Pesticides alone, or the use of any single method, will not eliminate bed bugs. Pest Away utilizes a multiple of necessary methods as part of its highly evolved bed bug strategy.  It gets more complex when the infestation is in multiple unit facilities like apartments, shelters, dormitories, group homes, and hotels. The following are needed for effective bed bug control:

• Cooperation of landlord, management, and resident to focus on the problem
  
• Identification of the source (especially if bed bugs are moving from an adjacent room or apartment unit)
  
• Thorough inspection of the facility and identification of all possible hiding spots
  
• Use of intense dry steam system in all affected areas
  
• Reducing clutter in the home
  
• Bagging and removal of bedding and clothing from the affected area
  
• Washing sheets and blankets and drying on HOT setting
  
• Encasing the mattress and box spring in a zippered encasement
  
• Washing or treating the headboard and bed frame
  
• Cleaning and removing bed bugs from other items
  
• Isolating the cleaned (bed bug free) items until bed bugs are gone
  
• Careful and targeted use of insecticides, following label instructions
  
• Inspection and treatment of all surrounding adjacent units
  
• Follow up inspections and all other procedures as needed (there should be at
  
• At least one follow up inspection treatment 10-14 days after initial treatment)

Controlling bed bugs is a difficult and time and money consuming activity. However, bed bugs can be eliminated with a coordinated effort that includes cooperation of the residents and landlord or property management. There is no single tool or activity that, used alone, will eliminate bed bugs, including pesticides. Multiple techniques are always required because bed bugs are small, good at hiding, and can live without feeding for up to a year and a half. In some cases, bed bugs are resistant to the pesticides used against them, meaning that many will survive treatment. The reduction of household clutter is absolutely necessary for fighting bed bugs. Despite the challenges, Pest Away has diligently worked to maintain cutting edge techniques via training, experience, knowledge, and innovation. It is crucial to do everything possible to avoid spreading bed bugs to new locations.

• Physical removal of bed bugs and eggs using a qualified bagged canister vacuum.
  
• Barriers, such as mattress encasements and sticky barriers (sticky traps may be useful for monitoring but will not help control bed bugs)
  
• Steam (to kill all life stages)
  
• Heat (to kill all life stages
• Eliminate bed bug hiding spots

1 Fix peeling wallpaper and paint
2 Caulk or seal cracks and crevices around the room and on furniture
3 Seal floors or the spaces between floor boards or tiles
4 Make other repairs to the living area to reduce hiding spots

• Chemical applications

  1 Low risk pesticides
  2 Professional use pesticides
  3 Professional fumigation

• Prevention of reinfestation
  It is important to consider that a bed bug infestation in a living area (bedroom, apartment, dormitory room, shelter room or unit) might spread to adjacent units or those located below, above or to the sides. This is especially true if the population is high or if pesticides are used in the original unit. Adjacent units should be inspected and if bed bugs are found or residents notice bites, they should be treated as if infested.