Do you imagine the nightmare of having bed bugs for months, even after you’ve called a professional exterminator? We’ve recently received a call from a client who was in this exact situation. They’ve called pest control technicians, who came and sprayed the property three times, but the infestation has only got worse. This is not the first time people have called us after unsuccessful attempts to get rid of bed bugs in their homes, but this case is particularly interesting. So much so, that it can serve as a study of how complex an infestation can be and how even the use of professional pest control products is not a guarantee of successful bed bug removal unless it is used by an experienced exterminator.
So, what happened?
A few weeks ago, our client called to schedule an inspection with us. As you can imagine, they were exhausted: they couldn’t sleep, they were anxious to even stay home. They have used the services of another company, spent money three times, and got nowhere. After the spray treatments, the problem actually got worse. They no longer knew who to trust, but it was obvious they needed to try one more time with a different company.
We quickly realised that this case could not wait, so we set up an emergency inspection of their property. It was a one-bedroom flat, so as soon as our technician arrived, he started from the bedroom. He immediately found marks of droppings on the client’s mattress, but no other visible signs of a bed bug infestation. At that point, a less experienced exterminator might have stopped there. However, our technician knew that with persistent infestations like this, finding droppings on the bed but no live insects could only mean that the infestation had spread elsewhere.
Bed bugs feed on us while we sleep, but they don’t always stay on the bed and mattress. They prefer to stick nearby, so our technician continued inspecting the rest of the bedroom. Soon enough, he started finding bed bugs on the back of the bedside cabinets and the wardrobe, on the framed pictures on the walls, and even on the curtains!
We gave 2 options
It was clear that our client was dealing with a serious infestation – the more we looked, the more proof we found that the bed bugs had reached every area of the flat. Usually, we abstain from giving any extreme advice, but in this case, it was clear that our client desperately needed this problem solved asap. We explained that they have two options – either throw away all their furniture and go for the steam and spray treatment one more time, or try the heat treatment. The heat treatment is extremely effective, but it is not the least expensive option, and we never impose it if the problem can be solved with steam and spray. Realising that the 3 previous treatments hadn’t solved his problem and that the scale of the infestation was too great, our client decided to save his property (and his sanity) and book the heat treatment.
Preparation and successful bed bug treatment
Many people ignore our preparation tips or forget some part of them, but this client has followed our instructions to the letter. They cleaned and decluttered their home, and have sorted out and washed all of their clothing and bedding at 60°C before the service.
Everything was ready for us, so when we came, we placed our equipment strategically and switched it on. The results did not disappoint – the high temperature during the heat treatment literally baked all bed bugs and their eggs from all areas of the flat, including the living room sofa, where the bed bug infestation had seemingly spread to. The client was very happy and even left a long 5-star review. We won’t hide that cases like that make us proud of our job – there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing you solved a problem that has been bugging someone for months!
Why the initial treatments didn’t do the job in this particular case:
After we finished the treatment and the client later confirmed the infestation was gone, our technician couldn’t help thinking about this case. In pest control, there are a lot of factors that can affect the outcome of the treatment. We are not saying that the previous company did everything wrong. We can’t know exactly what happened before we were called, as we only have our clients’ account of the events. However, given everything we know about this case, there were a few reasons the previous treatments have struggled to put a stop to the infestation.
The inspection may not have been thorough enough
By the time we were called to this property, bed bugs had spread well beyond the bedroom, even though there had already been three appointments with another pest control company. That made us think the full extent of the infestation may not have been identified during the earlier visits. A thorough inspection depends on the technician’s experience and recognising when something doesn’t quite add up. A skilled bed bug exterminator won’t stop after checking the bed – they’ll keep searching until they’re confident they’ve identified the full extent of the infestation.
At the same time, some people feel uneasy discussing their bed bug problem, others are often in a hurry to get back to work or simply don’t realise that seemingly minor details could help identify the source and extent of the infestation. As a result, they may forget to mention previous sightings or overlook subtle signs that could help the technician.
Whatever the reason, if the inspection doesn’t reveal every active bed bug harbourage, even the right treatment may struggle to eliminate the infestation completely. When you call a pest control company, allow enough time for the technician to thoroughly inspect the property. Make sure to answer their questions and recall as many details as possible about the infestation. It can even be helpful to write down everything you’ve noticed beforehand, from obvious signs like bite marks or dead bed bugs to more subtle clues such as unusual odours or rust-coloured spots on bedding. An experienced exterminator should take the time to inspect all potential bed bug hiding spots, ask questions and examine the entire property, not just the bedroom.
The treatment approach may not have matched the scale of the infestation
One important lesson from this case is that choosing the right treatment is more important than simply repeating the same treatment. While spray treatments are very effective in the right circumstances, larger infestations can be more challenging, especially if there are undiscovered harbourages. If the exterminators don’t treat all of the affected areas, the bed bugs spread further into furniture, other rooms, or even neighbouring properties.
Successful pest control also means monitoring the property after the treatment. If there are still signs of bed bug activity, the situation must be reassessed. An experienced professional would consider whether a different approach would be more appropriate than simply repeating the same treatment over and over.
The preparation may not have been sufficient
Just as we can’t know exactly how the previous inspections were conducted or why the earlier treatment strategy didn’t solve the problem, we also don’t know how the property was prepared before those visits. However, we do know that when bed bugs have access to clutter, luggage stored under the bed, piles of books or other undisturbed hiding places, they have many more opportunities to escape treatment and continue spreading throughout the property. Preparation plays a crucial role in bed bug treatment, so it’s likely that it also influenced the outcome of previous treatments.
Washing clothing and bedding at high temperatures is essential, but it is only one step. Decluttering the property and following all preparation instructions from your pest control company gives the treatment the best possible chance of reaching every bed bug harbourage. After the first visit from our technician, the client trusted our advice, prepared the property exactly as requested, and together we were finally able to eliminate an infestation that had already survived three previous treatments.
Every bed bug infestation is different, which is why there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. If you’re struggling to get rid of bed bugs despite previous treatments you can contact us – we’d be happy to assess the situation and help you find the most effective way forward.
Author:
Todor Uzunov
Todor Uzunov is an Insect Control Entomologist at Bed Bug Specialist, with extensive hands-on experience in identifying, treating, and preventing a wide range of insect infestations. He holds a BPCA Level 2 qualification in Pest Management and is trained to provide safe, effective, and professional pest control solutions for both residential and commercial properties.
