There are many different ways to treat for bed bugs below are some of the treatment options that are available to you.
Chemical Insecticide Treatments
The use of chemical insecticides is the most prevalent method of bed bug control worldwide. Depending on where you live in the world, the choices of insecticides vary. These products, many of which developed in the late 70s & 80s, work by opening sodium ion channels in neurons at the insect’s nerve axon causing them to fire spontaneously ultimately leading to spasms and expiration. These products, when used properly, generally have good safety records. Some of the other available insecticides include mitochondrial poisons such as chlorfenapyr, and desiccant dust such as silica or limestone which dehydrate the insect.
Insecticide treatments are tedious, labor-intense, and often-times repetitious. They’re costly and involve a lot of preparation prior to and after the application is made. Success heavily weighs on the diligence of the pest control service technician. This work involves heavy lifting and acute attention to detail. Round the Clock techs must also be able to effectively communicate with customers, explaining every aspect of preparation and post-treatment actions required.
Pros
Readily available.
Effective if properly treated.
Affordable for most.
Cons
Resistance problems with some insecticides
Heavily dependant on the applicator's diligence.
Insecticides are objectionable to some.
High treatment failures especially in homes with lots of clutter.
Steam Treatments
Steam is a viable option for some situations. Direct contact with an appropriate steamer will kill bed bugs and eggs. This is tedious work, but if done methodically it can be an effective method of control. Hospitals and nursing homes, where rooms are institutional (and much less complicated than an apartment for example) may have greater success using this method.
Pros
Non-chemical.
Anyone can do it if diligent.
Effective as long as direct contact is made with the bug or egg.
Cons
Because steam must make direct contact with the bug or egg, there’s a high probability that some will be missed, if direct contact isn’t made.
Fumigation Treatments
Some people confuse aerosol “bombs” with fumigation, they are not the same. True fumigation is serious work that involves a tremendous amount of human and financial resources. In the most general sense, fumigation is the introduction of gases to confined spaces that permeates all contents to achieve a 100% kill of all living creatures inside.
Pros
Generally considered 100% effective.
Cons
Has no residual to prevent future infestations.
Thermal Remediation (Heat Treatments)
Thermal remediation involves introducing a high temperature (heat) to an area for a prolonged period of time to reach a thermal “death” point. Generally heat treatment professionals strive for a temperature of 120-140F for a prolonged period of time to kill bed bugs and their eggs. It’s not enough to simply raise the temperature, the air must be moved to achieve uniform saturation of the area. It may take many hours, sometimes in excess of 24 hours to uniformly saturate the treatment area.
Pros
Very little preparation is required.
Cons
Expensive, a risk of premature aging of some building materials.
Risk of fire sprinkler activation.
Can be challenging in multi-family housing properties.
Cryonite® Treatments (aka Rapid Freeze)
Cryonite is a system that utilizes carbon dioxide to produce a rapidly deployed “snow” delivered through a patented Cryonite gun. As with steam, direct contact with the bug or egg is required to assure effectiveness.
Pros
Snow penetrates some crevices easily.
Low-cost materials may make it affordable to some in certain areas.
Cons
Direct contact with "snow" is required.
