How To Kill Bed Bugs In A Car
Are you worried you might have a few unwanted passengers in your vehicle? Even though it may be uncommon, bed bugs can nonetheless exist in vehicles. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to assist yourself as soon as possible.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, your car may be one of the places where bed bugs hide. The bugs may have arrived on your clothing or luggage if you or one of your passengers has an infestation. Looking for the physical traces bed bugs frequently leave behind is the simplest way to confirm whether you have bed bugs in your vehicle. Infestation warning signs can include:
- Reddish stains left by a bed bug that was smashed
- Bed bug excrement, which is a period-sized dark spot.
- Shed skin from bed bugs as they develop
- Small yellowish eggs
- Live bed bugs
How To Kill Bed Bugs In Your Car
Even though the presence of one bed bug does not necessarily indicate an infestation, it can be a serious warning sign and a cue to conduct further research. If you discover that your car is infested with bed bugs, you must take immediate action to stop the infestation from spreading to your house. Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to minimize or even eliminate the issue.
Deep clean your car
You should start by giving your car a thorough cleaning. Unfortunately, a quick trip to the car wash won’t suffice. You must take the following actions:
- Take out all mats, rugs, seat covers, head rests, and other easily removable items from your car. to be thoroughly shampooed and dried in the sun.
- Use a powerful vacuum to thoroughly clean your car. Don’t forget about the parcel shelf and dashboard, as well as the pockets on the backs of the seats, the trunk, and any other area with small crevasses or fabric where they can conceal themselves.
- Use a high-temperature steam cleaner if you have access to one, or hire a pro to steam clean your car for you.
While vacuuming and steaming by themselves cannot completely solve your problem, they can significantly lessen it while you wait to get assistance from a professional.
Heat
Fortunately, there is a heat treatment process that is simple and effective for completely eliminating bed bugs. To kill bed bugs and their eggs, experts advise exposing them to temperatures of about 120 degrees or higher for 90 minutes or more. Of course, doing this alone can be challenging, but if you leave a car in the sun on a hot day, you might be able to create the right conditions.
Insecticides
Using insecticides is an ineffective way to relieve bed bug symptoms. Insecticides may consist of, but are not strictly limited to:
- Diatomaceous earth, which is a powdery substance that is safe to use around humans and pets alike, but is commonly sold to kill bed bugs.
- Pyrethroid sprays, which are much stronger and longer-lasting, and must be used with care without children or animals present.
- Low toxicity contact sprays, which will only kill bed bugs on contact and cannot treat full infestations.
However, while these insecticides might lessen your issues, they won’t completely resolve them.
Call Professionals
The best course of action is to speak with a pest expert. Bed bugs are no joke, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, they can be very challenging to completely eradicate. Professionals have access to tools that make easy work of something you yourself may spend hours and more money than necessary, only to find you didn’t fully eliminate the problem.
Need Help Killing Bed Bugs?
Bed Bug Barbeque is available to respond to your inquiries and assist in the immediate treatment of your bed bug issue. From personal cars to 18-wheelers, we specialize in treating all different kinds of vehicles. Even the most tenacious bed bug infestations can be handled by our strategic heat specialists, who are highly trained and properly equipped. For more details on how we can guarantee bed bug eradication in just one treatment, get in touch with us right away!