So, doesn’t everyone do this? Not at all! We are often hired after a client has had 3-6 treatments from another provider that failed to stop the bites because that provider had not decontaminated the bed frames with steam or dry heat or had not secured the mattresses and box springs inside bed bug resistant cloth encasements. Seldom have they used isolators under the legs of the bed and an air gap around the bed sufficient to prevent bed bug access. Often, they have not created a sufficient “minefield” that lasts and kills every bed bug that approaches the bed seeking a meal. In the case of heat treatments or gas fumigation, those cannot leave a residual behind to kill any bugs that were missed or introduced after their service ended.

Also, they usually have not educated the clients on the simple techniques of avoiding bed bug re-infestation. We insist on doing all these things or, frankly, we turn down the job! We always strive for success. If you would like to discuss the various extermination options, please call us. We will be glad to answer your questions.

The ”baking” referred to in step (1) goes much further than just decontaminating a bed frame. If one of your thoughts has been to throw out offending furniture, don’t! The “bake” is also used to decontaminate other infested furniture so there is rarely a reason to throw out your items.

For those of you interested, a special heat chamber is set up in your home which is sealed to prevent all bugs from escaping the heat as they may do with whole house heat treatments. The chamber temperature is raised to 140 degrees for three to four hours which will be lethal to the bed bugs. Then furnishings are sprayed with Cimi-Shield. This is called Selective Heating.