From the Pioneer Press in Glenview, Ill.: If you notice bed bugs, take action as soon as possible, said Curt Colwell, an entomologist with the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is especially important if you live in a multi-unit dwelling because if bed bugs spread to neighboring apartments, the infestation becomes more difficult to treat.
To effectively rid your home of bed bugs, find a pest management professional willing to spend the time it takes to get down on his hands and knees, flashlight in hand, and inspect all of the cracks and crevices in the bed’s frame and other areas where bed bugs can hide. The mattress and box spring must also be checked for rips or tears. The pest management professional must then treat the bugs with a steam machine, pesticide or a vacuum cleaner that has wand attachments used to reach small crevices, Colwell said.
Be prepared for the long haul, Colwell said. If a pest management professional says he can rid your home of bed bugs in just one visit, don’t believe him. The process is labor-intensive, usually costs several hundred dollars and requires at least two treatments.
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