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Why You Still Have Bed Bugs After Three Treatments: Top 5 Reasons

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Many people think that if they have vacuumed and cleaned thoroughly after treatment, they are free of bed bugs. But that’s not always the case. So, what are the top 5 reasons why you still have bed bugs after three treatments?

Some of these reasons include having many live bed bugs, eggs, or larvae; having a lot of clutter in one’s home, which makes it difficult to treat; and finally, the type of treatment used.

Continue reading to learn more about bed bugs’ return after treatment.

What is the bed bug life cycle?

Bed bugs lay eggs hatching in about 6-10 days. The nymphs, or the juvenile stage of bed bugs, feed and grow for about a week until they reach their next stage. 

why you still have bed bugs after 3 treatments?: Top 5 Reasons

Cimex Lecturalius

Not the Right Treatment Choice for Bedbug Treatment

The most common are insecticide treatment, heat treatment, and a combination of the two. However, if you do not choose the appropriate treatment for your situation, you may not be successful in getting rid of the bed bugs.

Consult with a professional to determine the best course of action for your needs.

Not Cleaning After Treatment Area in Your Property

Maybe you did not clean your home thoroughly after the treatment. Even if you’ve had a bed bug treatment, you still need to clean your home. Thus vacuum the: following

  • bed mattress
  • box springs
  • dresser drawers
  • rugs
  • carpet
  • couches
  • wooden furniture
  • baseboards
  • headboards
  • mattress seams

Your Surroundings Has Bed Bug Infestation

Unfortunately, bed bugs are a common problem in apartment blocks. The only way to solve the problem is to treat every unit in the block. The reasons are such follows:

  • Bed bugs can move into new apartments.
  • Bed bug treatments and cleaning will not solve the problem.
  • Prevention is key: use skin or mattress encasements.
  • There is no guarantee that all bed bugs will get eliminated after treatment.
  • The best way to deal with a bed bug infestation is to contact a professional extermination company.

Brought The Bed Bugs Home by Someone Else

Even if you or someone else has had a bed bug treatment, it’s still possible to get bed bugs in your house. Bed bugs can hide in dresser drawers and they may come back if you don’t take the necessary precautions. It’s always best to keep your luggage outside the house.

Vacuum it clean before bringing it back in. You should also wash clothes and other fabric items in warm water without putting them in a dresser drawer or closet. 

Ignored The Early Signs Of Bed Bugs After Treatment

Even after a successful bed bug treatment, there is always the possibility that they will come back. Bed bugs can resurface even after a year, two years, or more. One of the reasons for this is that people often ignore the early signs of bed bug infestation.

Top 5 reasons why you still have bed bugs after three treatments

The infestation doesn’t happen overnight. Female bed bugs can lay more than 350 eggs in their lifetime. So it’s important to address any potential bed bug issues as soon as they’re noticed.

What to do after bed bug treatment?

Even after multiple bed bug treatments, you may still deal with these pesky insects. Here are five things you can do to help get rid of them for good:

  • Vacuum daily.
  • Do not move to another room.
  • Try targeted treatments.
  • Call a professional exterminator.
  • Be patient.

How do bed bugs come back?

There are reasons why you may still have bed bugs after multiple treatments. One possibility is that you never got rid of them.

And they continued to live undetected in your home. Another reason could be that they migrated to other parts of your home or returned after you thought they were gone. 

Signs of bedbug and bed bug nymphs infestation

Signs of bedbug and bed bug nymphs infestation

There are a few common signs of bedbugs that you should watch out for. These include dark or rusty spots of bedbug excrement on sheets, mattresses, bed clothes, and walls.

You may also notice a musty odor from the bugs’ scent glands. If you see any of these signs, you likely have an infestation and should take immediate action.

Bed bug control treatment

To control bed bugs from coming into your home:

  • Vacuum your suitcases when returning from travel and keep them in a large plastic bag during hotel stays.
  • Bed bugs are present on pets and animals, so check them for signs of bed bugs before bringing them inside.
  • Inspect your furniture, beds, and other areas where bed bugs may hide for any signs of insects.

Can bed bugs come back after heat treatment?

One common question that people have is whether or not bed bugs will come back after heat treatment. Heat treatment reaches temperatures of 120-135 degrees for four hours, enough to kill any bed bugs.

What to do with finding dead bed bugs after treatment?

What to do with finding dead bed bugs after treatment?

After treating your home for bed bugs, cleaning up the dead bed bugs is important. Do it by vacuuming them up with a crevice attachment. It would help if you also looked for any dead bed bugs hidden in between objects and crevices. 

Do heat temperature, and insecticide treatment kills bed bugs eggs?

Bed bug eggs are resistant to many insecticides. So it is important to use a treatment that will kill both adults and eggs. Heat treatment effectively kills all life stages of bed bugs and is non-toxic to humans and pets.

Do bed bugs bite?

Bed bugs are itchy and may appear clustered or lined up in rough rows. Symptoms of bedbug bites are similar to other insect bites and rashes. Such as mosquito bites, flea bites, chigger bites, and tick bites.

What kills bed bugs instantly and permanently?

Baby bedbug or cimex after sucked blood from skin

There are various ways to kill bed bugs, but the most effective and permanent way is to use steam. Applying steam slowly to folds, tufts, and seams is important to ensure the temperature reaches 212°F.

Where are these bed bugs coming from?

Bed bugs can come from different areas with infestation. Such as another room in your house or furniture that an infested person previously used. They can also ride on luggage, purses, backpacks, or other items placed on soft or upholstered surfaces.

Lastly, they can travel between rooms in multi-unit buildings such as apartment complexes and hotels

Can bed bugs be killed with bleach?

Yes, bleach does kill bed bugs. Using bleach can be a great solution for homeowners with bed bug problems.

At what temperature do bed bugs die?

Bed Bug on the upholstery of the sofa

Bed bugs die at 113°F within 90 minutes, but they must be exposed to 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100% mortality.

How do exterminators get rid of bedbugs?

There are a variety of methods that exterminators use to get rid of bed bugs. These include heat treatment, mattress encasements, crack and crevice injections/spot treatments, pesticide dust, and even canine inspections. 

Can you freeze bed bugs to death?

There are several myths about bed bugs and how to get rid of them. One popular myth is that you can freeze bed bugs to death. It is not true – bed bugs cannot survive if they experience temperatures of 0 degrees.

How to know bed bugs are gone?

If you have had a professional bed bug treatment and there are no signs after three weeks, it is safe to say the treatment was successful. There are five key ways to tell if bed bugs have been eliminated: lack of bites, live bugs, new fecal matter, or casts skins. 

Is it possible to have just one-bed bug?

Bed bugs are one of the most difficult household pests to get rid of. They can be hidden in various places, including mattress seams, box springs, headboards, and carpets.

And they’re also one of the hardest pests to detect – usually, the only sign that you have an infestation is finding a bed bug.

Conclusion

After completing treatment for bed bugs, it is important to wait the appropriate amount of time before celebrating. You do not see any bed bugs or experience any bites after six to eight weeks. It is safe to assume that the treatment was successful.

However, it can feel like a waiting game to determine if your treatment was successful. Though you’ve treated your home for bed bugs three times and still have them, it’s not time to panic. You can do a few things to try and rid yourself of these pesky critters. 

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.