North East Bed Bug Forum

Killing bed bugs, their eggs, and other insects in their entirety is not that hard if you use the most effective procedure, it’s elevated temperature. Temperatures above 120°F will kill most insects, including bed bugs provided they cannot escape to a cooler location. The advantage of steam is that heating is intense and immediate, which kills insects, bed bugs and eggs on contact.

Vapor steamers can be used for bed bug and insect treatment and they tend to be very effective. These vapor steamers are just like those used for sanitizing floor drains except they use less water vapor. When killing insects and bed bugs with heat, the less moisture used the better, especially when treating mattresses and other slow-drying materials. This helps minimize the chance that mold growth will occur.

It is important to have a commercial-grade vapor steamer with a water tank large enough to accommodate extended use between fill-ups. Most machines come with variable steam outputs and multiple attachments. Larger brush heads on the bed bug insect steamer usually work best where as smaller brush heads are less efficient and use too much pressure, causing insects, bed bugs and their eggs to be blown off whatever surface you are trying to elliminate them from. While some of the dislodged insects, bed bugs and their eggs may die, others could survive and be scattered here and there.
Causing the infestation to spread to other areas.

When using steam, it is important that the insects, bed bugs and their eggs be exposed to high enough leathal temperatures for an extended period of time. Ideally the steamer head should be moved directly over the surface being treated. if you hold the vapor steam head too far away from the surface you are trying to treat this will only give the bugs a warm moist bath kinda like a sauna bath. A good way to confirm that lethal temperatures are being achieved is to use a digital infrared thermometer. Instantaneous temperature readings can be had by pointing the device at the area just treated. If you don’t have a infrared thermometor to test the temperature of your insect vapor steamer, you can hold your hand several inches from the steam head and slowly and carefully move it closer. Vapor too hot to touch is what’s needed to kill insects, bed bugs and their eggs on contact. An effective way to further elevate the temperature of emitted vapor is to wrap the brush head of the steamer in a towel. A small hand towel works well and can be secured to the vapor steam head using clips or elastic bands to hold it in place. This technique produces vapor so hot that the steam head can now be moved quickly and efficaciously over infested and suspect areas. Using the towel method, lethal temperatures can be achieved several inches from the steam head, which can be useful when treating hard-to-reach areas (e.g., between cushions of upholstery or the framework of sofas and box springs). Towels that become overly moist can be replaced.

Steam can be used to treat almost any area where insects, bed bugs and their eggs are found or suspected. Places that you may want to use a vapor steam machine to kill the bed bugs and isects include beds, couches and recliners, baseboards and carpet edges, beneath and within nightstands and dressers and floor areas (especially under and around beds). Avoid treating finished wood surfaces or delicate items that might be damaged by high heat. Vacuums and especially steamers are useful when battling bed bugs. Neither, though, affords residual protection against bugs or eggs which may have been missed.