Bed Bug Guide
Evidence-based first steps for confirming suspected bed bug activity, containing item movement, preparing for inspection, and avoiding unsafe shortcuts.
General information is not a property diagnosis, service guarantee, product label, medical recommendation, or veterinary recommendation.
Bed Bug Guide
Practical Guidance for Colorado Springs Properties
The approved article content is preserved below with the current $150 onsite-inspection policy.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Colorado Springs: Safe First Steps
Bed bugs are difficult to confirm from bites alone and difficult to control with a single tactic. A practical response starts with physical evidence, careful containment, safe cleanup and monitoring, followed by a professional evaluation when the activity persists, involves several areas, or cannot be identified confidently.
First, Look for Physical Evidence
Skin marks are not reliable proof of bed bugs. Some people develop itchy marks, some have delayed reactions, and others show no visible reaction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends looking for physical signs instead:
- Live bed bugs
- Rusty or reddish stains on sheets, mattresses, or furniture
- Small dark spots that may resemble ink marks
- Tiny eggs or eggshells
- Pale skins shed by growing bed bugs
Inspect mattress seams and tags, box springs, bed frames, headboards, couch seams, furniture joints, baseboards, and nearby cracks. If you are unsure what you found, avoid moving items between rooms while you seek identification.
Limit the Chance of Spreading Them
Bed bugs can travel in folded clothing, bedding, bags, furniture, and other belongings. Do not carry loose items from a suspected room into an unaffected room. Put items that must be moved into sealed bags or containers, and keep cleaned items sealed until the affected area has been addressed.
If you rent or live in a building with multiple units building, report suspected activity promptly to the appropriate property contact. Effective control in multifamily housing may require participation from both residents and building management.
Use Safe Cleanup and Monitoring Steps
- Use a clothes dryer correctly: EPA guidance says bedding, clothing, and other safe for a dryer items can be placed in a household dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Washing alone may not kill bed bugs. Store cleaned items in sealed bags.
- Vacuum carefully: Vacuum visible bugs and likely hiding areas. Seal the vacuum bag or collected debris in a plastic bag and place it in an outside trash container.
- Reduce clutter without spreading it: Bag trash or infested items before carrying them out. Do not move untreated belongings into another room.
- Consider encasements and interceptors: Resistant to bed bugs mattress and box spring encasements can reduce hiding places, while interceptor devices under furniture legs can help with monitoring.
- Keep records: Note the date and exact location of each sighting. Continued monitoring helps determine whether activity is declining or still present.
Avoid Dangerous or Ineffective Shortcuts
Do not try to heat an occupied room with a thermostat, propane heater, space heater, or fireplace. EPA guidance warns that improvised whole room heating is ineffective and dangerous. Do not apply rubbing alcohol, kerosene, or gasoline; these liquids are flammable and can cause fires.
Foggers or “bug bombs” should not be the only control method because the pesticide may not reach the cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide. If you use any pesticide yourself, use only a product registered for bed bug control and follow every direction and precaution on its label. Pool grade or food grade diatomaceous earth should not be used as a substitute for a registered pesticide product.
Why One Tactic May Not Be Enough
The EPA recommends an integrated pest management approach that combines appropriate nonchemical and chemical options. The exact combination depends on the evidence, affected areas, property conditions, and previous attempts. Preparation and resident participation also matter, and continued activity may require additional evaluation.
A professional service plan may include inspection, preparation instructions, physical control measures, monitoring, and labeled pesticide applications. Do not assume that a company offers whole room heat, steam, a particular chemical, or a fixed number of visits. Ask what is actually included in the proposed scope before approving service.
When to Call a Bed Bug Professional
Professional evaluation is especially useful when you cannot identify the insect, evidence appears in more than one room, the property has multiple units, activity continues after careful cleanup and monitoring, or prior products have not resolved the problem.
Preventative Pest Control provides bed bug inspection and treatment options in Colorado Springs. Call and describe the signs, affected rooms, property type, and prior control attempts. Phone quotes are free. If an onsite inspection is needed, it costs $150 and the fee is waived when you proceed with the recommended service.
Bed Bugs and Health
The CDC states that bed bugs are not known to spread disease to people. Bites can cause itching, sleep loss, and, rarely, allergic reactions. Scratching may contribute to a secondary skin infection. Contact a healthcare provider if you suspect an allergic reaction, infection, or another medical condition.