Home owners who are looking for a cheap method of dealing with their bed bug problem often turn to over the counter products like “bug bombs” or “foggers.” While these products are extremely cost effective (often sold for as little as $10 at hardware stores) compared to the traditional exterminator, they may be doing more harm than good.
Entomologists at Ohio State University tested the top 3 “foggers” brands found at hardware stores and concluded these products were virtual useless in fighting bed bugs. They discovered that most bed bugs found in homes and apartments are resistant to the insecticides that are used in the bombs. They also found that the bugs that aren’t resistant to the chemicals are not affected by the product because it doesn’t reach their hiding spots.
Because the insecticide is being released in a bomb like fashion, the chemicals aren’t able to fully penetrate the furniture and cracks that the bed bugs reside in. This means that people who are using these bug “bombs” and “foggers” will find their efforts are in vain.
Besides the products being ineffective for treating bed bug infestations, a lot of these over the counter solutions can have harmful side effects. These side effects include such things as headaches, nausea, and coughing and can require hospitalization in some cases. People who fail to leave the room fast enough after setting off a “fogger” or re-entering the room too quickly will often experience some of these effects.
People who turn to products like “foggers” and bug bombs are often looking for a cheap solution to their problem. In most cases these cheap solutions are not nearly as effective as hiring an exterminator that can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars for a basic inspection and removal. Using do it yourself methods such as removing all of your clothes and sheets from a room and washing them, vacuuming out all of the corners of a bed and mattress, and careful inspecting the mattress of bed bugs are much more effective than using bombs.
While exterminators are going to be the most effective means to eliminate a bed bug problem, there are other methods that are available. Just keep in mind that bug bombs or foggers are not effective in treating bed bugs. Any insecticides used will need to be applied on the specific areas that are affected with bed bugs.
[If you are looking to remove bed bugs from your home read this article for bed bug treatments]
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