Bed Bug FAQs
Washington homeowners have many questions about bed bugs. Here are a few of the most common questions our technicians field.
How Do Bed Bugs Get into Our Homes?
We inadvertently bring bed bugs into our homes and businesses from other locations. There are easy steps you can take to reduce the risk of bringing them into our homes.
What Do Bed Bugs Eat?
Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans. They creep out at night, and are attracted to your body heat and the C02 you exhale.
Do Bed Bugs Die in the Washing Machine?
We recommend washing and drying your bedding after treating a bed bug infestation.
The water temperature needs be at least 120°F or higher to ensure that the bed bugs and their eggs are effectively killed in the washing machine.
And though a high-heat wash and a high-heat dry may kill most bed bugs, laundry day won't be enough to get rid of an infestation. Bugs may still live and breed in your mattress and upholstery.
Why Does Bed Bug Treatment Often Fail?
You may have tried retail bed bug spray and found it to be only a temporary solution. In many cases, the bugs have developed a resistance to certain insecticidal products. Those products might kill some bed bugs upon making contact, but they won’t discourage eggs from hatching or kill bugs that are hiding.
Many DIY methods do more harm than good, such as:
- Spraying your body with insect repellent before bed
- Using pest repellents meant for outdoor use that put your family at risk
- Bombs and foggers that only force bed bugs into harder-to-reach hiding places
Your Croach® bed bug exterminator knows how to break the life cycle of pests by using focused strategies.
More questions? We have answers!
