Bed bugs: everything you need to know to get rid of them

Anyone can get a bedbug infestation in their home. Bed bugs do not mean lack of hygiene. They travel with people and can end up anywhere!

In its July 2023 report, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Labor Safety (ANSES) recommended that some households be financially supported to cover the costs associated with their eradication. It also recommends that professionals and individuals favor alternative methods of control to chemical insecticides.

How to eradicate bedbugs?

• The first step is to meticulously aspirate all surfaces to capture parasites and their eggs.
• Then clean the vacuum cleaner conduit, remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner and place it in another closed plastic bag that will be disposed of in an outdoor garbage can (to avoid contaminating other places).
• Clean all laundry in a machine at a minimum temperature of 55 °C. If you do not have a washing machine, you can put your clothes in a freezer at - 17 °C for at least 72 hours.
• Whenever possible, purchase a high temperature dry steam appliance (at least 120°C) to clean all corners and fabrics of your home.

Practical advice on holiday or daily

• Favor non-chemical methods such as dry heat treatment (equipment that can be rented) or freezing.
• When you arrive at your holiday destination, do not open your suitcases immediately, take a walk around the room to check for any signs of bedbugs.
• Don't put your suitcases on your bed. Favor high corners or the bathroom, away from the sleeping area.
• Leave your closed luggage when you don’t have to take anything.
• If you buy used furniture, examine it and clean it thoroughly with a hot steam appliance. Avoid buying used mattresses.
• If you buy second-hand clothes, it is strongly advised to carry them in a sealed bag and to wash at 60 °C before use.

Where do they come from and how do we recognize them?

These parasites are most commonly caused by transporting clothing and luggage during travel or by moving furniture. When you travel or buy second-hand clothes or furniture, be careful!

Bedbugs are accustomed to hiding in various nooks and crannies, such as bases, mattresses, sofas, cracks, and electrical outlets. Drawn to the blood, they usually get close to where you sleep and wait until nightfall to appear.

They are between 4 and 7 mm in adult age and are therefore visible to the naked eye, such as an apple seed, brown or reddish in color. They don't jump.

They are rarely visible because they leak light but leave traces to detect their presence (including feces that resemble small black or brown spots, or blood spots if crushed overnight). Their bite is characterized by small, sometimes irritating pimples, usually on areas that are left to air when sleeping (the legs or arms).