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January 24, 2014 1:55 PM |
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Do Bed Bug Sprays Really Work?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
WORDS OF WISDOM:
Bed bugs should be ELIMINATED not TREATED.
Many companies sell bed bugs sprays, bed bug repellants, bed bug bombs and bed bug fogger's.
Bed Bug Sprays: Most bed bug sprays kill on contact. But than again so will a fly swatter. It's the one's that you don't directly spray that will continue the cycle.
Bed Bug Repellants: The definition of repel is to drive or force (an attack or attacker) back or away. If you repel bed bugs, they will just come back or move to another room.
Bed Bug Bombs and Foggers: They do not work. “Based on our findings, bug bombs should not be used for crawling
insects such as bed bugs,” says lead researcher Susan C. Jones, Ph.D., rolex replica watches
an associate professor at the university. “These products shouldn’t even
be labeled for bed bugs.”
Curious, read on:
Update: 1/24/14: Be sure to read the fine print and disclaimers on do it yourself bed bug sprays. Here is just one example of a disclaimer for a do-it-yourself bed bug product.
BEDBUGS
"No refunds on bed bug products.
Eliminating bed bugs requires additional
control steps other than just using insecticides to eliminate the problem. replica watches
Removing clutter, washing all clothing in hot water and placing in a hot dryer, are important steps required for treatment. Bed bug
control requires knowledge, encasing beds at the right time during treatment, vacuuming as well as detailed inspections of all wall hangings, draperies, furniture and more. Failure to do
any one of these steps plus more makes it difficult for any EPA registered insecticide to
overcome a bed bug infestation. For more information on the additional steps
necessary for bed bug control, visit the Environmental Protection Agency web
site."
The EPA website states:
- Getting a pest management professional (PMP) involved as soon as
possible rather than taking time to try to treat the problem yourself
can be very effective at preventing further infestations. Each pest
management company should have instructions for residents on how to
prepare the unit for a treatment, which will include laundering and
cleaning.
- Treating bed bugs is complex. The PMP should be experienced in treating bed bug infestations. Check the company’s credentials.
- The PMP will inspect your residence, take apart furniture if
necessary and use vacuums, heat treatment and pesticides to treat the infestation.
Update: 8/15/13: Bedbug repellent maker feels sting of U.S. government over ad claims
The New York Daily News reports that a company that makes a cedar-based product it says repels bed bugs and
head lice felt the bite of the U.S. government on Tuesday when it agreed
to settle charges that its products have not been proven to work as
promised.
Chemical Free Solutions LLC, which was previously controlled by Dave
Glassel, had been accused of being deceptive in advertising that its
"Best Yet!" brand cedar oil products would get rid of lice and bed bugs,
the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said.
If your bed is infested with bed bugs, the "Best Yet!" brand cedar oil products might not actually be your best bet.The Best Yet! products had also been advertised as having been invented
for the U.S. Army, among other incorrect statements, the FTC said.
The company is barred from making any claims about the effectiveness of
their products unless it is able to produce scientific evidence to back
it up.
Update: 7/16/13: Apparently even the FTC agrees. Curious, read on:
The Federal Trade Commission said today, 7/16/13, that it reached a
settlement with two companies marketing unproven remedies for bed bugs over deceptive advertising.
The commission filed charges
last year against the marketer of all natural bed bug spray BEST Yet! line of cedar-oil based liquid products
saying that it would treat and prevent bed bug and head lice infestations.
According to the FTC, the defendants falsely claimed that their natural,
BEST Yet! bed bug and head lice products were invented for the U.S.
Army, that their bed bug product was acknowledged by the USDA as the No.
1 choice of bio-based pesticides, and that the Environmental Protection
Agency had warned consumers to avoid chemical solutions for treating
bed bug infestations.
Under the agreed-upon settlement orders, the defendants are prohibited
from claiming that their BEST Yet! products by themselves can stop or
prevent a bed bug infestation, or are more effective at doing so than
other products, unless they have competent and scientific evidence to
make the claims.
Following are some tips and guidance from the FTC from their website:
From the FTC: Treating Bed Bug Infestations
"Experts agree: Bed bug infestations are difficult to control, and no
one treatment or technique has been found to be effective in all cases.
Still, bed bugs can be controlled through a combination of techniques
known as integrated pest management (IPM) – an environmentally sensitive
approach that includes prevention, monitoring, and limited use of
chemical pesticides. In fact, some populations of bed bugs have
developed resistance to common pesticides, making some sprays
ineffective. Alternative treatments include heat and steam. Bedding,
clothing, and electronic items shouldn't ever be treated with
pesticides, but can be treated with heat."
From the FTC: Hiring a Professional
- Make sure that you really have bed bugs and not some other pests.
- Use a professional with experience in bed bug control. Controlling bed bugs is different than controlling other pests.
- Be wary of exterminators who show up uninvited and offer a free
inspection. They may use scare tactics to pressure you into authorizing
immediate and costly treatments.
- Deal with a qualified and licensed pest management company. Call
your state pest control regulatory agency for information about the
status of pest management companies. In most states, the regulatory
agency is the State Department of Agriculture.
- Be wary of choosing a company based on price alone. Quality control is the most important factor.
- Before you sign a contract, get details on the extent of the
infestation, the proposed work plan, and the number of visits required
and anticipated to solve the problem. A reputable company will inspect
your property before quoting you a price or beginning any pesticide
application. The company also should give you a written inspection
report, and a plan for preparing for treatment and preventing further
infestation.
- Find out if the pest control company has liability insurance to
cover any damage that occurs to your home or furnishings during
treatment.
- If you get a written "guarantee," look for what it covers, how long
it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what is required for
continuing control, prevention, and management.
Update: 5/31/13:
There are now many all-natural bed bug sprays
(25B exempt products) that are being marketed and sold online and in stores. Many of the products are not regulated by the EPA because they contain 25b
exempt active ingredients. If you purchase bed bug sprays do
your research: look at the active ingredients and review the studies that claim that the sprays work and who they where conducted by. While many bed bug sprays will kill bed bugs on contact, so will a fly swatter or just crushing them with your finger! Buyer beware!
Author: Joe Restifo, Las Vegas Bed Bug Pest Control Specialist, K-9 Sweeps LLC
March 26, 2012
Do bed bug sprays really work? The simple answer is YES and NO. Not what you were looking for? Then read on. (for the latest information about fogger's and bed bug bombs scroll to the bottom of the page).
First of all there are two types of sprays people ask about, over the counter bed bug products and professional products. Let's look at the over the
counter products first.
Over the counter
bed bug sprays can be the all natural (green) variety or products that contain some
form of pesticides (the ones you see at home improvement stores, drug stores, nurseries,
etc.)
So do these types of products work for killing bed bugs? Like mentioned above, yes and no. While these
products can and will kill bed bugs on contact, so will many things. Things
like 91% rubbing alcohol (careful it is very flammable), Murphy’s oil soap, Windex,
a fly swatter, your finger, a vacuum to suck them up and throw them out and so on. You see
there are many ways to kill and or remove the bed bugs that you see. What makes
bed bugs hard to rid from a structure is that you really only see a small percentage
of the population.To succeed you have
to eliminate 100% of them, anything less is a failure. So when people ask me “will
this product or that product work,” I have to ask them what’s your definition
of “work?”
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention what about killing bed bug eggs?
Do these bed bug products work on bed bug eggs? A very small percentage of the ones that I have
tested actually killed eggs, but remember you have to find them all first. Good
luck on that one.
One last thing - do NOT
use foggers, they don’t work and will only make your problem worse!Remember kill 100% or it is a failure and bed
bugs will return.You have been warned!
Professional grade
pesticides (“sprays”): These come
in different forms of concentrate and need to be diluted following the product
label. These products differ somewhat
from the above as they generally contain a higher percentage of AI (active
ingredient), some have duel AI’S and they are regulated by states to make sure
only properly trained people apply them. These products typically yield better
results than the over the counter products.One reason is that they offer a better residual (continues to kill after
dried). The second reason is that they are typically applied by a knowledgeable
pest professional. But professional and do-it-yourselfer's
fail even with these products. How can that be you ask? You will rarely win the
battle with a bed bug infestation IF you
or your chosen company uses chemicals as their first line (hopefully not the
only) line of defense. In other words, if you are relying on just applying some
“sprays” and think the problem will be fixed you are wrong.
Eradicating a bed bug infestation can be hard work, and it
always requires more thought than action. Learn as much as you can about your
enemy, know their biology, behaviors and tendencies and then use this knowledge
against them.
One last note. Can you win the battle using just a bed bug “spray”?
Yes you can, “IF” you find them early enough. This is what is called an introduction to bed bugs. This is the early
stage, before it becomes an infestation. I have removed bed bugs from a few
clients’ homes with just tweezers. You just have to find them early.
So here is the million dollar question. Can you tell if you have an infestation or
just an introduction to bed bugs? How about the company you are thinking of
hiring? Can they accurately tell you?
This is why I say more thought than action. There are only
two silver bullets available for bed bugs - Knowledge & Early Detection!
I will be addressing “Dusts.The Do’s and Dont’s in my next blog so check back soon so that you can learn more
about winning the battle against bed bugs.
Credits: The author of this article is Joe Restifo, Chief Operating Office of K-9 Sweeps LLC. All Rights Reserved. Inquires and questions can be sent here.
INFORMATION ABOUT FOGGER'S AND BED BUG BOMBS:
A study published by Ohio State University study, conducted by entomologists, says
over-the-counter foggers or bug bombs, commonly used by consumers, are
not effective at killing bedbugs. The study appears in the June 2012 issue of the Journal of
Economic Entomology, a peer-reviewed publication of the Entomological
Society of America and is also noted in Science Daily.
Health.com also reports that: In a new study, the first of its kind to be published, entomologists
at Ohio State University tested three commercially available
foggers—sold under the Hot Shot, Spectracide, and Eliminator brands,
respectively—and concluded that all three products were virtually
useless at fighting bed bug infestations.
Bed bugs in houses and apartments tend to be resistant to the
insecticides used in most foggers, the study found, and even
non-resistant bugs are likely to survive a fogging because the mist of
chemicals doesn’t appear capable of penetrating the cracks in furniture
and walls where bed bugs usually hide.
“Based on our findings, bug bombs should not be used for crawling
insects such as bed bugs,” says lead researcher Susan C. Jones, Ph.D.,
an associate professor at the university. “These products shouldn’t even
be labeled for bed bugs.”