Bed Bugs

Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Question

Answer

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are a very small (poppy seed size to ¼ inch) wingless insect. Adult bed bugs have reddish brown oval flattened bodies. They feed mostly at night on the blood of people and animals. Bed bugs do not jump or fly and are not known to carry disease. Anyone can get bed bugs. Infestations are not tied to unsanitary living conditions. 

How are bed bugs spread?

Bed bugs can be found anywhere including homes, motels, movie theaters, transportation vehicles, and restrooms. They may be moved in clothing, suitcases, furniture and other personal items. They can move between attached living quarters such as apartments and are known to move between stand alone homes. They move quickly and hide in cracks and crevices of furniture, walls and wallpaper, seams of mattresses and more. Bed bugs like fabric and wood, not metal or plastic. They generally hide during the daytime due to the light and are active at night.

How can bed bugs be prevented?

It may not be possible to prevent bed bugs from entering your home since they are so small and can be carried in on clothing, etc. Recommendations include:

  • Washing bedding and mattress pads at least weekly.

  • Steam clean mattresses at regular intervals.

  • Clean furnishings, especially upholstered furniture.

  • Remove debris from around the outside of the home.

  • Repair cracks in walls, caulk windows and doors.

  • Don’t pick up used furniture put out for garbage.

  • If purchasing used furniture, inspect closely for any signs of bed bug penetration, bed bug droppings, bed bug eggs, or bed bug casings from hatched eggs.

How you check for bed bugs?

Bed bugs tend to proliferate in sleeping areas because they like to hide close to where they feed. Look for the appearance of small rusty spots on mattresses and bed linens. These are bed bug droppings and blood spots. Bed bugs move from the mattress and bed linens to the bed frames. As they continue to multiply, they can be found in baseboards, window and door casings, pictures and picture frames, loosened wallpaper, cracks in plaster and in upholstered furniture.

Additional places to look for bed bugs include:

  • Along and under the edge of carpet (behind beds and furniture)

  • In hardwood floors (check corners and cracks)

  • In switch plates and outlets

  • In clothing stored in closets and drawers

  • Inside clocks, phones, TV’s and smoke detectors

Bed Bug Bites:

Bed bugs bite humans and animals for blood meals. Red itchy welts, bed bug bites, can also be an indication of infestation. Common areas of the body for bed bug bites are arms and shoulders.

Treatment of bed bug bites includes:

  • Resist the urge to scratch. Scratching may only intensify the itch and cause infection.

  • Wash the bites with antiseptic soap to reduce the risk of infection.

  • Apply an ice pack frequently to help relieve swelling of the bug bite.

  • See your health care provider if you develop an infection.

Health Services Navigation

Information

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MTHCS Bedbug Inspection Guidelines 8450 A

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MTHCS Bedbug Guidelines 8450A

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Know the Facts Hamilton County Public Health Department

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Treatment of Bed Bug Infestations:

  • Contact the Hamilton County Public Health Department at (513)946-7832 and ask for a Sanitarian.

  • If you rent a home or an apartment and think that you have bed bugs, you should call your landlord about the problem (and the Health Department).

  • All apartments in a building with bed bugs need to be checked and treated.

  • Consult a Certified Pest Control Operator.

  • Inspection and treatment for bed bugs should be done by a licensed Pest Control person/company who has knowledge and experience treating bed bugs.

  • Pesticides alone will not eliminate the bed bugs. It is also necessary to scrub surfaces with eggs and use heat to kill eggs and bed bugs.

  • Reduce the amount of clutter to achieve a good treatment and eliminate hiding places.

  • Brushing, vacuuming and steam cleaning of infested mattresses and pillows is effective in killing bed bugs living in seams and buttons. Dispose vacuumed contents in a sealed plastic bag. The brush should be a very stiff bristle brush.

  • To treat a bed, take apart the bed and spray the slats, springs, and frame with an insecticide; apply enough to wet them thoroughly. Use only a household residual insecticide product labeled for bedding control.

  • Coat the legs of the bed with petroleum jelly or two-sided tape, set the legs in a dish of olive oil, or set the legs in empty cans or jars so that the bed bugs will not climb onto the bed. Bed bugs do not fly or jump.

  • Cover mattresses with cotton covers and box springs with plastic covers. These covers should have the zipper area taped with a strong secure tape the entire length of the zipper.

  • Wash bedding and garments in hot (120 degrees F) water.

  • Put clothing in a dryer for at least five minutes to kill bed bugs.

  • To treat carpet, vacuuming will not be enough. Any live bed bugs should be sprayed with 90% undiluted alcohol. Also, the carpet will need to be steam cleaned at a temperature of at least 120 degrees F.

  • Spray bed bugs with 90% undiluted alcohol (use a small plastic spray bottle) in between professional treatments.

  • It may take as many as 5 or more treatments to gain control of a bed bug infestation.

  • Do-it-yourself measures are often unsuccessful and do not eliminate the bed bug problem. This is not recommended as the bed bugs continue to multiply and the problem becomes increasingly worse.

  • Any infested furniture or belongings that are thrown out due to bed bug infestation should be tightly wrapped and clearly marked.