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Carpet Cleaning??
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badbugs
newbite
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 15:01:41
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Has anyone attempted steam cleaning their carpets in hopes of killing of the bugs? We are getting our apartment treated on Monday (second round...) and are looking for new techniques. we have wall to wall carpets and think the bugs are hiding in it. Would getting them cleaned 2 days after treatment just undo the effectiveness of whatever they spray??
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wantmyskinback
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 15:04:47
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I know you don't want to hear this...but i would remove all carpeting and polyurethane your floors afterwards with oil based laquer. The oil has petroleum distillates that kill bugs on contact and seal them into the wood cracks for a permament life/death sentence.
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BBsBlow
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 15:05:41
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I would say most likely yes. I remember having to wait 2 weeks (at least) between sprayings because they said that's how long it's effective for. I'd personally wait at least that long.
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lieutenantdan
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 15:55:02
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I would not steam right after the PCO sprays. I was also told not to use products like windex class cleaner because it consists of something that can break down the residual of the insecticide as well as do sunlight and humidity have some kind of neutralizing effect. I think that you could vacuum as much as possible before the next spray and then throw away the bags after you seal them in Ziplocks.
I recommend that you talk to your PCO and call around to other pest control companies and ask them that question.
Vacuum and vacuum some more.
Any other suggestions from the group?
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 16:05:04
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Personally ... I would not even vacuum for a while ...
The precautionary statements about sunlight probably refer to the pyrethrum/pyrethroid portion of the treatment.As far as steaming goes ... this is where a power steamer into the seams along the wals in the corners, woring inward otward the center of the room is best--I think--If you want something done right do it yourself. A decent tool for this can coost 30.00 or so.
The steamer was perhaps my best $$.$$ investment. I use it on the protected bed, (sealed in heavy plastic) in the corners of the ceilings ... and floor -
Fedupandparanoid
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 16:37:06
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I think this is something you have to definitely check with your PCO. I was told NOT to vacuum for a specified period of time. It must depend on what they use and how it works best.
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S
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 16:55:58
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Willow,
Regarding your steamer - have you seen it actually kill any bugs? I know you had lots of them. I only ask because my PCO recommended a much more expensive steamer that got up to 200+ degrees, and he was somewhat vehement about saying "It needs to be that hot."
My guess is that a $30 steamer wouldn't have the same high heat capabilities. However, if it still works to kill bedbugs, I would reconsider my investment. Can you please tell us if you've ACTUALLY SEEN IT KILL A BEDBUG or if you have just used it a lot on different areas of your house.
Sorry to be somewhat harsh-sounding, but in this bedbug world of uncertainty and speculation, I am seeking a straight-up, yes or no answer.
Have you seen it kill a bedbug?Badbugs,
After the PCO sprayed our rug end-to-end with Suspend, he said to let it dry for a day, then continue our vacuuming. That was a shag rug, which we ended up rolling up and sealing in a tarp and putting on our patio. We plan to steam it upon its return to our house (which may take another month or so, until I can feel brave enough to face it).
We have wall-to-wall in our bedroom, and he puffed dust under around the edges. He said to not vacuum in there. He also said that they probably wouldn't live on the surface of the carpet (ours is kinda thin) but would be underneath it, around the edges. Hence the dust.
Steaming after treatment would probably undo the effects of the chemical. I think both are good ideas - treatment will be residual and last longer, while steam will almost definitely kill all stages of bugs and eggs that are in the rug at the moment when they are steamed (though of course, no residual effect). I think it would be safest to do both - but to wait in between. How about waiting two weeks, as BBsBlow recommends.
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lieutenantdan
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 17:15:45
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I steamed a few hatched eggs that I had found back in January 2007, the steamer did nothing to the shell.
I spoke to a friend who is an Entomologist bed bug specialist and she told me that the steamer will kill the contents even though it does not effect the shell of the egg. My gut feelings are that the steam will kill the contents because the nozzle once touched my side and burned my skin and I was wearing a heavy cotton sweatshirt, I still have the scar. But no I did not have the opportunity of actually killing the contents again because the eggs were empty. My Entomologist friend also told me that the nymphs for an hour or two after they first hatch will not bite because the parts that they use are too soft to pierce your skin.
Hey remember back several months ago the buzz was that a hair dryer may kill a bug. Well I did try that once but all that happened was that the bug received a blow dry.
One thing that I do realize about steaming is that it does make me feel good.My best to all
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BBsBlow
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 17:26:05
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If y'all could humor me... I now have carpeting for the first time in my life. I vacuum every day and I have thought about the steam cleaning. But could someone let me know if steam cleaning is the same as carpet cleaning, or they're two separate processes?
Thanks!
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wantmyskinback
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 19:46:18
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Carpet cleaning may include some other chemicals and treatments such as "moisture repellants" and "scent repellents" (for people with pets so they don't continuously pee on the rug). I would do as S said...and dust with DE around the edges...but not vacuum there.... and then treat the rest of the rug with the insecticides the PCO will be laying down.
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 20:23:54
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I have seen a bed bug run so fast from steam it was likely injured S. there is no one word answer for you from me. on no wait ... I did kill one with steam. I had forgotten so, yes.
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 20:35:35
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oh yeah ... and I had all those nymph in the seam along the toilet and floor--the second time around they all came floating out dead ...
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 20:56:16
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but there is a difference between killig bed bugs in a shallow carpet and in a couch or box spring--there, in the latter, you'd need all the extra gumption a higher end model should posess.d
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Fri May 11 2007 22:03:01
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug
at the very bottom of this article post treatment carpet cleaning is discussed to a small degree -
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Posted 6 years ago
Sun May 13 2007 15:00:31
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Badbugs,
I would think steaming before the treatment would be less likely to be a problem for the chemical agents, but your PCO might have concerns about disturbing the BB's prior to treatment.
Keep in mind that most carpet cleaning machines are actually wet vacuum extraction systems that do not generate any steam.
The high end steamers produce hotter / drier steam with a pressure tank. This type of low moisture steam was recommended in an article I read. The better models allow for refilling while the tank is still pressurized. The temp drops quickly after leaving the nozzle, so I would think the hotter steam would have better penetration.
You need to be careful to not use so much moisture that you create a mold problem & keep in mind the warning from Lt Dan about burns.
Doug Summers MS
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willow-the-wisp
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Posted 6 years ago
Sun May 13 2007 15:34:13
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There is a problem with BLASTING the steam in that you could shoot a bed bug across the room,--this is why I only "blast" into the corners of a room a--because this is one place bed bugs tend to hide and b--the wall and the corner act as a physical barrier to not blast the possible bed bug out of the area--rather closer into the corner of the wall.
For folks who like me mistakenly put DE on their beds.I also say you need to blast the DE off your protected covers with a steamer. DE can and will eventually create small holes on SOME of the protected covers. It did with my thick painter’s tarp. So for me it involved repairing the tarp with some duct tape after it dried form the “blastingâ€.
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lieutenantdan
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Posted 6 years ago
Mon May 14 2007 10:39:48
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I had forgot about this -
I once spoke to a guy from a professional steamer manufacturer, I forgot which one, he said to use the pad type tool. He claimed that it distributes the heat more evenly and at a hotter temp, not as much fall of in temp.
He also told me he is selling tons of high end steamers to top hotels all over the country.About DE.
I spread DE on the floor under my inflatable bed and I think that after some time it may have caused the bed to leak. 300 bucks worth of leaks. It could have been age although the bed is only one year old and I have used it for four months.Can DE do that? If so maybe this stuff can screw up your lungs. I hope not.
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oldtimer
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Posted 6 years ago
Tue May 15 2007 7:40:29
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Lt Dan
I think you are correct.At the NPMA seminar I attended they recommended a diffuser nozzle as the most effective way to apply steam to a mattress without blowing bugs around the room. Willow also mentioned a concern about blasting areas with steam from the straight nozzle.
As far as DE goes, it is real important to keep it out of your lungs and eyes. There are also issues with contaminants that are potentially toxic. There was a thread a few weeks ago about different grades of DE (pool vs food grade) and the issues for our health.
When you look at a magnified photo of DE, it resembles broken glass. With pressure and movement I would imagine it could create leaks in an air mattress or vinyl cover.
Doug Summers MS
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lieutenantdan
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Posted 6 years ago
Tue May 15 2007 10:24:19
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Thanks Doug,
My research has told me that FRESH water - FOOD grade - DE is the one to use and I have applied it.
The steamer diffuser nozzle which looks like a pad is the right one to use so you don't blow the bugs around but just as important is the even distribution of heat enables the applied steam to have less of a fall off in temp from the nozzle to the subject distance.Doug, If I remember correctly you are located in England. What is the status on the bed bug infestations where you are?
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