[updated for 2024]
I used nearly every one of these products at some point during and after my infestation and found them all helpful. They each solved different problems especially with things that are hard to treat. Things you can’t throw in a washing machine or dryer.
It’s been over ten years now bed bug free, and I still use my steamer to clean floors, baseboards and window sills. You don’t need chemicals when you clean with steam. I still keep bed bug traps under my bed legs. Why not?! They can stop an infestation before it starts since it usually starts with just one. I moved and didn’t take my bed bug oven with me. It was pretty old but I did get my use out of it treating things brought home from thrift stores, and garage sales. Remember heat kills more than just bed bugs, it kills many parasites and bacteria so why not!
Bed bugs are visible but they are still pretty small and in their early weeks, they can be hard to tell from a cockroach or tick. A good 30x lighted magnifier will let you easily identify a bed bug from a flax seed. What I like about this one is the wide flat surface will make it easier for you to take pictures to identify a bug if you do find one.
This lighted magnifier makes it possible for you to see if that speck on the floor or sheet is a bed bug or not. Very handy and can bring peace of mind during and at the end of your infestation. Having a small magnifier is assuring when there are no more bed bugs your home, or if you still have issues to deal with.You can with some dexterity set a digital camera on these and take the magnified photo, which is helpful for identification. Whether you succeed at that would depend on a number of factors, no guarantees on that one, but the magnifier, indispensable.
Whether you plan to inspect your own bed, or use steam heat to kill bed bugs, or want to solve the problem of what to do about books, papers and shoes, the tools below are useful and effective for killing bed bugs!
Bed bug supplies that can help end your bed bug infestation faster
Bed bug monitor traps under your bed legs (or chair or sofa) are key to successful bed bug eradication. Regardless of whether you’re having heat or pesticide treatment or some D.I.Y. integrated strategy using steam, you all need bed bug traps under your bed. And if you have properly isolated your bed, you should be sleeping blissfully every night safe from those bloodsucking vampires who you are going to kill, every single one of them, or at least hire a mercenary, or pest control company
Isolating your bed is an important step and should not be overlooked. The trap stops bed bugs trying to climb up onto the bed and trap them before they can bite you.
With any treatment there can be survivors, even with heat treatment, so you want to trap them before they get to you. You can pop any trapped bed bugs in the freezer to show your pest company so you can get a follow-up treatment if necessary. I repeat, if you have bed bugs you need the traps under your bed.
The bed bug oven turned out to be the tool I used the most for the longest including after my infestation. It solves the questions of how to you kill bed bugs in children’s toys, car seats, small chairs, stuffed animals, paper, magazines and folders. Even framed art that won’t be harmed by temps up to 150° can be treated. Did I mention shoes, backpacks, laptop bags, etc.?
The heater works by heating the air gently to a bed bug killing temperature. The air circulates penetrating and heating all objects to the same temperature and holding that temperature long enough to kill bed bugs and eggs.
Mattress encasements that have university tested zippers that prevent even stage one bed bug nymphs from escaping are a very important part of isolating your bed. If you have a boxspring get an encasement for that too. The encasements I recommend are very durable and designed for bed bugs. I used them and they work
Once you put them on, consider them on for life. You can remove them once your infestation is absolutely confirmed to be over (no bites or signs for six months with everything unpacked). I just left mine on and put another padded mattress cover over it so I didn’t have to look at it. Eventually, I got a new mattress.
The point of the encasements is to keep anything that’s found its way inside of your mattress trapped and to prevent insects from being able to get to the mattress. I can absolutely say with confidence and first hand experience that the mattress encasements work, it’s a one-time expense you shouldn’t put off.
Useful Tips You May Need to Know Delta Dust is intended for application with a hand duster (Bellow duster) with a paint brush or by other suitable means, for hiding and runaway areas and other places where insects are found. When applying, the duster should be filled only halfway – no more than two-thirds full.
This allows for adequate air space to create the desired air/dust mixture prior to application. If there is too much dust in the duster, clumps of dust on treated surfaces may result, leading to over-application of the product and messy spills. * In living areas, apply in such a manner as to avoid depositions on exposed surfaces or introducing the material into the air. In the home, all food processing surfaces and utensils should be covered during treatment or thoroughly washed before use. Exposed food should be covered or removed.
To apply insecticide directly into cracks and crevices, wear a mask that will prevent you from inhaling the dust. Apply lightly and uniformly to infested area. You can buy a duster which “poofs” a light puff of dust under your baseboards and into cracks and crevasses where people don’t eat, sit or sleep.
Pay particular attention to: cracks and crevices in your home including, service ducts, floors and ceilings, wall voids, around electrical and telephone fittings and equipment, around water and sewer pipes, under and behind cabinets, refrigerators and sinks, around windows and door frames, along baseboards, in attics and crawl spaces. The amount to be applied will vary with the site but should usually be in the range of 2-3 grams of Delta Dust per square yard (or 0.5 lbs per 1000 square feet). Wear a respirator or appropriate mask. Do not inhale. Do not use in your car. Follow all instructions and precautions on the label.
One of the first challenges in a bed bug infestation is how to manage your clothes once they are laundered and guaranteed bed bug free. These clear zip up encasements have bed bug tested zippers that won’t allow a stray bug to wander into your newly laundered clothes and start laying eggs.
These are fantastic for protecting items that have been treated and are bed bug free, and keeping them from being re-infested. They are clear so you can see what is inside and can be reused over and over. Infested or questionable items can be kept in double twist-tied trash bags until they are laundered and then moved into these so you always know you are dressing from clean un-infested clothing. The bags are also great when traveling. I bring mine with me when staying in a hotel, I just put the bags in the tub as soon as I check in. Regular zip-locks don’t have the same protection as these BugZip encasements.
Thank you! The lighted magnifying glass has been really helpful. We had our last treatment a week ago and it’s coming in really handy for follow up.
Glad to hear Dina. Hope you are done. Good luck! Tbyte