Do Vacuums and Steamers Work?
Routine vacuuming by clients is seldom of much benefit because the bugs hide in places where normal housecleaning efforts do not reach. Targeted vacuuming of infested harborages, however, can be useful if performed properly and limits of the procedure are understood. Bed bugs are not so easily dislodged with vacuums. In comparison to cockroaches, the adults and nymphs cling more tightly to surfaces and the eggs are affixed with a cement-like substance. Better results are achieved by scraping the end of the suction wand repeatedly over the harborage area. Removal becomes difficult if not impossible when the bed bugs are located deep within crevices, and one should assume that some bugs and eggs will be left behind. Commercial units employed by pest controllers emit small amounts of moisture to lessen the possibility of mold growth, and have a large enough tank to accommodate extended use between fill-ups. Larger brush heads usually work better than small diameter tips which are less eff
