Bed Bug Management Guide

Bed bugs feed on the blood of hosts, and humans are their favorite hosts. When bed bugs invade homes, it can be challenging to control an infestation. These pests multiply quickly, leading to large infestations. They are also excellent at finding hiding spots, which can make it difficult to completely eradicate an infestation. Implementing prevention methods and using pest control products will be needed to get rid of these pests.  

Bed bugs are often introduced to homes after traveling. Once inside, they find small spaces to hide in that are close to their host. These bugs are small and flat, making it easy for them to squeeze into tight spaces. Their feeding occurs at night. Because they prefer to be indoors, these pests can be active year-round. Taking steps to prevent bed bugs will be easier than fighting an infestation, which is why implementing preventative techniques is important. When dealing with an active infestation, you’ll need to treat your home with pest control products and utilize non-insecticide bed bug control measures too. 

Bed bugs are often introduced to homes after traveling. Hotels and rental properties have many people coming and going, giving bed bugs plenty of opportunities to feed. Implementing preventative measures before, during, and after your travels can help to prevent these pests.

Pack Wisely: When traveling, your packing decisions can help to prevent bed bug problems. Using a hard-shelled suitcase will make it more difficult for pests to get inside. It also helps to place your items in sealed bags inside of your suitcase to deter bed bugs.

Check for Bed Bugs: Before settling into your hotel or rental place, you’ll want to check for bed bugs. Examine the mattress, sheets, headboard, and furniture. Be on the lookout for small reddish-brown bugs as well as red or dark stains. It’s best to leave your suitcase on a tile or hardwood floor while checking for these pests.

Alert Management: If you find bed bugs or signs of bed bugs in your room or rental property, you’ll want to alert management. Ask to switch rooms but be sure not to stay in a room adjacent to the infested room. Bed bugs can easily travel between rooms.

Clean Your Suitcase & Clothes: When you get home, you’ll want to take care of your laundry and suitcase. Take your clothes to the washer and dryer as soon as you get home. You’ll want to use high heat settings to help kill bed bugs or bed bug eggs. Leave your suitcase in the garage and vacuum it to help remove any hitchhiking pests.

Inspect Secondhand Furniture: If you're buying used furniture, especially mattresses, couches, or upholstered items, check them carefully for signs of bed bugs (e.g., dark spots, shed skin, or live bugs). It's best to avoid purchasing secondhand mattresses altogether.

Inspect & Wash Secondhand Clothes: Wash all “new” secondhand clothes in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting. This will kill any potential bed bugs.

Along with using pest control products, you’ll want to take other steps to remove bed bugs. These methods will make treating your space easier and help to remove these pests.

Eliminate Clutter: Reducing the number of hiding spots will make it easier to treat for and get rid of bed bugs. Keep your items off the floor. Remove any items that are stored under your bed.

Wash & Dry Your Bedding: To remove bed bugs, you’ll want to wash and dry your bedding. The heat from the dryer will help to kill bed bugs and bed bug eggs. Sheets, pillowcases, and blankets will all need to be washed.

Vacuum: Vacuuming is a great way to remove bed bugs and their eggs. You’ll want to vacuum parts of the bed including the mattress, box spring, and baseboards. Furniture close to your bed can also be vacuumed. You’ll need to vacuum the carpet or floor in infested rooms and any rugs that are present.

Use Bed Bug-Proof Encasements: Invest in bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements. These protective covers can trap bed bugs inside and prevent new ones from nesting in your bedding.

Watch for Signs of an Infestation: Keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs, such as:

• Small, red, itchy bites on your body, often in a line or cluster
• Bloodstains or dark spots on sheets, mattresses, or furniture
• A musty, sweet odor (sometimes linked to a large infestation) 

Maggie’s Farm offers insecticide sprays and dusts that can control bed bugs. It is important to do a thorough treatment to effectively get rid of these pests.

Plant-Based Insecticide Sprays

Our plant-based Bed Bug & Flea Killer, Ant & Roach Killer, and Home Bug Spray are labeled for bed bug control. They work well to spot treat bed bugs and the places where bed bugs hide. These products kill bed bugs and provide residual repellency protection. Our Bed Bug & Flea Killer will kill bed bug eggs too.

Application Tips

Before spraying the products on mattresses or carpet, test spray it to ensure you aren’t sensitive to the fragrance from the plant essential oils. Remove the mattress and box spring from the bed and disassemble the bed frame. Spot treat the areas where you see bed bugs or their signs including folds, tufts, seams, and the edging of the mattress. You don’t want to spray the entire surface of the mattress, box spring, or upholstered furniture. Only spray the areas where you see bed bugs or their signs. When spraying carpet and rugs, spray until they are damp, but don’t over saturate them. You can also spray the outer surfaces of your luggage. Treatments can be repeated as necessary.

Insecticide Dusts

Insecticide dusts are highly effective against bed bugs and other crawling insects. Our Bed Bug Killer dust provides fast control of bed bugs. It is a non-staining, odorless, non-repellent desiccant dust that is formulated using food grade Silicon Dioxide as Amorphous Silica as the active ingredient. When bed bugs walk through the dust, it clings to their exoskeleton to absorb the waxy coating. This causes dehydration, which leads to their death. The dust will remain effective for up to ten years when undisturbed.

Application Tips

Our Bed Bug Killer dust can be applied using the puffer bottle or with a small paintbrush. You’ll want to apply a light, visible film to the areas being treated. Apply the dust to the bedframe and its joints and cracks. Treat the mattress and box spring including the tufts, edges, and folds. You’ll also want to apply the dust to furniture, paying attention to cracks and joints. Upholstered furniture should be treated too. Using a paintbrush will make it easier to push the dust into the cracks and crevices. You can also treat underneath furniture with the puffer bottle. A thorough application will provide the best results.

Bed bugs aren’t an easy pest to kick out your home. Preventative techniques, non-insecticide bed bug control measures, and using pest control products will help you to effectively eliminate an infestation.