FAQ: Killing bed bugs with steam
Steam can be used to kill bed bugs on contact. Many professionals use steam, often before applying residual pesticides and dusts, and sometimes in lieu of pesticides (where necessary). You can also use steam yourself, but we recommend doing your research. This FAQ provides information, links to further information, and examples of tools.
WARNING:
- If you plan to steam but are being treated by a pest control professional (which we recommend), you must clear this with them before using steam, and about when and where it is safe and useful for you to steam. If you steam without clearing it with your PCO, you may clean away or render useless pesticide and dust treatments that have already been applied!
- Besides, obviously, being hot enough to burn you, steaming has potential dangers related to the vaporization of chemicals; it can also cause mold growth. Read the overview below and the recommended resources and take precautions in order to avoid harming yourself and your family.
Essential information on technique for killing bed bugs with steam can be found in the following articles:
- The article “Killing Them Softly” provides essential tips. (Most important: use the larger head on the steamer nozzle; Dr. Potter et. al. note that the smaller heads can simply spread live bed bugs around–very bad news.)
- More technical tips from Stephen Doggett’s Bed Bug Code of Practice, 2nd Ed. The steam section is on pages 26-28.
- Forum discussions tagged as “steam” and “steamers” may also be useful for fellow Bedbuggers’ experiences with steam.
Overview of advice culled from professional articles and forum discussions on killing bed bugs with steam:
- Several of our members feel that steam is useful in the fight against bed bugs.
- Do your research before using steam (see links above).
- Steam is a contact killer that can kill bugs and eggs.
- Dry steam is of the utmost importance: all steam methods increases the likelihood of mold growing in the home, but steamers labeled as producers of “dry steam” significantly reduce the mold potential.
- You can steam most furniture, floors, baseboards, walls, ceiling, etc.
- Do not try to steam electrical outlets.
- Many PCOs offer steam services, or you can steam your home yourself as a complement to what your PCO is doing—but you should coordinate with the PCO about it.
- Heat may break down the chemicals the PCO is using, thus undermining their residual effect. (Some PCOs use steam only and no pesticides. This is a choice you need to make for your own treatment.)
- You should wear a respirator as noted in this article (click for PDF). Truthfully, we should be wearing respirators any time we paint a wall or handle any chemicals like pesticides, herbicides or bleach. But steam, specifically, is going to vaporize any chemicals on surfaces, be they pesticide or household cleaning products, etc. PLEASE NOTE: the respirator is not the same as a basic dust mask. It is specifically labeled for “paint and pesticide vapors.” I was able to purchase one at my local hardware store for 30 bucks.
- Temperature is important. Steam at 120 F must hit bed bugs directly. (Editor’s note: Does 120F provide an instant kill?) If you are purchasing a steamer, the manufacturer should list a temperature at the tip of being over 200F. It may also be possible to purchase an infrared thermometer (aka infrared laser thermometer) to check your steamer temperature at tip. Stephen Doggett’s Revised Bed Bug Code of Practice (see above) says:
As with all equipment, the steam machine must be properly maintained and the operating temperatures should be regularly checked with the aid of an infrared thermometer. Immediately after steam treatment the surface should be recording at least a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees C (=158 to 176 degrees F)
- Steam is dangerously hot. Don’t forget to stay focused and safe.
- Steam should be used as one piece of the integrated pest management puzzle. Professional pest control assistance and coordination with your landlords and neighbors (if applicable) is still essential.
Key things to look for in a steamer:
- Dry Steam
- Heat at the tip is >200F degrees per manufacturer
- Large water chamber to cut down on starts and stops in process
- A decent length of cord (or purchase an extension cord)
- A good warranty on the boiler
This is the White Wing Steamer
This is the Reliable T730a
This is the Reliable T630 Enviromate Steam Cleaner
The Reliable T630’s price has gone up — sometimes on par with the White Wing.
Here’s a new dry vapor steam cleaner in the $300 price range the Vapamore MR-100. At least one Forums user has reported positively on the Vapamore, and the specifications look good. As a bonus, Amazon has it as of this writing (12/2009) for $300 with free shipping.
Other steamers recommended by forum participants included:
Amerivap (specifically the Amerivap Steamax line which runs about $400-500)
Rowenta Pro Compact
Readers often ask about dry vapor steamer rentals. It looks like the firm Simplex in Québec rents the Polti VAP 2000, which looks to be a dry vapor steamer, for $46 CAN per weekend. wchicago reports that Clark-Devon Hardware in Chicago rents out the White Wing Steamer.
We’d welcome tips on other sources of professional dry vapor steamer rentals worldwide.
Mangycur used an AO R95 paint / pesticide respirator mask from her hardware store. This appears to be the same model.
This is a similar pesticide respirator mask from 3M.
Collette, a reader, shared her success story about using steam to get bed bugs out of her home.You can read it here.
Many thanks to Mangycur who wrote most of this FAQ, providing the helpful and succinct overview, suggestions about shopping for a steamer, and information about respirator use above.
Thanks also to everyone else who contributed information to this FAQ, including hopelessnomo, needtosleep, bugbasher, pleasehelp, Winston O. Buggy, Lieutenantdan, and S.
Please add additional links, suggestions, corrections in the comments below.
Update (11/2009):
Here’s a video from Bed Bug Central’s Jeff White on using steam to kill bed bugs:
And here’s a second video from Jeff White, about how to determine if your steamer is effective in killing bed bugs:
Similar Posts:
- WPRI 12 News on bed bugs, pesticide resistance, and alternative bed bug treatments
- Can you fight bed bugs without pesticides?
- more on bed bugs in New Haven: they’re only using steam cleaning?!?
- Bed bug news round-up (New Jersey is notably silent)
- Bed Bug Success Stories: Collette and a professional steamer
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Great job, Mangy and Nobugs!
Thanks, hopelessnomo– and thanks for your endlessly helpful forum contributions, which in this FAQ include the Potter et. al. article and pointing us towards steamer rentals in Québec.
Thank you for the information. I just found out we had bedbugs yesterday(in our complex the building we were in was the only free one, guess not anymore) and let’s just say its been an adventure.
I have a garment steamer and steamed my mattress last night(which i actually do on a regular basis, steam plumps old foam back up just an fyi for those old couch cushions!) and it wasn’t a HORRIBLE infestation that I could tell, but i’m glad to find out that it can help.
Does anyone know if this steam product is dry or wet vapor?
Shark Steam Blaster:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396676585&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443291816&bmUID=1223394263735&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
Thank you
Has anyone ever used this?
Euroflex Monster SuperClean SC60-S Steam Cleaner
http://www.amazon.com/Euroflex-Monster-SuperClean-SC60-S-Cleaner/dp/B0015GRSL2/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_4
Does anyone know where to rent dry steam cleaners in NJ?
gonebugcrazy,
Sorry, no. But if you find a source, please let us know.
I guess I will have to go into more debt to get one. Do you know of anywhere to buy them instead of amazon.com so I could get one quickly?
gonebugcrazy,
I have not shopped in brick and mortar stores for dry vapor steamers. I would decide which one you want and call the manufacturer (you should be able to google the company for the number) and ask about local retailers.
August. Now I have morgellons disease. Been told by 4 doctors I have delusional parasitosisor scabies. They are in my nose freaky blue and red streaks on my skin and man I am infested inside and out. I sllep maybe 24 hrs a week lost 20 lbs,weigh 95 now.worse summer and fall ever…I have had the worst summer and fall of my life. My neighbor told me when she was moving that there was an outbreak of lice, scabies and bedbugs at her complex. Great! i was in her car 2 weeks prior and those critters which I didn’t even know existed took over my apt. cat, bed, bathroom and I swear they were,in my frickin’ fridge. My cat was messed up went 2 vet for 2 weeks when it was being sprayed. I got sprayed 3 times at 2 week intervals. I put my stuff in storage and have been staying with A FRIEND ever since end of
The bugs are worse when in front of computer and tv. Certain food makes them come alive..don’t eat carbs or fruit or sadly my only fun a few mos back during this hell….booze : > (
Get an H2o mop man, if u order off tv u get a great little handheld steamer. $100.oo hell they’re 100 alone here at walmart. might as well get the greoovy little steamer too!
biteme said, “The bugs are worse when in front of computer and tv. Certain food makes them come alive..don’t eat carbs or fruit or sadly my only fun a few mos back during this hell….booze”
biteme, this does NOT sound like bed bugs to me. Have you had your problem identified as bed bugs?
And re: Steamers, per the FAQ:
“Temperature is important. … If you are purchasing a steamer, the manufacturer should list a temperature at the tip of being over 200F. It may also be possible to purchase an infrared thermometer (aka infrared laser thermometer) to check your steamer temperature at tip.”
A lot of the cheaper steamers do not hit such temps. I suspect floor steamers/mops are among them. You simply don’t need the 200 degree F temps to clean floors. You do need the output to be at about 200 F to hit the bed bugs with high enough heat to kill them.
Added parenthetical query and reference to Doggett on measuring the surface temps. after steaming, to this section:
Temperature is important. Steam at 120 F must hit bed bugs directly. (Editor’s note: Does 120F provide an instant kill?) If you are purchasing a steamer, the manufacturer should list a temperature at the tip of being over 200F. It may also be possible to purchase an infrared thermometer (aka infrared laser thermometer) to check your steamer temperature at tip. Stephen Doggett’s Revised Bed Bug Code of Practice (see above) says:
A couple of ideas to add
Some respirators will have removable filter cartridges. The apppropriate filter cartridge will say “Organic Vapor” (OV) on the side. Ideally there should be a P100 filter ahead of the OV cartridge. (P100 / OV)
A highly experienced PCO I know recommends Amerivap steamers.
Dry steam refers to a hotter steam with a lower moisture content that is produced by steam units that utilize a pressure tank design to raise the nozzle temps.
Thanks Doug!
are there any good steamers for under or around $200?
afraidtosleepinmybed22,
Experts recommend dry vapor steamers because regular (non-dry vapor) steamers are more likely to cause mold problems. Mold can be very serious and can cause health problems. The cheapest dry vapor steamer we’ve seen recommended is the Reliable T630 which we’ve seen advertised as low as $399 (shipping included):
Reliable T630 Enviromate Steam Cleaner with 11-Piece Accessory Kit
People have used less expensive (non-dry vapor) steamers, but mold can be an issue. Some models also may not emit steam which is hot enough.
Nobugsonme,
Hi! Thanks for your reply. I’ve got another question. That model that you mentioned, where is it made (concerned about recall of products made in China)? How long do those steamers last?
Nobugsonme,
Got another question. Since these 200 degree reaching steamers are a pretty big investment, what other jobs around the house can they be used for other than aiming heat where BB might be hanging out? (Wanna make sure I’ll be getting my money’s worth–I’m a poor college student.)
Nobugsonme,
Two more questions. How often should the steam be applied? Are these machines made to be used in a daily manner or to they tend to break after a while?
I read a bunch of reviews on the reliable t630 steam cleaner, and a few others on a steam cleaner site. The website says the t630 is made in Italy, they’ve also got one that can be used all day called the t730a, it’s got a continuous refill feature. The main complaint on both of them seems to be the small brushes wear quickly, but they offer additional ones on the website.
afraidtosleepinmybed,
I apologize for not responding sooner.
Killing them Softly and the Bed Bug Code of Practice (both linked to in the FAQ above) provide more details on how long and how steam should be applied.
As for longevity, we have not had reports back on how long these machines last. However, I think daily steaming is probably overkill. Even dry vapor steams could cause mold problems (though probably not nearly as easily as a non-dry vapor steamer). If you are treating for bed bugs, steaming carefully once a week with a dry vapor steamer might be something to aim for.
Here’s something that’s working for us. Caulking. Every space where the wall meets the floor.
Take off molding, spray, caulk- replace molding then caulk again
S-C
hey guys listen this steam cleaner is the best steam cleaner if your tryna fight bed bugs …. instead of buying the 500 $ top of the stuff. Just buy that one and invest your money into some good pesticide and covers for your bed. Come on ppl dont u guys have degrees. lol Bed buys die @ 120 this goes 2 266 degrees.
write me back and tell me how much of a good help i was, like some kid from brooklyn put me on thank you james………
HI James,
The steamer you linked to, the Monster SC60, will probably kill bed bugs just fine — the key to this is hitting the right temperature.
The problem is that many steamers can cause mold and other damp-related problems, which can be very serious and damaging to home and health (worse than bed bugs, even!)
We recommend “dry vapor” steamers. The seller on AMAZON is listing this item as a “dry steamer.” Is it really a “dry vapor” steamer? We do not know at this time. We would welcome more information from the manufacturer, but could not easily find it online.
I was just told by a PCO to get a steamer… he said, “you can get one for $80″ … just use water and alcohol. I take it the $80 -$150 steamers are the non-dry ones and the $400-$500 are probably the dry vapor ones. It makes sense, the one that is better cost a lot more =)
But my question is, w/ a steamer do you always use water + alcohol? Could using alcohol in a non-dry vapor steamer make it a little more dry in the end because alcohol is a drying agent?
never_again,
Please read the section of the FAQ above entitled “Essential Information” — I think These resources will provide you with better advice than your particular PCO. I am not sure why your PCO recommends filling a steamer with alcohol. 91% alcohol is a contact kill. But so is steam.
I just read the FAQ and there wasn’t any info pertaining to my question about alcohol + steamers. Different strokes for different folks? Not to rock the boat, but it sounds like combining alcohol with water would make a make an even more effective contact killer and help to dry the water faster. Maybe its not conventional, but is there proof that it won’t be equally/more effective? or possibly make non-dry steamers a little ‘dryer?’ I can see that using it on wooden floors or beds would probably ruin the varnish, but that doesn’t stop you from clothing and mattresses and couches.
never_again,
If you read the resources under “Essential Information” above (“Killing them Softly” and Stephen Doggett’s suggestions), you are looking at the recommendations of the world’s experts on killing bed bugs with steam. Hot dry vapor steam is a perfectly effective contact killer and does not need improving on with the addition of alcohol.
It’s not about rocking the boat, you are of course free to do as you wish, but I can’t advise on whether it will work well, and not damage anything. I would personally not try and improve on these experts’ recommendations with additions such as alcohol. Why bother?
Okay I got a question for you guys…. my low rise building has been completely 100% pest free… a woman moved into the vacant unit upstairs only 1 week ago and I have now seen several cochraches and now tonight caught an evil little critter i identified via web pic as a bed bug!
What is the likelyhood that the new neighbour and the new pests are related? do they even travel that quickly?
I don’t think anyone can say whether bed bugs came from your new neighbor.
It is fully possible that you had bed bugs in your apartment for a while and never saw one or felt a bite — they hide easily and very well, are rarely seen, and many people receive no reaction to their bites.
Since this is off topic in a FAQ about steam, let’s please continue this conversation in our Bedbugger Forums!
how the hell do you get rid of these bed bugs
for free
ashly,
That’s not easy.
Depending where you live, if you rent, the landlord may be responsible for treatment.
In any case, please come to the forums to discuss this further: http://bedbugger.com/forum/
Added Jeff White’s BBCTV episodes on using steam to kill bed bugs and evaluating the bed bug-killing effectiveness of your steam cleaner.
For those who arent ready to blow $500 on a steamer. 200F is not necessary, test for yourself. Hot Tap water in bucket, throw in a bug, see if it dies on contact. Test temperature with thermometer. Hot tap water is usually 120 or less. Better yet, catch a bug, put in jar, test your cheap steamer to see if it does the trick. If not, return it. Also, who cares about potential mold when youve got real bedbugs. One problem at a time.
Sorry, Mike, but you’re wrong. A $500 steamer may not be necessary, but hot tap water (or even boiling water) is not the same.
First of all, mold is a real and serious problem both for your health and for the value of your property. Look into mold remediation (which is not DIY!) and you will learn about what a mess a little (or a lot of) extra water can do to your living environment.
Dry vapor steamers make it possible to kill bed bugs with steam and with less water being applied (especially if you use the technique experts recommend of a towel on the steam wand).
Secondly, 120 F does kill bed bugs. But when you’re applying 120 F to the surface of things, you have to understand the bed bugs living in the crevice or under the surface are not encountering killing temperatures. And remember also that 120 F water does not stay 120 F for very long. You’d have a hard time applying water at killing temps to your home.
Experts such as Jeff White recommend steamers which emit steam at over 180 F and the closer to 200 F the better, so that you have a good chance of bed bugs being killed.
My points are: 1) 200F is overkill; 2) cheaper steamers will reach killing temperatures; 3) dont believe everything people tell you, especially “experts”, you should test things on your own, particularly if its easy and cheap to do so.
The bucket of water mentioned above was a temperature test to highlight that even an acute (1sec) exposure to ~110-120F will kill a bedbug on contact. The more affordable steamers have temperature outputs much greater than this. Much greater. If concern is with losing heat in crevices (which applies to all steamers), i dont know how deep and gaping your crevices are, but people having common sense will judge if sealing those with filling or using the steamer is sufficient.
As for the mold issue, youre right, moisture can enhance mold growth.. In fact i hear a lot of things require water to grow. And i hear water comes from places other than steamers. Most people are not idiots. As long as you dont steam the crap out of your drywall or curtains so that its sagging under its supports, you wont have a problem. Thats the beauty of water, it evaporates.
Dont spend $500 needlessly. Do your own test at home and determine for yourself if a $40 walmart steamer will suit your needs.
Mike, your test does not prove much of anything. You don’t need a bucket of 120 F tap water to kill a bed bug you’re looking at; your shoe or the back of your hand will do it.
I thought we were having a discussion on the temperature of steam needed to kill bedbugs, and therefore the requirements of purchasing a $500 steamer. Some have argued that the more affordable steamers do not produce steam with enough heat to kill the bugs, and hence you should buy the $500 steamer.
If this is indeed the discussion, then clearly an issue for debate is: what is the required heat to kill bedbugs? Follow so far? How would you test that. Would you set your house on fire and measure the internal temperature, or perhaps shove a dirty bug in your oven or frying pan. No. For obvious reasons, those experiments are not feasible.
I elected to dip a bug in a bucket of hot water. The water temperature you can control (meaning you can test a range of temperatures), remains relatively stable and can be easily measure with a thermometer. Am I making sense to you? The purpose of the water, again, is to test the effect of elevated temperature on the viability of a bedbug. Viability means whether or not it lives or dies.
So now comes the conclusion. Bedbugs upon contact with 110-120F water (or 110-120F steam or 110-120F chocolate pudding or anything of that temperature) will die.
Mike, love the last sentence, for some reason, i picture Andrew Zimmern dining on scolding hot, chocolate pudding dipped, bed bugs soon! I appreciate you knowledge though, am hoping to test the oven out soon, don’t really have ANY more $$ for something like the packtite, so am only taking with us, what i can boil or burn(burn as in the dryer, high heat for at least an hour) but basically boiling water is instant death?… they don’t need to be exposed to boiling water for a certain amount of time, correct? it’s instant?
As for using the oven in leu of the packtite, 120 degrees in the oven for how long? the packtite cycle is 4hrs from the videos i’ve seen, would i need that amount of treatment time, if for example i am trying to do it for my fiances work boots?
ANy advice is appreciated.
Sara, its good to know that there are still people in the ether who can read and understand the topic of a discussion.
Dont use the oven on anything you put alot of value in. The temperature is hard to control and you can easily end up burning whatever you put in it. As with a turkey, youll also find that heat from an oven will not penetrate thick materials very easily (ex. folded linens and folded clothes) and can burn the outside while leaving the middle still cool. I think work boots would be ok, only because its made with durable leather and the air can circulate inside the shell to acheive a uniform temperature.
Scalding water will kill a bug on contact. These bugs and their eggs are small enough that brief contact to scalding water will equalize their innards to the same temperature, cooking their innards and busting their vessels. Although a full bathtub of scalding water can sterilize many items, it is not easy or fun to wring dry everything once youre done.
Steam is great cuz its not messy and it has good penetrating power. You can also use it to clean things that bug poison cant get at. The issue up for debate was what temperature output is sufficient to do the trick, and therfore if buying a $500 steamer is necessary. For clothes and linens, i would recommend using a hot iron with the steam setting on. My clothes dryer is a piece of crap, so i have nothing to say about that technique.
Added wchicago’s suggestion for a White Wing rental in Chicago (Clark-Devon Hardware). Thanks wchicago!