Bedbug removal in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Bedbugs
Once nearly eradicated in the UK, bedbug infestations have gradually increased as our travelling behaviour has become more exotic. As the UK is a prime holidaying location for other countries, visitors can also bring them into the country. In the past 5 years alone, there has been a 400% increase in pest control calls to rid customers of these wee beasties. One female can lay up to 500 eggs during her lifetime, so it easy to see why these can become a serious problem if not dealt with early on.
Unfortunately, bedbug infestations are an issue for many hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts and tenement blocks so there is always a risk that after you go on holiday you may bring back an unwelcome visitor in your suitcases. We recommend all hotels and holiday lets constantly monitor for these small insects, however, they are so good at hiding during the day that they may go unnoticed for some time. By the time there is a noticeable issue, several different travellers may have stayed in an affected room and taken bedbugs back to their own homes.
How to get rid of bedbugs
Many people fail to contain or eliminate a bedbug infestation without the expert knowledge of the bedbug’s life cycle or harbourage points. Don’t assume that by throwing away the bed that you are getting rid of the problem. Doing this risks spreading the problem to other areas of the house; furthermore, there will surely be many other harbourage points in the room besides the bed. If a new bed is brought in, it will only be a matter of time before this too is infested. Calling a professional pest controller to assist in the removal of bedbugs is always recommended.
Thoroughness is key to remove bedbugs; all materials such as the bedding, clothes and even the curtains must be heat-washed to kill off all life cycles. At 60 degrees total mortality can be achieved, however some materials may be too sensitive for this process so we would suggest freezing fabrics that cannot be washed hot. The use of a hand steamer can also be great at reducing the issue when used in the correct areas.
Most insecticides cannot be used on mattresses but at Lightning Pest Specialists we use a material-safe compound that is safe for beds. We will also complete a full chemical treatment of each room using an insecticide that contains an Insect Growth Inhibitor; this inhibitor halts the progress of the insects development at any stage, and prevents them from reproducing. We aim to resolve all bedbug infestations in one visit, but in some instances or heavy infestations, a secondary treatment may be required.
Give us a call to provide a survey of your property and offer advice on any preparatory work required and we will soon have your bedbug problem under control.
CONTACT US
07788 525 985