Mark Rober has about it, The video explains his journey with scientifically testing every solution and provides crucial tips. The main bed bug killer solution he found was a naturally occurring powder that physically kills bed bugs upon contact, all natural, no chemicals, no fuss, it's called Diatomaceous Earth. And it's way way cheaper than calling an exterminator.
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If you have a bed bug infestation, just watch the video Mark Rober has about it, The video explains his journey with scientifically testing every solution and provides crucial tips. The main bed bug killer solution he found was a naturally occurring powder that physically kills bed bugs upon contact, all natural, no chemicals, no fuss, it's called Diatomaceous Earth. And it's way way cheaper than calling an exterminator.
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JohnSmith-yi2uj
They're not hard to get rid of if you have the right tools (propoxur. Unfortunately, the government banned it for indoor use during the Clinton administration (even though it had been used for decades previously without incident) and no one manufactures it anymore in any case. I myself used it to get rid of an infestation and then stockpiled much more of it when I heard it wouldn't be available anymore.
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They're not hard to get rid of if you have the right tools (propoxur. Unfortunately, the government banned it for indoor use during the Clinton administration (even though it had been used for decades previously without incident) and no one manufactures it anymore in any case. I myself used it to get rid of an infestation and then stockpiled much more of it when I heard it wouldn't be available anymore.
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pisces2569
I can’t think of an insect more hated than the bed bug. The mosquito also feeds on blood, leaves behind itchy hives, and transmits diseases but at least the males pollinate flowers. The cockroach may be an age old nemesis but they also make great pets. Flies help clean up carcasses and feces. But the bed bug They do nothing else that is beneficial to humans or nature.
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I can’t think of an insect more hated than the bed bug. The mosquito also feeds on blood, leaves behind itchy hives, and transmits diseases but at least the males pollinate flowers. The cockroach may be an age old nemesis but they also make great pets. Flies help clean up carcasses and feces. But the bed bug They do nothing else that is beneficial to humans or nature.
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ScribeOfHeaven
Some useful advice from my experience.
1. Keep your house clean always.
2. If you ever spot a bedbug or two. do not kill it (atleast not on the bed or in the house) take it outside gently and then throw it away!
If you even accidentally crush it on your bed today. I promise there will be multiples by tomorrow!
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Some useful advice from my experience.
1. Keep your house clean always.
2. If you ever spot a bedbug or two. do not kill it (atleast not on the bed or in the house) take it outside gently and then throw it away!
If you even accidentally crush it on your bed today. I promise there will be multiples by tomorrow!
reply
Edithhandle
Had an episode with bed bugs once in my apartment, i built trenches to isolate them, it was war, i won then one day, 6 months later i saw one on my zip, killed it and never saw them again
It was indeed an experience
The key for me is to Find the space that they lay their eggs, isolate it and dispose it.
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Had an episode with bed bugs once in my apartment, i built trenches to isolate them, it was war, i won then one day, 6 months later i saw one on my zip, killed it and never saw them again
It was indeed an experience
The key for me is to Find the space that they lay their eggs, isolate it and dispose it.
reply
eMDiKhamPha
I complaint about weird bites on my body for the last few months. At first I thought it was spider so I moved my bed far away from the wall. The bites continue. Then I thought it was mosquitoes since I saw a few. Then I realized I think those bites belong to bedbugs 2 days ago. This vid has perfect timing
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I complaint about weird bites on my body for the last few months. At first I thought it was spider so I moved my bed far away from the wall. The bites continue. Then I thought it was mosquitoes since I saw a few. Then I realized I think those bites belong to bedbugs 2 days ago. This vid has perfect timing
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chribu_
I lived in Peru for a year and visited a coast town for a couple of days. The hostel I stayed at had a bedbug infestation and I gotta say: The mosquitos in the tropical parts of the country (where I stayed the logest) had nothing on those little shts.
Edit: I'm so glad I didn't seem to carry any home with me
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I lived in Peru for a year and visited a coast town for a couple of days. The hostel I stayed at had a bedbug infestation and I gotta say: The mosquitos in the tropical parts of the country (where I stayed the logest) had nothing on those little shts.
Edit: I'm so glad I didn't seem to carry any home with me
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CarolynRaeSpencer
I had just gotten rid of my bed bug problem and went to a friends house and nect day saw 3 bugs on the mattress. I dont know if its from my friends where theyve had issues or them coming up from their hiding spot in my house for more. Ive literally had about 2 weeks without any sign of them.
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I had just gotten rid of my bed bug problem and went to a friends house and nect day saw 3 bugs on the mattress. I dont know if its from my friends where theyve had issues or them coming up from their hiding spot in my house for more. Ive literally had about 2 weeks without any sign of them.
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ebenezeryeboah7090
Just imagine they had wings
Well in high school, before I sat on any desk, I usually put a thick book like a dictionary on the seat. Whenever I get a bite, I manage to quickly stand and there, I find the bug trying to escape. I think I managed to kill about 1000 of these in high school
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Just imagine they had wings
Well in high school, before I sat on any desk, I usually put a thick book like a dictionary on the seat. Whenever I get a bite, I manage to quickly stand and there, I find the bug trying to escape. I think I managed to kill about 1000 of these in high school
reply
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