Environmental Management Branch275 East Main Street, HS1C-DFrankfort, Ky. 40621Phone: (502) 564-4856Jessica Davenport Return to Public Health Protection and Safety In recent years bed bugs have made a resurgence throughout the U.S. In response, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) provides guidelines to help individuals and businesses with prevention, surveillance and control of bed bug infestations. Based on reports from local health departments and pest control operators, bed bug infestations have been found in hotels, nursing homes, public housing, apartment complexes, moving vans, jails, furniture rental stores, dormitories and other multi-unit dwellings as well as in single-family homes. Tips for Dealing With a Bed Bug Infestation What do bed bugs look like?Bed bugs are about a quarter-inch long with reddish brown, oval, flattened bodies. They easily may be mistaken for ticks or cockroaches. Bed bugs feed mainly at night on the blood of people and animals.
They have been found in homes, apartments, hotels, motels, dormitory rooms and many modes of transportation such as buses and moving vans. Adult bed bug feeding on a personImage used with permission Where are bed bugs found? They can be found almost anywhere in your house or other buildings. They tend to like fabric and wood as opposed to metal and plastic. Places to look include: In mattresses and box springs (especially in the seams, tufts, and crevices) In bed frames and headboards Along and under the edge of wall-to-wall carpeting (especially behind beds and furniture) In hardwood floors (especially in any cracks or crevices) In moldings and baseboards cracks Behind picture frames and wall hangings In switch plates and outlets Under loose wallpaper and paneling In clothing stored in closets and drawers Inside clocks, phones, televisions and smoke detectors In upholstered chairs and sofas (especially in the seams, tufts, skirts, and crevices beneath cushions)
Do not pick up any used furniture or mattresses/box springs from the roadside or your garbage containers. Furniture from a rental service should always be checked at the seams and creases for bed bugs. When traveling, check rooms thoroughly before setting your luggage on the floor or bed. Bed bugs prefer to hide close to where they feed. However, if necessary, they will crawl several feet to obtain a blood meal. Initial infestations tend to be around beds, but the bugs eventually may become scattered throughout a room, occupying any crevice or protected location. They also can spread to adjacent rooms or apartments. How do you get rid of bed bugs? Consult a certified pest control operator If you live in an apartment building and think there are bed bugs, you need to call your landlord about the problem. Call the local health department for more information. All apartments in a building with bed bugs need to be checked and treated. You or your landlord needs to call a licensed pest control company to schedule an appointment for an inspection and treatment.
Pick up everything in the infested room, and put anything that you need to keep in a zippered plastic bag. Put it in a hot, sunny place (at least 120 degrees F.) or colder than freezing (colder than 32 degrees F.) for a couple weeks. Bedding and clothing will need to be bagged and washed in hot water (at least 120 degrees .F) or thrown away. When trying to clean bed bugs from carpets, vacuuming is not enough. You must steam clean this area at a temperature of at least 120 degrees F. The carpet may need to be replaced. If mattresses and box springs are badly infested, spray paint a warning sign on them or cut them beyond repair or use and seal with plastic. Contact your county solid waste agency for special pick-up for these items. For less severe cases, zippered covers (available at bedding and allergy supply stores) may be used to keep bed bugs off the mattress and box springs. How to Prevent and Get Rid of Bed Bugs Lexington-Fayette County Brochure EPA Bed Bug Information ClearinghouseCincinnati Health Department Bed Bug InformationUK Department of EntymologyCDC and EPA Joint Statement
Diatomaceous Earth: Natural Bed Bug Control Diatomaceous Earth Health Benefits (31) Farm & Garden (17) A-Z Guide to Diatomaceous Earth (102) Bed bugs live in warm locations and often make their homes in bedding, clothes, carpets, and furniture. You, their constant supply of food, are why bed bugs enjoy these locations. To check for them, look over mattress and furniture seams and the headboard or surrounding area for black fecal matter and blood smears. Treat Bed Bugs With A Natural Pesticide: we sell an effective bed bug powder which: Bed bugs aren't immune to Is the lowest cost treatment on the market Diatomaceous earth (DE) absorbs the oils and fats from insects, dehydrating them. Bed bug's exposure to DE dehydrates them in just a few hours. DE is easy to apply around your home and safe to apply near food, pets, and children. How do I treat bed bugs? Effective natural bed bug treatment comes down to 5 simple steps: Before beginning, bug proof your home by sealing up any entrances, cracks, or crevices.
The chances of re-infestation are much lower for people who do this first. Step 1: Steam Clean Your Home You need a steam cleaner Bed bugs cannot survive in temperatures above 130°F for more than a few hours. Steam clean your linens and furniture thoroughly to increase the temperature. Step 2: Wash All Fabrics You will need a washing machine, dryer, and plastic bags Put all fabrics through the wash on very high or very cold temperatures. Dry on a high heat and store all washed fabrics in sealed plastic bags or containers. Use a carpet cleaner to remove any bed bugs from the carpeting. Step 3: Vacuum Your Entire Home You will need a vacuum, preferably with a hose attachmentOnce your clothes, linens, and other fabrics have been washed and stored properly, begin to dismantle furniture and vacuum every surface. Once you have dismantled your furniture, vacuum every part, paying particular attention to furniture's seams and frames. After the treatment is over, you may reassemble your bed.
Consider using a Total Encasement Mattress Cover in the future. Step 4: Apply Diatomaceous Earth You will need diatomaceous earth and a couple different applicators Diatomaceous earth works as both a tool for prevention and treatment. After cleaning and steaming your home, proceed to apply DE by following these steps: Find areas around your home where you suspect bed bugs may be hiding or return to. Apply DE along moulding, in drawers, in any cracks or crevices, behind appliances, along windowsills and door jams. Use an applicator to make this easier. You will also want to remove all electrical faceplates and use the applicator to inject DE behind electrical switches and outlets. Cover furniture and mattresses with DE and work it into the furniture, mattresses, and carpeting with your hands. Step 5: Clean Up We recommend leaving the DE down as long as possible. Although it's far from a fashion statement, keeping a constant barrier down against the bed bugs will help ensure your victory.