Do I Have To Get Rid Of Everything If I Have Bed Bugs

It is estimated that 500,000 dwellings in the US are infested with bed bugs each year. So if you're wondering: "Do I have to get rid of everything if I have bed bugs?" The answer is yes. Cleaning and removing all items that could be carrying bed bugs is key for eradicating them from your home.

Start by washing all linens, bedding and clothes on hot settings and drying them on high heat for at least 20 minutes. This will kill any living insects as well as egg sacs in these materials. All upholstered furniture needs to be steam cleaned with a professional grade steamer. Vacuuming alone isn't enough, since eggs or larvae can remain after vacuuming. Discard items such as mattresses, box springs, and couches which cannot be thoroughly cleaned due to difficulty reaching areas where eggs/insects hide within furniture layers/seams.

Carpets, baseboards and curtains also need deep-cleaning using vacuuming and steam cleaning to ensure removal of any remaining bed bugs or their eggs. Bed bugs can hide in small crevices so it's important that anything which could potentially hold them or their offspring are properly thrown away - from blinds and curtains to bookshelves and electronics - to guarantee their elimination from your home environment.