The Common Misconception When It Comes To Dealing With A Bed Bug Infestation

Of all the household pests you may have to deal with, bed bugs are one of the worst. They are hard to find and leave behind itchy, uncomfortable bites resembling a rash. Those who have had bed bugs before will tell you that they would be willing to do anything to get rid of the infestation. Sadly, even calling in professionals isn't guaranteed to work 100% of the time, and while it's still your best option to get rid of bed bugs, the treatment costs can be expensive. This leads some people to ask: Can I solve my bed bug infestation with a hair dryer?

One trick for dealing with bed bugs effectively is to kill them with heat. Some pest control companies will offer heat treatments to get rid of bed bugs, which involves heating a home to at least 122 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. When done properly, this kills bed bugs in every stage of their life cycle, from eggs to adults. 

So, you might wonder — can you do the same thing for free by using your hair dryer? Technically, you could kill a couple of bed bugs at a time by focusing a very hot hair dryer — at least 118 degrees Fahrenheit — on them for around 20 minutes. But this isn't an effective way to control an infestation. The tricky thing about bed bugs is that they're very small, and likely to escape to somewhere cooler as soon as you start to use a hair dryer on them. 

While you can't completely deal with an infestation with a hair dryer, there may still be some purpose to using it. Anecdotally, some people say that they've successfully blasted bed bugs out of small cracks and crevices by pointing a hair dryer at them. The strong airflow and heat convinces bed bugs to exit their hiding spots, making them easier to kill by other means. This could also help you determine how bad an infestation is in certain areas of your home, since the number of bed bugs is usually much higher than the ones you can find on your own. 

When it comes to getting rid of bed bugs, it's usually best to call a professional pest control company as soon as possible. Bed bugs can multiply quickly, causing an infestation to get out of hand within weeks. Bed bugs will usually require multiple treatments rather than just one.

While you're preparing your home for pest control treatment, dry all linens, bedding, and clothing in your dryer, set to the highest heat setting possible. Using a steamer on your bed and mattress may help eradicate stray bugs. You can also use an anti-bed-bug mattress and pillow protector to prevent them from crawling around your bed at night. These steps can help you control the population of the infestation (and get some rest) while you wait for the exterminator.