Who remembers the children bedtime song “Good Night, Sleep Tight”?

Good night, sleep tight
Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
But if they do, then take your shoe and
Hit them till they’re black and blue.

Hitting them with your shoe is one way to rid yourself of these nasty pests… but according to one government website “…Bed bugs die when their body temperatures reaches 45°C (113°F). To kill bed bugs with heat, the room or container must be even hotter to ensure sustained heat reaches the bugs no matter where they are hiding.”
(https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/top-ten-tips-prevent-or-control-bed-bugs)

Bed bugs can be a sensitive subject. They gather in places where one may not feel comfortable with traditional treatments or even talking about the infestation, for that matter.

Bed bugs are parasitic, meaning they feed on the blood of a host, and they can be hard to kill. Mattresses, box springs, carpet and baseboards are hotspots for infestation. Bed bugs can even hide in something as small as a nail indentation in the wall. Most bed bug infestations are within 6 to 8 feet of their human blood meal host (i.e. your bed). In addition clothing, computer bags, briefcases, backpacks and other items that may sit by the bed are good candidates for treating so as to eliminate these blood thirsty pests!

HEAT is the best source of ridding yourself of these nasty bugs! According to pest control experts; success depends on early detection and correct treatment methodology.

What is bed bug heat treatment? It takes several forms depending on what is being treated. If you’re asking, does HEAT kill bed bugs? YES, IT DOES, if it’s hot enough. Here are a few tried and tested methods that are proven to work:

HOT BOX

By placing items such as shoes, dry cleaning, blankets, bags of clothing or even luggage into a hot box, one can use sustained heat to kill bed bugs. Heat penetrates into small crevices that cannot be inspected. Lethal temperatures for bed bugs range from 117 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 F. The walls of hot boxes reach a higher temperature than the suggested lethal range in order to permeate belongings placed within, killing all bed bugs in all their stages. How the box is heated is important. The wrong or incorrectly used heat source can cause fires, so caution must be used with this method. Also, there are some items that may be damaged by the heat source if it's too close or too hot. Proper ventilation must be applied to some heat sources such as gas or propane for them to be safely used inside a building.

STEAM

Steam is another form of heat that kills bed bugs, larvae and eggs. Steam treatment is no more labor intensive than other methods, but it's not meant to penetrate materials deep enough to kill hidden bed bugs. Steaming works on items such as box springs, bed frames, blankets/sheets, curtains and pillows and can be used on several items without causing damage.

DRYERS

Clothes dryers can also destroy bed bugs. The washer alone with hot soapy water can actually kill them, but there are many items that cannot be washed but could be run through a dryer cycle without damage, such as stuffed animals, "dry clean only" items, etc. The heat of the clothes dryer alone will kill bed bugs, and it's recommended to dry items on high heat for at least 20 minutes. Be aware that some items cannot be put in the washer or dryer. Additionally, it's important to keep freshly cleaned items away from the infestation, as they can easily be contaminated again.

BUILDING/HOME HEAT TREATMENT

Heat treatment for homes and other buildings entails raising room temperatures to levels that are lethal for bed bugs at least 117 degrees Fahrenheit—in all areas the bed bugs can get to, including cracks, crevices, inside walls, etc. Professionals with proper equipment must administer this treatment. This is generally considered to be an effective but expensive way to eradicate bed bug infestations in all their stages, but when properly performed, can often provide control. It's common to still have bed bug activity after structural and whole room heat treatments, which is why these treatments are also combined with applications of pesticides.

Heat Authority is the authority on HEAT. We have several items that if used correctly could help rid your life of these nasty little bugs. Whether you’re an individual suffering from an infestation or you’re a business specializing in pest control we can help.

Extra Hot Electric Blankets by PowerBlanket

HotBox Enclosures by ProMAX

Bottom line… HEAT will kill. Heat Authority can help you discover ways to protect yourself and your personal effects. Remember that even though these bugs are strong enough to survive without food or oxygen, they are not tough enough to survive HEAT. They will not be able to escape it. The HEAT will seek them out and kill every last one of them in your home or business. Don’t waste your time searching for other methods…you’ve found it with Heat Authority.