Is steam effective in fighting Bugs

Steam is a good way to eliminate bed bugs and a good alternative to the use of insecticides, since it does not generate harmful effects on the environment or on the health of people and pets.

In addition, bed bugs are insects with a great capacity to develop resistance to certain insecticides, with which, the use of steam to eradicate bed bug pests is becoming more and more frequent.

However, special caution must be exercised when carrying out heat treatments based on the release of steam, since although heat is a good method of eliminating bed bugs, there are some phases of the biological cycle of this species that are more resistant than others.Thus, the temperature and the exposure time become key for a total elimination of the pest by means of heat.

All stages of development of this insect die when exposed to temperatures of 50ºC. Nymphs and adults die before reaching 50ºC but the eggs are able to withstand temperatures of 48ºC for more than one hour of exposure to this temperature.

For the treatment to be truly effective, the heat must reach all possible forms of the pest (eggs, nymphs and adults). The best way to achieve this is by applying steam, as it can enter any crevice or hole where bed bugs hide.

It is very important to bear in mind that when the steam comes into contact with a solid material or with the air itself, when these elements are at temperatures below 50ºC, it causes the steam to cool down. If it is cooled below 50ºC, it will not kill the bed bugs when it comes in contact with them, as the temperature will be below its lethal temperature.

To avoid this type of situation, professional pest control companies use machines that apply dry heat superheated up to 180ºC at the point of exit, and that have been specially designed for bed bug control. Thus, when the steam is applied to the infected area, it reaches at least 80ºC, a sufficient temperature for the elimination of all life stages of bed bugs.

My name is Kyle and I run a commercial cleaning service agency in New York, USA.

Email: hey@kylecaetano.com