Will a steam generator help you get rid of bed bugs and how to use it correctly?
Bed bugs in the home are a nightmare that many people have to deal with in real life.
It is not necessary to resort to harsh chemicals to remove parasites. A steam generator will help to cope with the problem, but only if it is used correctly.
About whether it will help steam generator from bedbugs in an apartment, how to treat a room from insects, which device is better to choose, our article will tell.
Content
Does steam kill insects?
For bugs to breed, certain conditions are necessary. They actively increase their numbers at a temperature of + 20-25 degrees. Insects feel comfortable in dry, shaded and warm places. Therefore, in city apartments, they breed very quickly.
They can be found:
- in upholstered furniture;
- under mattresses;
- between skirting boards;
- in picture frames;
- at the joints between the wallpaper;
- in the crevices of beds and not only.
To stop the breeding process of bedbugs, you need to take them out of their comfort zone. A steam generator is perfect for this.
Insects do not tolerate high temperatures, and the device is capable of heating the affected area up to + 90-150 degrees. Bedbugs die in 15 seconds of continuous exposure to a jet of steam.
This is enough for the protein component of insect cells to boil and curl up. This is how their death occurs. Eggs that have been laid by parasites will not survive under the influence of steam. Under the influence of high temperatures, their shell melts, which leads to the death of the embryo.
Pros and cons of the way to fight
Pros of destruction bed bugs using a steam generator:
- No chance of survival. If a jet of steam hits an insect, then it will die with a 100% probability.
- The inability to adapt bedbugs. Pests are able to develop immunity to some chemicals, but they are powerless against high temperatures.
- No harm to human health.
- Disinfection of surfaces. In addition to bedbugs, fungi and bacteria will be destroyed in furniture treated with a steam generator.
- High efficiency in the fight against adults and their larvae.
- Lack of unpleasant odor.
- The ability to process hard-to-reach places, without harm to the product itself.
- Ease of transportation.The steam generator can be brought without any problems to the country house or to another place where parasites have started.
- No need to move to another home during processing. Children and animals can stay in the house.
It is recommended to pull a cloth over the nozzle to achieve uniform steam dispersion.... This will allow you not to blow the eggs out of place, but to destroy them.
The choice of steam generators is wide, so in a hardware store you can find an inexpensive and practical device that does not take up much space in the apartment.
Cons of using steam generator to combat bedbugs:
- The need to purchase a device with a narrow nozzle included. If you use only a wide spray nozzle, you will not be able to work out hard-to-reach areas.
- Strict adherence to processing technology. If you bring the device too close to the surface of the furniture, then you can simply knock the eggs to another place. They will not lose their vitality.
- Compliance with the processing time of each site. Prolonged exposure to furniture or wallpaper can cause stains.
- Caution in using the device. High temperatures are required to kill insects. If safety precautions are not followed, there is a risk of burns.
- Inability to handle some electrical appliances and outlets.
Instructions for the destruction of parasites in your apartment
What will it take to fight with bedbugs:
- steam generator with a narrow nozzle;
- extension;
- insecticide in the form of a spray.
To remove bedbugs you need to follow the instructions for their destruction:
- Move the furniture away from the walls, turn it over in such a way that nothing interferes with the upcoming processing.
- Set the temperature on the device to at least 70 degrees.
- Direct a jet of steam towards the treatment area. The distance should be about 25 cm.
- Take a ferry through hard-to-reach places. The maximum accumulation of parasites is observed in the folds and crevices of furniture, as well as from the bottom of sofas and beds. They lay their eggs behind bedside tables, in dark and secluded corners of the apartment.
- Treat cracks in laminate, linoleum or parquet. There bugs hide in the daytime.
- Walk through the curtains. If possible, it is recommended to wash or boil them at high temperatures. Be sure to steam curtains, carpets and all textiles in the house.
- Treat clothes and bedding.
After completing the steam treatment, additional drying is not required.... If high humidity is felt in the apartment, then you can get rid of it with the help of a short airing.
Which device should you choose?
What apparatus is guaranteed to kill an insect? It is recommended to choose a steam generator with a power of at least 1500 W. Small devices may not be up to the task.
Most popular brands:
- Karcher.
- Phillips.
- Kitforth.
They are sold in hardware stores.
Determining the type of device, you need to opt for a steam generator designed for cleaning. Devices for steaming clothes will not cope with the task of destroying insects.
The maximum steam temperature can be provided by devices with a boiler. This is an additional guarantee that all bugs will be destroyed.
Feedback on application
Reviews on the use of a steam generator to combat bedbugs are mostly positive. Although it is not always possible to remove insects only with the help of the device.
People who have tried to remove bedbugs with a steam generator indicate that they really die under the influence of high temperatures.However, all furniture and textiles need to be steamed, not missing a single centimeter.
For some users, two procedures were enough to completely get rid of insects... Other people could not cope with parasites on their own. Therefore, they had to seek help from specialized services.
Important recommendations
So that the fight against bedbugs is successful and without harm to health, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- To avoid scalding, do not direct the steam jet onto the skin.
- It is recommended to work with gloves.
- After processing, do not wet cleaning for 5 days. This rule is relevant when chemicals were used in addition to steam.
- The clothes in which the treatment was carried out must be washed at high temperatures.
- When bedbugs reappear, the algorithm for their destruction is repeated again.
Conclusion
Bedbugs are tenacious insects. They have excellent adaptive mechanisms that allow them to survive in extreme conditions.
but treatment with scalding steam parasites and their larvae cannot withstand... Therefore, in order to permanently get rid of neighbors sucking blood, you can use this method that is safe for human health.