Steam cleaner for bedbugs - reviews and instructions for use

At what temperature do bedbugs die?

Research conducted by scientists has shown that bedbugs die at a temperature of +45ºС, and at +50°С their death occurs within a few seconds. Therefore, the question arose whether it is possible to kill bedbugs with steam. In recent years, electrical appliances such as steam cleaners and steam generators have become popular, which helped people come up with an improved method of pest control - killing bedbugs with steam.

Important!

High temperature and steam kill not only adult individuals, but also parasite eggs, which is a great advantage compared to other methods of control.

The only problem remains the question that not all pieces of furniture can be processed at this temperature, but here other means of pest control will come to the rescue.

Before starting to treat the apartment, you should find all places where bedbugs accumulate, because if you leave at least one parasite alive, the reproduction process will begin again.

Popular methods: freezing and steaming

Do not underestimate simple folk methods that have been known for a long time. Temperature treatment is very effective on bedbugs and their eggs. These include freezing, steaming or boiling water.

The temperature range in which bedbugs can safely exist is quite wide. But they are not able to withstand temperatures of 30 and below. If it’s freezing outside, many people, in the old fashioned way, move the contaminated furniture into the fresh air of the street and leave it there to freeze for 5-6 hours. It’s good if the windows in the home remain wide open.

Unfortunately, not all regions of Russia experience frost, and in this case you should also be careful with utilities.

Specialists of sanitary teams resort to this method only because they have a good arsenal of special equipment in the form of heat emitters and steam generators. This method is inconvenient for the average person.

How steam generators work

A steam cleaner (steam generator) is a special device intended for household use for cleaning clothes, cleaning and disinfecting various things.

The steam cleaner device is based on the formation of steam when water is heated by a heating element. It comes with various nozzles, which can be used to direct a stream of hot air into narrow and hard-to-reach places in the room and gaps in furniture.

Cleaning a room with high temperature will not only help against bedbugs, but will also destroy harmful viruses and bacteria.

Important Tips

To ensure that the fight against bedbugs is successful and without harm to health, you must adhere to the following recommendations :

1. 
   To avoid getting burned, do not direct the steam stream at the skin.

2. It is recommended to work with gloves.
3. After treatment, you should not do wet cleaning for 5 days. This rule is relevant when chemicals were used in addition to steam.
4. Clothing used for treatment must be washed at high temperatures.
5. When bedbugs reappear, the algorithm for their destruction is repeated again.

Advantages and disadvantages of the steam method

Steam treatment for bedbugs has many advantages over other methods:

• steam cleaners are now very common, so you can buy them at any hardware store or rent them;
• this method will allow you to get rid of parasites in your home at a low cost;
• this method is the most environmentally friendly (no chemicals or insecticides are used);
• hot steam treatment will destroy insects on surfaces and objects that cannot be treated with chemical insecticides;

Disadvantages of using steam cleaners:

• a directed jet of air with a high temperature is not able to penetrate a very narrow gap or pass through dense fabric;
• Bedbug eggs can only be removed at a close distance from the nozzle;
• steam consists of moist air and can harm furniture and some surfaces and disrupt their appearance.

To ensure the safety of interior items and the person who uses the bedbug steam generator as a means of exterminating them, you should know:

• When working, you should not set the steam cleaner to a high humidity level, so as not to spoil the wall covering (wallpaper) or fabric materials;
• there is no need to direct a strong stream of high-temperature air onto wooden, especially varnished and plastic surfaces;
• It is prohibited to use steam cleaners near sockets and electrical appliances, because this can cause a short circuit in the electrical wiring;
• You must be careful not to accidentally burn yourself or a person standing next to you with the steam.

On a note!

Before starting steam treatment, it is recommended to wrap the steam generator nozzle with cloth so that the strongly directed air does not blow away insects and their eggs.

Operating principle

A steam cleaner is a device that emits hot steam to disinfect surfaces, loosen stains, and kill small pests such as ticks and bedbugs.

Bed bugs may be tough, but they have no protection from the heat of a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners are a great, chemical-free way to get rid of bed bugs and other pests such as mites. It is enough to spray them with scalding steam to completely get rid of them.

The steam cleaner immediately kills bed bugs and their eggs and cleans the affected areas.

If you decide to use a steam cleaner, you need to be very precise and meticulous in how you apply heat in your home.

Here are some guidelines to follow:

• DO use a larger nozzle for your cleaning tool
• DO use dry steam or "dry steam" to prevent mold
• DO buy a steam generator with a large water tank to prevent unexpected stops to refill the tank
• Make sure that the area you are applying the heat to rises above 50°, otherwise your bed bugs will not be killed.
• Use steam on furniture, baseboards, walls, ceilings and other hard surface areas
• DO NOT use steam on electrical outlets.
• DO NOT use a steam cleaner to kill bed bugs unless you have consulted with a professional.
• Wear a respirator to prevent accidental inhalation of toxic fumes. Steam cleaners can vaporize chemicals that have been applied to the surfaces you steam.
• DO NOT apply heat to objects that may be damaged by it.

Rules and instructions for processing

The main rule: to get rid of bedbugs, a stream of high-temperature air must be directed directly at the parasite itself, then it will die in a few seconds.

Important!

To improve the quality of processing, you should choose a steam cleaner with high power. With smaller devices the results may not be as effective.

In order to get rid of bedbugs with a steam cleaner, you need to know the general rules for its use:

1. Treatment should begin in places with large concentrations of insects: sleeping places (beds, sofas) and the area next to them, seams in upholstered furniture and mattresses, etc.
2. You should direct a stream of air with a temperature above 50ºC along the baseboards around the perimeter of the room; frightened bedbugs will crawl out of their hiding places, and they can be killed faster.
3. Separately, you need to treat the back walls of cabinets and other furniture, especially those that are located close to the sleeping areas.
4. You can also remove bedbugs with steam on clothes or bedding, where insects love to hide; you should also treat clothes from your closet.
5. It is also necessary to “steam” curtains, carpets and other home textiles.
6. Before you start removing bedbugs from upholstered furniture, you should study the instructions for it, because some surfaces can deteriorate from the action of hot and humid air - then you should use a special aerosol with a sprayer;
7. To reliably get rid of parasites, fighting bedbugs with a steam cleaner should be carried out regularly (weekly) until the parasites disappear forever. Repeated treatments will kill new larvae that hatch from surviving eggs.

Treatment

In order to completely destroy bedbugs in the entire house, it is recommended to steam treat all objects in the room, as well as those surfaces on which they could move. Initially, it is necessary to determine the exact location of the places where there are the most bugs, since by processing it, you can not only destroy adult individuals, but also their larvae and eggs, from which new individuals subsequently appeared that feed on human blood and are capable of reproduction.

The most “favorite” places for parasites to accumulate in the house are upholstered furniture and mattresses. In the folds and joints of these objects, bedbugs gather in groups and remain there throughout the entire time, periodically leaving in search of food. Bedbugs choose night as the most active time of day for searching for food. After all, it is at this time that a person is mostly motionless and thus does not threaten their life in any way. That is why furniture infected with parasites is best treated during the day, at a time when all individuals are in their permanent habitat.

In addition to furniture, floors and baseboards require more careful treatment; insects can also be found in the cracks between them. They can also very often be found in fur winter clothes and shoes, which requires processing of them too. Despite the fact that it is quite difficult to see them during a visual inspection, when exposed to steam, that is, creating unfavorable conditions for insects, they will immediately begin to run out of there, which will significantly affect the simplification of the destruction process.

Having steam treated all of the above places and objects, the last thing you need to do is treat all bedding sets, curtains and other textiles in the house. The back walls of cabinets and chests of drawers, cornices, as well as carpets that lie on the floor also require careful processing. It is better to clean bed linen, curtains and clothes from the wardrobe that can be washed first using detergents and water at elevated temperatures. After drying, they must either be treated with a steam cleaner or ironed.

After the entire room has been disinfected, one should take into account the fact that a one-time exposure will not be enough and after a short time the procedure will need to be repeated. This can be explained by the fact that the larvae and eggs of bed bugs have a fairly strong shell. Steam is also destructive for them, but still requires a longer exposure time to destroy them. Very often, due to the efficiency of the work, a person does not achieve the result of the death of eggs and larvae. And after they are born, they again begin to hunt and reproduce, which leads to the emergence of new numerous groups.

Among other things, to achieve a good result in the process of work, you must adhere to certain rules, which include:

• minimum steam temperature, which must be at least 50 degrees;
• the steam source, that is, the device nozzle or nozzle should be located as close to the processing site as possible;
• exposure to steam on the same place should be at least 10-15 seconds.

Reviews of the bedbug steam cleaner

When I discovered bedbugs in my bed, I was simply horrified, because I always thought that they only appeared in unkempt and dirty rooms. First, I called a special service that performed professional chemical treatment. The smell in the apartment was incredibly foul. I washed all the clothes and curtains, but the insecticide does not want to disappear. And then these bastards appeared again. I was in despair, and then we were saved by a steam gun, which my husband bought at a hardware store. We blasted all the sofas and furniture, baseboards and carpets. The bugs are all dead! I'm delighted, and most importantly - no nasty smell.

Marianna, Perm

The bedbugs came to our apartment from neighbors who poisoned them with chemicals. But due to the fact that our little son lives with us, my wife and I did not dare to treat with chemicals, and there is little hope for folk remedies. One friend advised me to use a household bedbug steamer. I tried steaming all the sofas and bedding and found that it helped. In the near future I will repeat the process of removing parasites in order to destroy them all.

Gennady, Moscow

Main advantages

First, let's look at the strengths of this technique:

1. Environmentally friendly. Killing bedbugs occurs without the slightest harm to humans, since the steam cleaner is filled with water without any chemical additives.
2. Availability. Since the main resource consumed by the steam generator against bedbugs is water, the destruction of parasites occurs without any special financial costs. In this case, the device can also be used for basic cleaning of rooms, curtains and clothes.
3. The ability to treat things that cannot be treated with insecticide (blankets, pillows and sheets).
4. Fast processing of all housing.

Safety rules for heat treatment

Do not direct steam at yourself or another person while the steam cleaner is on. This poses a risk of burns.

• If the room is treated using the freezing method, be sure to turn off the heating system and drain the water.
• You cannot treat fabric and surfaces with steam if the composition does not allow it (varnished and wooden furniture, wallpaper, synthetics).
• The steam generator should be set to 20-25 percent humidity, this will be enough.
• Plastic surfaces may be subject to deformation when treated with steam at 70 degrees.

Calling a service to exterminate insects can provide you with a professional fan heater. The device will be installed in the room, the temperature will be set to 65 degrees, and bedbugs will stop bothering the owners forever. The action of the fan heater causes all insects to die, regardless of the stage of development.

If the treatment of the room occurs in the hot season, you can take all things out into the open sun, for some time, the parasites will die, and to confirm the effect, you need to wash and iron all possible things. If you have your own car, you can simply bring things that need processing into the cabin and close it; the temperature in a car parked in the open sun rises higher than it actually is. All insects that could be in things will die.

You can freeze things if you have a freezer, but you will have to keep your wardrobe there for at least 10 days.

In most cases, consumers turn to chemical treatments. This is the simplest and most accessible method. In addition, today there are chemicals on the market that do not harm people, plants, or animals. They are completely safe to use and continue to live in, do not damage furniture or things, and do not leave stains or marks.

Pros and cons of a steam generator

There are no ideal methods for cleaning premises from parasites. They all have certain pros and cons.

There are a sufficient number of positive aspects when removing bloodsuckers with steam:

• Environmental friendliness is the main advantage of the method. To kill insects, only water is required - an absolutely harmless substance for people and pets.
• The method is available to most homeowners. The main consumable material for removing insects is water. The money paid for a steam generator is a useful financial investment. They not only exterminate harmful insects, but also constantly carry out thorough cleaning of the home and things.
• The device steams things that cannot be disinfested using repellents. Thanks to it, they destroy parasites that have gotten into the folds and seams of pillows, duvet covers, sheets, and blankets.
• Disinfestation of a home using a steam generator is carried out quite quickly.
• During processing, adult parasites, larvae and eggs die immediately. Many insecticidal preparations do not act on eggs, so repeated disinsection of the home is carried out at the moment when the larvae have hatched but have not yet reached maturity. Steam, the temperature of which approaches 100 degrees, cooks the eggs of bloodsuckers. Instant denaturation of proteins causes the death of developing embryos.
• The steam cleaner effectively kills bedbugs in their nests. When disinfesting nesting sites, insects are massacred, and bloodsuckers of all ages and their eggs die at the same time. At the same time, the consumption of effort and time is minimal.

Flaws

The method has several serious disadvantages:

• Steam is not always able to penetrate bedbug nests located in narrow crevices and cracks. Thick materials cannot be steamed properly. For this reason, some insects sometimes survive safely.
• The steam contains moisture, so the method is not suitable for disinsection of furniture and objects that deteriorate from exposure to liquid. It will not be possible to steam books, magazines, or polished furniture.
• Electrical appliances and gadgets cannot be treated with a steam generator, and bedbugs love to make nests in them.

Advantages of killing bedbugs using a steam generator:

No chance of survival. If a stream of steam hits an insect, it will die with 100% probability.

Inability of bedbugs to adapt. Pests are able to develop immunity to some chemicals, but they are powerless against high temperatures.

To achieve uniform dispersion of steam, it is recommended to stretch a cloth over the nozzle. This will allow you to destroy the eggs rather than blow them away.

The high cost of the steam generator can be called its disadvantage. However, the versatility of the device overcomes this disadvantage.

We suggest you read Allergy to a bedbug bite in a child

The choice of steam generators is wide, so in a household appliance store you can find an inexpensive and practical device that will not take up much space in the apartment.

Disadvantages of using a steam generator to combat bedbugs:

The need to purchase a device with a narrow nozzle included. If you use only a wide sprayer, you will not be able to reach hard-to-reach areas.

It should be borne in mind that it will not be possible to get rid of all insects at once. At least 4 treatments will be required at weekly intervals.

How long do bed bug larvae live?

The main danger of larvae is their number, since there are always many more of them than adults. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs daily, so in 7 months of life, one bug can give birth to more than 3-4 thousand nymphs. The larvae hatch from the egg within 4-5 days, but the incubation period can be even 1.5 weeks if the temperature in the apartment is low.

All nymphs develop over about 30 days, so within a month after maturation, they begin to reproduce. As a result, each female is a couple of hundred nymphs. Therefore, in fact, there are much more nymphs indoors than adult bedbugs. And due to the lack of predators, they are able to grow and reproduce quickly. Every night, hosts are bitten not only by adult bedbugs, but also by many nymphs. Therefore, we can conclude that the larvae are more dangerous.

On average, under favorable conditions, the life cycle of a larva is a month, but this process can be influenced by external factors. For example, if a person leaves for a long time, the air temperature inside the room decreases or rises. A comfortable temperature regime for bedbug larvae is 18-38 degrees above zero. If the larva does not feed, it will not be able to move to the next stage of development.

It can remain as a larva for six months. And if we talk about an adult bug, then without food it can live as much as 2 years, and when blood is supplied, it will begin development again without any consequences for it. A larva can rarely die from starvation; only individuals that are in the first two stages of the development cycle are in danger.

Female bedbugs lay up to several hundred eggs throughout their lives; larvae emerge from the cocoon after 5-10 days. Depending on the air temperature, this period can reach 25 days. Biological features and what it looks like:

1. At first, the size of bedbug larvae is 0.5-1.5 mm. The maturation process takes place in 5 stages, at each of them the length of the nymph’s body increases, gradually growing to 4.5-5 mm. The period of reaching full maturity lasts from 1 to 2 months. Development accelerates with increasing temperature and humidity.
2. The larvae have a translucent body, initially light yellow. Nymphs are difficult to spot on light-colored bedding and unpainted wood. Individuals that are engorged with blood are more noticeable (their body turns crimson-red). The shell darkens gradually, after 2-4 weeks of development it becomes brown; during this period it is difficult to distinguish the larva from the adult.

Look at the photo to see what the larvae look like.

Sensitive antennae are located on the head. To suck up the blood of the victim, the parasite uses a proboscis; the insect has a piercing-sucking mouth and jaws. In the chest area there are 3 pairs of limbs.

Parasites prefer a quiet lifestyle and are active at night. During the day they hide in dark, warm places in the apartment:

• under the wallpaper;
• in the cracks of the walls;
• under baseboards;
• at the joints of furniture;
• In the bed;
• in clothes;
• in bed linen.

Parasites can live in books, paintings, flower pots, bird cages, and household appliances.

What do they eat?

Bedbugs are insects that feed on human blood. In case of severe hunger, parasites can attack during the daytime, but more often this occurs between 3 and 8 o’clock in the morning. Habitats should be looked for near the sleeping area, for example, in the upholstery of a sofa.

After nightly activity of parasites, itchy bites remain on the skin, often arranged in the form of paths. Blood stains are found on the linen.

In apartments, the conditions for the development of larvae are most favorable; there are no sudden temperature changes, there are many secluded places, and the humidity level necessary for development is maintained. The most comfortable temperature for parasites is considered to be 20… 25℃. At low temperatures they die.

Flaws

Now let's look at the disadvantages of using this technique:

1. Steam is not able to provide complete disinfestation, since it cannot penetrate through a thick layer of material and into narrow crevices of products, so some parasites can survive after such a procedure.
2. Impossibility of processing electrical appliances.
3. This method is not applicable to the disinfection of objects that cannot tolerate moisture (books, documents, notebooks).

Asking the question, “Can I get rid of bedbugs with a steam cleaner?” We will answer with confidence: “Yes, of course it is possible!” However, to effectively treat the apartment, it is recommended to clean it three to four times, with an interval of seven days. This approach will make it possible to kill young individuals that have recently hatched from surviving eggs.

Separately, we note that when using a steam generator to bait bedbugs, a better result can be achieved if the nozzle is wrapped with a piece of cloth during the disinfestation process, which will make the air compressed. When carrying out such manipulation, the larvae and eggs will not be blown away from the treated surface.

The ideal option at the time of cleaning is to direct a stream of steam at each parasite. Following this condition, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of adults and larvae from the first time of use. If you work tirelessly on this principle and use the steam generator correctly to kill bedbugs, over time this will lead to the final extermination of the pests.

Feedback from a woman who used this method:

Disadvantages of using a steam generator:

1. Using steam, it is impossible to treat all hard-to-reach places, since the steam generator nozzle is wide enough and will not be able to get into very narrow cracks and holes. Such areas can be treated with an aerosol or gel.
2. If you place the steam generator too close to the surface being treated, then there is a possibility of simply laying bedbug eggs. And then a colony of bedbugs will appear in a new place in a few days. Based on this, you should always keep a distance of about 25 cm. To avoid such cases, you can wrap the end of the device with regular cloth. Then the steam will dissipate more evenly.
3. When steam is generated, a small amount of liquid is released. It can remain on the surface of upholstered furniture and walls. These stains can be very difficult to remove.
4. Do not use the steam generator near electrical outlets. Therefore, for complete safety, turn off all electrical appliances before starting processing.

The image shows what the steam generator looks like.
Also, if during 19:37:39 treatment you notice bedbugs, you can direct the steam directly at them. After this procedure, perhaps even the next night, bedbug bites will no longer torment you. The room can be treated once a week.

Effect of steam on bedbugs

At a temperature of 50°C, bedbugs die within 15 minutes. The temperature of the steam leaving the device is 80-90°C. Parasites die under its influence in a matter of seconds. Hot steam completely kills adults, larvae and eggs.

We suggest you read: How long do bed bugs live without human blood?

When using a steam cleaner for bedbugs, about 80% of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, are simultaneously destroyed. Bedbugs, caught under a hot steam cloud, die within 10-15 seconds. An ultra-modern device allows you to instantly clean your home from infestations of parasites.

Most of those who removed bedbugs using a steam generator are satisfied with the result of the disinfestation. Those who failed apparently violated cleaning guidelines or used a low-power device to clean.

Experts recommend performing pest control using powerful steam generators. Miniature hand-held devices cannot fully cope with the tasks. To solve them, devices capable of generating steam whose temperature is not lower than 60°C are suitable.

It is not necessary to purchase a powerful steam cleaner. Such equipment is rented out to organizations that specialize in providing household services.

When surfaces are treated with hot steam, adult bedbugs, their larvae and egg clutches are completely destroyed.

The hot steam produced by the steam generator can kill bedbugs in just 10-15 seconds of exposure. Therefore, using this device you can clean the premises quickly and effectively.

It must be said that reviews about the effectiveness of using a steam generator to clean a room from bedbugs are contradictory. Most people who have had this treatment are happy with the results. However, there are also negative reviews, but most likely the failures are due to either incorrect temperature disinfestation or insufficient power of the device.

The most important thing you should pay attention to when choosing a steam generator is its power. It must be powerful enough to kill insects. To achieve good results, you need to carefully treat the entire area of ​​the room.

The photo shows a steam generator with a narrow nozzle

The advantages of this processing method:

• The method is quite affordable, because in the modern world a steam generator can be found in any household appliances store.
• Treatment with a steam generator is environmentally friendly, unlike chemical aerosols, which release many dangerous toxins into the air.
• Not all surfaces can be treated with bedbug killing spray. All hard-to-reach places can be passed with hot steam.
• This processing method is also used in large industrial enterprises where chemicals cannot be used.

The photo shows processing using a steam generator

In order to treat a room, you need to move the steam generator through the air at a relatively low speed.

Many consider this method ineffective, as evidenced by reviews from dissatisfied citizens. However, the ineffectiveness of the method is often due to a violation of the apartment processing technology. It is worth understanding that you most likely will not be able to get rid of bed bugs in one day. Some of the insects that will eventually restore the population will have time to hide. Therefore, the apartment will have to be steamed at least 2 times.

If the insects have already built nests, then most likely there are eggs in the room, from which harmful bugs will hatch in 10-12 days. Therefore, it is advisable to re-treat after 2 weeks.

How to choose the right one

In Moscow and throughout the country you can find a large number of offers for the sale of this device. Among such abundance, it can be difficult to choose the best option against bedbugs. The price of a steam cleaner depends on the following indicators:

1. Equipment. The standard set of steam cleaner includes a heating element, a flexible hose, a water container, and various nozzles.
2. Technical characteristics: power, temperature, additional options that are designed to help the device work more efficiently.
3. Manufacturer.

Before purchasing a model, you should definitely study the reviews of the bedbug steam cleaner. Here are some of them to get the point across.

What is a steam generator in the fight against parasites?

To kill bedbugs at home, any available means are suitable. Persons faced with this unpleasant situation often ask a specialist: “Is it possible to remove bedbugs with a steam generator?” It’s not easy, but it’s also effective and safe for the health of people around you, since the unit was originally developed for treating medical institutions. By using such a device at home, you can easily get rid of blood-sucking parasites, their eggs and larvae, as well as many types of bacteria.

The steam generator is a compact device, the main purpose of which is to treat premises from parasites and other dangerous microorganisms. It is worth remembering one important point: surfaces can be disinfected if they are resistant to hot steam. Please note that it cannot harm the parquet surface or upholstered furniture in any way.

A steam cleaner is an indispensable tool in the fight against bedbugs. Just fifteen seconds of your time and the annoying parasite will never be able to bite again. And this is even if the steam jet does not reach the peak temperature! The optimal mode will be varying between 70-80 degrees Celsius.

What is a steam cleaner

A steam cleaner or, as it is also called, a steam generator, is not special equipment for combating bed bugs.
This device has a wide range of applications. It is mainly used for general cleaning of the apartment or cleaning things. But this device also copes well with disinfection. In appearance, the steam generator resembles a vacuum cleaner. It consists of a container for water, which turns into steam during operation of the equipment, a heating element, a flexible hose and a set of nozzles. There are steam generators on sale equipped with water tanks of different sizes.

The mechanism of action of a steam cleaner is simple. When the equipment is turned on, the water heats up and turns into steam, which comes out of the nozzle under pressure.

Destruction of bedbugs with steam - features

When carrying out processing, you need to follow several rules in order to keep the furniture intact and achieve a high effect:

• Do not set the steam cleaner mode to high humidity - textiles, wallpaper, and upholstered furniture may be damaged;
• It is better to avoid this method for wooden surfaces, as well as those coated with varnish or other decorative materials;
• Do not bring the steam cleaner near sockets or household appliances;
• if the air stream is strong, cover the nozzle with a layer of cloth before starting - this will help not to blow away insects, but to destroy them;
• In order for the insect to die, a stream of air must be directed at it for 2-5 seconds;
• first you need to walk through the places of maximum accumulation of parasites, then treat the entire apartment around the perimeter;
• textiles, bed linen, clothes are easier to wash at a temperature of at least 60 degrees;
• in order not to spoil the upholstered furniture, first treat a small invisible area with steam;
• It is recommended to carry out a course of parasite destruction - once a week, but at least 3-4 times;
• To enhance the effect, it is recommended that in addition to steam treatment, apply a light, non-toxic product (for example, chalk) to the surfaces of furniture and baseboards.

We suggest you read: Who can bite in bed at night except bedbugs? Who bites at night?

If you follow the processing rules, you can effectively remove bedbugs from your apartment without causing harm to your own health.

extermination of bedbugs with steam

Destruction of bedbugs, treatment of the sofa before pest control of the apartment

Steam generators against bedbugs! The depth of steam penetration depends on the Power of the Steam Generator!

The steam generator kills bed bug eggs.

First of all, it is worth noting that you need to prepare several attachments in advance. Depending on the nature of the visit, you need to use either a flat nozzle (processing a mattress, for example), or an elongated one (processing holes between the baseboard and the floor).

Before we start fighting bed bugs, we determine where they accumulate. If you start treating the room from those places that are only slightly infected, you will only succeed in scaring away the insects, which will begin to crawl into all the cracks.

After treating the most infected areas, you should steam all the furniture in the room, wardrobes, carpets, and decorative elements. It is advisable to wash items from wardrobes at temperatures exceeding 600C or treat them with the same steam generator, which will take much more time.

Then, we use a steam cleaner to treat all surfaces in the room that may be contaminated: floors, walls. If the floors are made of wood, then they need to be processed carefully. If the steam contacts the wood for too long, it may warp. And if you treat the surface with steam for a short time, you will not be able to achieve the desired result.

How to disinfect

Bedbugs can easily tolerate temperatures from 5 to 40 degrees Celsius; they very easily adapt to any living conditions. Bedbugs experience months of “dryness” during which they do not have the opportunity to feed on your blood.

If you want to control bed bugs, you must find their hiding places. The beetles themselves, their shed skins and eggs can be recognized by the eyes.

It is not recommended to fight bed bugs solely with a steam cleaner!

Typically the procedure is as follows:

• Spraying insecticides into cracks and crevices.
• Next, insect repellent is applied to the walls and floors surrounding the infested items and the door frames are treated.
• These insecticidal barriers prevent bed bugs from moving from an infested area to a clean area.
• In addition, cold or heat helps against bedbugs: small items such as photo frames or books can be “treated” in the freezer. They should be exposed to temperatures of -18 degrees for two to three days.
• The alternative is heat: to successfully control bedbugs, the temperature must be above 45 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes! Professional services can use special ovens to rid entire rooms of bed bugs.
• Items that do not fit in the washing machine, such as mattresses, can be cleaned with a steam cleaner.
• Some hotels use special bedding covers that they place over their mattresses.

Experts fight insects with pyrethroids, a group of active ingredients in insecticides. Since many insecticides cannot do anything against parasite eggs and only fight hatched bedbugs, they must work for a long time, at least six weeks (the so-called residual effect). This will ensure that any remaining bed bugs are killed when they come into contact with the treated surface.

Of particular importance: to eliminate the entire bedbug population, the success of bedbug eradication measures must be monitored weekly. In addition, experts recommend repeating the destruction several times within six months.

Purchasing a device for heat treatment of the room

When faced with the need to buy a steam cleaner, the pressing question arises: “Which device should I choose?” By visiting any home appliance department, you can find many different models of steam generators, steamers and steam cleaners. All this equipment operates using steam, but its purpose is very different.

So, if you need a device to combat harmful parasites such as bedbugs, you should buy a unit with instant conversion. Its feature is instant heating of water. You can operate the steam generator almost immediately after connecting it to the network.

What is the device?

A bedbug steam generator is an electrical device that produces a stream of steam by heating ordinary water. The maximum temperature to which heating is possible is 90 degrees.

Steam cleaner for pest control

How to kill bedbugs with steam in an apartment:

1. Pour water into the designated container of the steam cleaner.
2. Wrap the device nozzle with a loose cloth. This will reduce the power of the steam flow. Otherwise, house bugs will simply be blown away.
3. Set the minimum humidity. Steam treatments for bed bugs with high humidity can cause serious damage to furniture and sensitive furnishings.
4. Removal will be effective if the temperature is 70-90°C. In this case, a targeted flow for 10-15 seconds is sufficient.
5. The room should be treated from the most favorable places for bedbugs to live. This could be baseboards, a mattress, a bed, a sofa, or window frames.
6. After this, the fight against bedbugs with a steam cleaner should affect clothing, bedding, and every item in the closet is treated.

It is very difficult to get rid of bedbugs with a steam cleaner in one use. This is due to a large error during operation; the steam flow must reach even the most remote place. Therefore, before treatment begins, you should carefully examine the house and find the largest areas of parasite accumulation.

Other steam devices for fighting

As you know, bedbugs die when exposed to high temperatures. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to kill bedbugs with steam from an iron? In addition to the steam generator, there are other methods of combating blood-sucking parasites.

The following methods are considered some of the most popular:

1. A steam gun is a device that is usually used to heat and dry a room after installing suspended ceilings. To get rid of bedbugs, you need to install the device indoors, heat the air to a temperature of 60 degrees, and leave the room for 1 - 2 hours;
2. a steam cleaner for bedbugs also effectively affects parasites;
3. Machine washable items at temperatures above 60 degrees. The disadvantage of the method is that not every material can be processed at high temperatures;
4. ironing bed linen and clothes with an iron at the highest level;
5. using boiling water to poison parasites in cracks and behind baseboards;
6. drying things in the scorching sun also effectively destroys bedbugs and eggs;
7. a clothes steamer produces high steam temperatures, so it is also effective against bedbugs;
8. A hot air gun is a special industrial tool, so for safety reasons, a fire extinguisher should be placed nearby before treating surfaces.

To get rid of bedbugs using a steam cleaner, you need to start treating the apartment from the areas most densely populated with parasites (upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, cabinets). You should also thoroughly treat the floors, including baseboards and crevices. Do not forget that all things in the apartment need to be treated with steam, including curtains, carpets, cabinets, bedside tables, summer and winter things. Bedbugs camouflage themselves so well in the folds of things that it is simply impossible to see them with the naked eye. It is important to understand that steam treatment alone may not be as effective as desired. It is necessary to disinfect the premises for several weeks in a row to completely get rid of bloodsuckers.

Correct operation of the steam generator

A steam cleaner is not only a repellent against bedbugs, but also an excellent unit for exterminating them. It is necessary to carry out disinsection from the most contaminated areas of housing. Such objects are often sofas, beds and other upholstered furniture. Be sure to go through the joints, folds and crevices of the products, since this is where these pests can huddle.

In addition, if you want to get rid of bedbugs once and for all, you should also steam the baseboards, floors and all cracks.

To be extra sure, it is better to treat your clothes, since unpleasant insects can also live in them. This is especially true for winter items. It is there that bedbugs can settle so quietly that it is impossible to do without using a steam generator. When disinfecting clothing, be sure to take into account the information on the labels. In some cases, the steam can destroy part of your wardrobe.

Separately, it must be said that steam will not always immediately help. This often applies to deep cracks. However, do not despair and think that the steam cleaner is completely powerless here. Don’t be tormented by the question: “Will he help in such a situation?” Of course everything will work out! But this will take more time, namely, disinfection will need to be carried out over several weeks.

How to treat your home with hot steam

If you do not make mistakes in the process of cleaning premises using a steam generator, the quality of the disinsection performed will be at its best. There will be no parasites left in your home if you find and treat all the nests they have made.

Experts recommend adhering to the following algorithm of actions when exterminating insects with steam.

1. The steam temperature must be above 60°C.
2. First of all, rooms that are overly infested with parasites are treated. Typically, disinfestation begins in the bedroom; bedbugs are destroyed in beds and sofas.
3. Steam is applied to cabinets, mattresses, upholstery and back walls of furniture.
4. From the sleeping places they move on to other pieces of furniture - wardrobes, chests of drawers, nightstands, etc.
5. Floors, baseboards, and defects in decorative finishing are not left untreated.
6. Carpets, curtains, drapes and textiles are steamed.
7. Things and clothes are steamed.

Clothes are sorted before processing. Things that cannot withstand high temperatures are put aside.

Follow-up actions after treating an apartment or house against parasitic insects

Disinfecting the entire room from bedbugs is not a single action that should be performed to get rid of pests. So, for a certain time, it will be necessary to follow a number of rules in order to consolidate the achieved result. Let's move on to consider them:

1. When carrying out processing, do not forget about curtains and curtains.
2. After disinfection, you should refrain from cleaning for some time. Only sweeping the floor is allowed.
3. After working with the steam generator, check the closet with bed linen, which will need to be washed, dried and thoroughly ironed.
4. Remember! After the destruction of bedbugs, after a certain period of time, a new wave of insects may come. They can appear through untreated cracks or crawl out of your neighbors' sockets. Therefore, you need to remain vigilant and periodically check “risk areas”.
5. Be sure to pay attention to your sleeping area. This is where dangerous insects can accumulate. After completing disinfection, you should still check the bed linen and mattress. There is a possibility that after disinsection, pest eggs could remain in the bed. If you identify them, you need to immediately treat them with steam, followed by disinfection of all bedding.

Steam cleaner for bedbugs: description, principle of operation

The main advantage of the steam generator is that it kills not only adult individuals, but also bedbugs in the stage of eggs, larvae, and adults. Their death occurs within a few seconds after exposure to steam. The processing method itself is not dangerous and can be used in a home where small children, animals, and allergy sufferers live.

A steamer or steam generator is a common household appliance that is used to iron clothes and other textiles. This device has special nozzles, with the help of which the steam is directed in a thin stream and reaches any corner. Steam will help destroy different types of insects and cleanse the house of bacteria and viruses.

Before carrying out treatment, you need to determine the main places where bedbugs accumulate. You need to carefully walk through the entire apartment. If you do not treat at least one room, bedbugs may reappear in 14-21 days.

Most often insects hide:

• under mattresses, in bed linen, under the bed;
• in upholstered furniture, sofas, armchairs;
• in and under carpets;
• under baseboards, in sockets, in wallpaper joints;
• behind paintings, behind cabinets, inside cabinet furniture.

Steam treatment is a popular and simple way to kill parasites. It is easy to buy a steamer - they are inexpensive and are sold in all household stores. The process uses only heated water, which does not have negative consequences. The only drawback is that not all furniture can be treated this way.

The performance of the device depends on the power. The device is easy to use:

1. The container is filled with water.
2. After turning on the steam generator, the heating element heats up in it.
3. High pressure is created inside the unit. After pressing “Start”, steam enters the hose and escapes out of the nozzle.

When destroying parasites on the steam generator, change the nozzles. This allows you to treat any nests of bloodsuckers, even those located in hard-to-reach places. Mattresses and other large surfaces are treated with flat nozzles. Steam is supplied to cracks, crevices and other miniature gaps through nozzles with narrow holes.

Precautions when handling steam generators

When using anti-parasitic devices, observe the following rules:

• Before treatment, remove children and pets from the house. Warn your neighbors about the upcoming procedure. Because the steam particles are too small, they can penetrate into adjacent rooms and harm guests;
• When using generators, wear a respirator, goggles and rubber gloves. Clothing must cover the entire skin;

• after spraying the liquid, leave the room immediately;
• when the steam exposure time has ended, ventilate the living area to prevent intoxication of the body;
• If signs of poisoning appear, immediately stop treatment, turn off the device, rinse your mouth and drink activated carbon tablets (1 tablet per 10 kg of weight). If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Compliance with these rules will allow you to avoid unpleasant consequences.