Bed Bug Steamer

If you are trying to decide whether a bed bug steamer is worth buying, it can help kill bugs in seams and cracks, but the type you choose matters.

Dry steamers are preferred as they reach upwards of 240 degrees Fahrenheit and leave less moisture after treatment. Wet steamers, still effective on bed bugs, don’t reach such high temperatures and can leave surfaces wet; the higher the temperature, the more effective they are in tight spots.

You’ll notice PSI on a number of models; dry steamers usually have a higher Pound per Square Inch than the wet models – higher PSI means the unit can reach a higher temperature. You also want to make sure that the model you choose allows you to regulate the amount of steam released from the tip!

These steamers use a lot of water, and capacity is another key consideration. High-quality steamers can hold more than 32oz of water, whereas a handheld unit may only be able to hold a cup of water. Suppose you are treating a home for bed bugs. In that case, you’ll want the larger capacity or quickly become frustrated waiting for the unit to cool down and refill! However, a hand steamer may be the right choice if you’re in a studio apartment.

Consider a continuous steamer if you’re a landlord or apartment manager and need to steam many units. Even though the name implies endless steam, you still need to fill up the tank, but you won’t have to wait to cool down like single tank units.

Selecting the right steamer.

It all boils down to this: If you have a large area (more than 1 room, mattress, etc.), then use a dry bed bug steamer, high psi, ability to regulate steam, large tank, and good warranty!

For small areas (a few minutes), a wet bed bug steamer with a large tank should do the trick.

Whichever steamer you choose for bed bugs, make sure that you don’t give up! It takes more than one application, and the steamer alone will not get this job done; it’s a weapon in the war against these bloodsuckers!

If you need the full process, read our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of bed bugs yourself for around $25.

How to use a Bed Bug Steamer to kill bed bugs.

The visitor story below shows how a bed bug steamer fit into a larger treatment plan. It is a real reader experience, not a complete checklist by itself.

I discovered 10 bites on my leg on March 20th. Because of the infestations in the area of town in which I work, I am no stranger to bed bugs and their habits. I work as a bartender at a hotel in the inner city, and we have problems with bed bugs in the rooms upstairs, so I have already done much research on these little pests.

I was thrilled to come across this site! If I have them, I am determined to get rid of these bloodsuckers before they infest completely, as I may have been bitten at work. I am, however, ABSOLUTELY unwilling to take the chance of waiting to see since they can get out of control so quickly.

Here are the steps I have taken:

• I have bagged up all fabric items in my house and begun to launder. This includes all clothing, curtains, linens, stuffed animals, dog beds, etc. I have a lot of stuff and want to give it all extra time in the dryer, so while this is going on, the clean, bagged stuff is in one room, and the dirty, bagged stuff is in another.
• I bought a garment steamer, ripped the dust covers off the backs of my box springs, and steamed EVERY area, both top and bottom, of them. I steamed my mattress, headboard, bed frame, closet carpets, windowsills, and blinds. I bought bed bug covers for the box springs and my king-size mattress. I will leave them on forever. I sprinkled some DE between my mattress and box springs. After steaming, I sprayed all the cracks and crevices of my headboard with isopropyl, just in case.
• Put margarine containers lined with Vaseline under each bed frame and headboard post of my bed.
• Vacuumed all the carpets, used the edge tool, went over the edges REALLY well, then washed all baseboards.
• I bought a 50 lb. bag of DE from a feed store for $34. (Cheap stuff!) Dusted around the perimeter of every bedroom. Have three bedrooms, but I am only using 1 to sleep in.
• I vacuumed out the dressers and nightstands. Pulled the drawers out, and vacuumed the insides. They sit empty in the middle of my bedroom now.
• My living room furniture is all leather, but I pulled all of the cushions off, vacuumed the undersides, which are fabric, and dusted them with DE. I placed double-sided tape around all of the legs.
• I pulled everything out of all the lower cupboards in my bathrooms, wiped them out thoroughly, wiped everything off, and put it back in. I took the opportunity to throw out all the bath salts, bubble baths, etc., that I never use.
• I sprinkled DE in the bottoms of all of my empty linen and coat closets. I wiped them out thoroughly; all the shelves, etc.

During this entire process, I kept my eyes peeled for bugs and didn’t see 1, nor did I find any eggs anywhere. Some of my friends believe that I am overreacting, but there is no such thing when it comes to bed bugs. The sooner they are dealt with, the easier it is to eliminate them.

It has been eight days, and I have not been bitten again or seen signs of any bugs. Perhaps I have gone slightly overboard, but, as I said, I would rather nip it in the bud now than have to deal with a huge infestation at some point. Even if I find nothing over the next couple of months, I will leave the Vaseline in place. Like John G. said, if you can eliminate their food source, you can break the life cycle.

Good luck to everyone in their battles with these little suckers!
A steamer can help, but it works best as part of a larger plan, and our full bed bug removal walkthrough shows how to combine it with the rest of the treatment.