After your treatment You must not: enter your home for at least two hours afterwards because the insecticide spray can be harmful to people and pets.
It's generally not advisable to sleep on sheets that have been sprayed with bug spray until they are completely dry and any residual chemicals have dissipated. Many insecticides contain chemicals that can be harmful if they come into contact with skin or are inhaled. Here are some steps to follow:
It really is better if you leave the house, unfortunately. Most treatments involve treating all the living areas (bedrooms, living room, etc.) in the same session; if you choose to only treat the living room you run the risk of potential escapee bugs.
If you've recently had your home or business treated for pests, don't be alarmed if you are seeing more pests. It's a normal part of the process; give the products time to do their job. If you are still seeing bugs 10 days after your treatment, contact your pest control company.
The treatment can disrupt their hiding spots, causing pests to emerge and become temporarily more visible. This surge often signals the effectiveness of the treatment. Expect increased bug activity to last a few days to a couple of weeks, as some pests need time to come into contact with the pesticide.
The main goal following an insecticide treatment is to give all of the treated areas ample time to fully dry. Depending on the strength of the chemicals used, as well as the level of infestation and the size of the home itself, you may be required to stay out of your home for several hours.
Bed bugs are averse to slick surfaces like glass, plastic, and polished metals and stone. They can, however, grasp and cling onto textiles and porous materials like wood.
Pyrethroid products are often mixed with other types of insecticides; some of these mixtures can be effective against bed bugs. Look for products containing pyrethroids plus piperonyl butoxide, imidicloprid, acetamiprid, or dinetofuran.
Remember, bed bugs can survive many months without feeding. Although it sounds like a grim choice, it is best to continue sleeping in the infested area using the population reduction methods described above, until the bed bugs are eliminated.
It kills them on the surface for up to 4 weeks as well as their eggs. We use it in conjunction with a bug fogger just to be extra safe. We vacuum the surfaces and spray the foam wherever we think they might be lurking and then wait for the foam to dry before continuing with additional clean up.
It typically takes anywhere from 2-4 treatment sessions over a period of 3-6 weeks to completely eliminate bed bugs, depending on the level of infestation and the size of the house. However, each situation is unique.
You shouldn't have to throw away any of your possessions during a bed bug infestation. Everything can be salvaged with proper treatment in place. Instead of tossing your clothes and bedding, you should try washing them in a hot water wash. High heat washing and drying consistently kills bed bugs and their eggs.
If you have had a professional treatment and it has been three weeks since the end of the treatment with no signs of continuing infestation such as bites, live bugs, new fecal matter or cast skins, then it is likely that your bed bug infestation has been controlled. But there may be several complicating factors.
Low toxicity contact sprays like SteriFab™ or Bedlam® are likely to kill bed bugs only on contact. Alcohol- and soap-based sprays, are only partly effective. All of these products, once dry, are likely to provide no further control.
Rubbing Alcohol
Bed bugs are hard to deal with, but you can repel them by using rubbing alcohol. They hate the smell of alcohol and using it is an effective solution to your problem. The rubbing alcohol can dry out bed bugs bodies, which can eventually lead to their death.
Bed bugs are not known to spread pathogens through their bites. Bed bug bites can be itchy and stressful. Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying.
Thus, you need a professional exterminator. They have the tools and methods to fully kill bed bugs at all life stages. They also keep them from coming back. Bed bugs have also become resistant to many of the pesticides they encounter in their travels.
If it hasn't worn off by bedtime, you'll want to wash it off with soap and water, as it can be irritating if left on overnight. Unless you are camping overnight in an area with ticks or mosquitoes, you don't want it sitting on your skin if insects aren't a concern. “If you don't need it on, get it off,” Waldman says.
Spraying over and over, whenever you see a bug. This type of application may not actually violate the label, but it is unlikely to eliminate the infestation and can cause the bugs to become resistant to the pesticide so it will no longer work.
Give It Some Air!
After applying Raid® spray products such as Raid® Mosquito and Fly Killer, give the treated room or area some air! Exit the treated area and keep the room closed for 15 minutes. Then thoroughly ventilate before re-entry.
There can be many reasons for failure of a pesticide treatment to completely control the bed bugs, including: Not finding all the bed bugs. Inadequately preparing area (failure to remove clutter, seal cracks and crevices, etc.).
If you have used a vacuum cleaner, discard the bag, or empty the receptacle in a sealed plastic bag. All washable parts of the vacuum cleaner should be thoroughly cleaned in hot water and detergent. Infested items for disposal shouldn't be left with the regular building trash.
It is perfectly fine to resume sleeping on your bed after a bed bug treatment. However, note that you may have to wait for around four to five hours after the treatment to return to the house. Also, ensure to use bed casings before getting on the bed.