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Should I treat bed bugs infestation myself?

Is it worth treating bed bugs infestation myself.
I have only managed to find one bug however hard I have tried.
So although I do realise there will be more I have had a big infestation in the different place many years ago where there were sworms of them under the mattress so I can tell from experience that the current situation is likely to be called as mild.
So wondering if it is worth spending loads of money on professonals this time?

Are there any good chemicals/powders/sprays that anyone on here used?
Or is it not worth the risk goig DIY?

Comments

  • ka7e
    ka7e Posts: 3,113 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Most infestations can be dealt with using a smoke bomb - it's what a professional would use anyway. I have used Critterkill ones for fleas and they kill bed bugs as well. Read the instructions carefully and seal the room off for at least 4 hours.You need to leave all the bedding and textiles/clothing in the room, but I think you would need to wash everything before using again as the chemical smell and residue can be unpleasant.
    "Cheap", "Fast", "Right" -- pick two.
  • bris
    bris Posts: 10,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 29 August 2021 at 1:28PM
    Use a steam cleaner, no harmful chemicals or smoke

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdyHLPl5GyA


  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,796 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I thought I had them and it was darned hard work vaccuming every nook and crevice, turning the mattress daily to do the same and getting behind the bed.
    I checked all the sites and ingredients and the basic one I got from a diy shop had the same in as the others.
    If you have time to do all the cleaning and checking and spraying, steaming then go for it.
    But just do that daily so you can see if it is getting worse. Though you would probably know from the bites.
    Have you got the regular row of bites? Are you sure it was a bed bug?
    Mine turned out not to be and the house hasn't been that clean since.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

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  • FaceHead
    FaceHead Posts: 737 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    There are various sprays that you can find in the supermarket or online, but they aren't cheap you need to do it quite a few times and have no guarantee of success.

    Even with a professional (quite expensive) there is no guarantee of success, or if they will keep coming back until it is solved may well take several visits - what are you sleeping on in the meantime?

    Personally I think unless you have some special thousands of pounds mattress then a new mattress - or new-second-hand mattress - is the right answer.   
  • ka7e
    ka7e Posts: 3,113 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    Bed bugs don't just infest a mattress. They will be in every nook and cranny of a bed frame, carpet and textiles throughout a room.The bed is a preferred site because their food is there, but they have a range of 5-20 ft!
    "Cheap", "Fast", "Right" -- pick two.
  • In our experience - save yourself the money and get the pros in right from the off. Youngest brought BBs back from a school trip (all 60 kids did - eurgh) and we tried to treat ourselves. 3 new beds, countless bottles of spray and smoke bombs later we conceded defeat and got the council in. The cost (£260 odd) covered up to 3 visits, they did treat for all 3 visits but the last was a v light touch one and no evidence of any activity between trips 2 and 3. They treated all our living spaces, absolutely saturating everything, and it's finally done the trick - I wish we'd brought them in right from the beginning.

    Uber paranoid when I stay anywhere now too.

    Good luck
    :eek::eek::eek: LBM 11/05/2010 - WE DID IT - DMP of £62000 paid off in 7 years:jDFD April2017
  • ka7e said:
    Bed bugs don't just infest a mattress. They will be in every nook and cranny of a bed frame, carpet and textiles throughout a room.The bed is a preferred site because their food is there, but they have a range of 5-20 ft!
    We'd inadvertantly brought ours downstairs and were in our sofas and sofa bed too - we had no idea and couldn't see evidence when we looked, but could after the professional treatment. 
    :eek::eek::eek: LBM 11/05/2010 - WE DID IT - DMP of £62000 paid off in 7 years:jDFD April2017
  • My uncle bought my grandparents house and the house was infested, he ripped everything out. Burnt everything and started again.

    Can be treated just depends on what lengths you are willing to go to.
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