Fighting the Scourge of Bedbugs

The tales of bedbug infestations are everywhere in the news--with homes, college dorms, offices and even major retail stores getting hit. Bedbug infestations as a whole have increased a whopping 81% since 2000. What's a homeowner to do?

Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer aerosol is a simple, do-it-yourself solution for spot treatment of bedbugs, fleas, and other insect pests. Use it in classic bedbug hiding places, including in cracks and crevices around your bed, behind your bed frame, and in mattress tufts, folds, and seams. Spray bedbugs directly or treat in areas where signs of bedbugs and their eggs are evident.

The active ingredient in Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer aerosol is prallethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid that is potent to insects. The formula is water-based and won't stain water-safe fabrics or surfaces.

Use Recommendations

Use Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer aerosol to spot-treat bedbug hiding places around your bed and furniture. This product can be applied as a spot treatment to cracks and crevices, and around baseboards, floorboards, bedboards, and walls. Be sure to allow treated surfaces to dry thoroughly before use. You can repeat application after four weeks, if necessary.

In cases of infestation, use Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer aerosol in conjunction with Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Fogger (for entire rooms) and/or Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Home Insect Killer (for residual and contract control in common bedbug hiding places). Follow up with another full-scale treatment one to two weeks later.

Diagnosing Bedbugs

If you're experiencing bites but haven't seen any bugs, check the seams of your mattress and box spring. Bedbugs are usually very tiny, but you can see them by shining a bright flashlight in common hiding places or aiming a hot hair dryer at them to force them out. You might also see brownish or reddish spots on your bedding.

Protecting Books and Papers

It's recommended to spray Hot Shot Bedbug & Flea Killer aerosol until treated surfaces are damp, which will likely harm books or paper. If it's reasonable to do so, seal fragile paper items in plastic and lay them outside to heat in the sun for several hours. Exposing them to extreme cold such as a freezer will also kill bedbugs.