How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs with a Steam Cleaner

What Are Bed Bugs and Understanding Them

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on blood from humans and animals. Often, travel is recognized as the most common source of bed bug infestations, as they make their way into travelling suitcases, clothing, or any other personal belongings. This is the main concern for hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnbs, as they can infest beds.

These accommodation sites must employ proper cleaning methods to ensure that these infestations do not harm their visitors and are not carried further into their homes. Fortunately, bed bugs can be killed and removed by using heat. The higher the temperature, the better. This is why Tecnovap Steam Cleaners are the best option, as they produce temperatures up to 174°C. Bed bug adults die at a temperature of 48.3°C, and 54.8°C for the eggs.

How to Check for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small, ranging in size from 1mm to 7mm, and are brown or black. This makes them extremely difficult to spot immediately as they hide away in dark places such as bed crevices, curtains, clothing, bedding, and any other objects located near the bed where they often feed and breed on blood.

If you notice any red rashes on your shoulders or back, there may be bed bugs in your bed or your home. The first step to look for them is by inspecting the stitching of the mattress, and then checking places such as pillows and cushions. Keep an eye out for small black dots (often bed bug eggs), which are most commonly found grouped together.

If bed bugs are found inside the bed, it is a good idea to check all other places in your home such as carpets, curtains, and furniture.

How to Kill the Bed Bugs with Steam

Once you've determined that you have bed bugs in your home or place of work, such as hotels, it is important to act quickly and get rid of them before they spread further into other rooms or any other areas of the living spaces.

Step 1: Vacuum Dirt and Clear the Space

This is a critical step in getting rid of bed bugs because they hide in multiple spaces around the main source from which they come. It is important to use a high quality vacuum cleaner with a strong vacuum suction for the best cleaning result.Vacuuming the carpets, furniture, and mattresses is crucial to eliminate dust and debris.

Remove the linen from your bedding and wash it in hot water, then dry it and seal it in a plastic bag to reduce exposure before killing any remaining bugs with a steam cleaner.

After vacuuming, it is important to disinfect your vacuum cleaner, as it could spread bed bugs again. Ensure that any rubbish cleared from the living space is thrown away from the building to prevent them from spreading back into your spaces.

Step 2: Start Steaming

It's important to ensure that when you start steaming your bed, the temperature in the boiler of the steam cleaner has reached its peak temperature. This will ensure that the bed bugs are killed almost instantly with the high temperatures these machines can produce.

While these temperatures are high and the bed bugs are eliminated quickly, it is still critical to steam over the bed slowly. This ensures that the steam penetrates deeply into the fibers where they may be hiding.

To achieve the best results, use the triangle steaming tool with a microfiber cloth attached to it.

While bed bugs mainly live and breed in your mattress, it is also important to steam clean the entire environment to ensure complete removal. Steam clean the curtains or drapes and continue cleaning all the furniture.

Step 3: Allow Bed and Furniture to Dry

After steam cleaning, it is important to allow the bed and all other areas you have cleaned to dry out. Wrap the bed in tear-resistant plastic for two weeks to ensure all living organisms die.

Examine the areas for any feces, skins, or living bed bugs. After completing the entire cleaning process, it is important to disinfect all the equipment you used, including your vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner, and accessories.

Repeat the entire process if any signs of bed bugs are present after this.

FAQS

1. What is the main cause of bed bugs?
   
   Bed bugs often enter homes and hotels through frequent travel, being in the luggage of the travellers, clothing, and other personal belongings.
    
2. What are 3 signs you might have bed bugs?
   
   Look out for red rashes on the body, small black dots (likely to be bed bug eggs) clustered in infested areas, and sightings of the bed bugs themselves, often in the mattress seams or crevices. After spotting it is a good idea to inspect all areas in the living space as they spread quickly and easily.
    

3. When should I check for bed bugs?
   
   It is important to regularly inspect bedding, furniture, and any other potential hiding spots for signs of bed bugs, especially after travelling, as they are commonly transferred to other areas through luggage. Additionally, it's essential to inspect if you experience unexplained bites or rashes.