Few things make a home feel more uncomfortable than discovering bed bugs. If you are dealing with an infestation, you might wonder whether a carpet cleaner can solve the problem or if you need an exterminator. The answer is clear: while carpet cleaners provide many benefits for your home, they are not a substitute for professional pest control when it comes to bed bugs.
What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that survive by feeding on the blood of humans and animals. They can travel into your home on luggage, clothing, or used furniture, regardless of cleanliness or location.
A common sign of an infestation is waking up with itchy welts or bite marks that are often mistaken for mosquito bites. Bed bugs are resilient pests that require specialized treatment to eliminate.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
Not sure if you are dealing with bed bugs? Look for these clues:
- Tiny bloodstains on sheets or pillowcases
- A musty odor produced by bed bug scent glands
- Dark spots from feces, excrement, or shed eggshells
Although these signs can point to an infestation, identifying bed bugs with certainty can be difficult without professional training.
How Are Bed Bugs Killed?
According to research, bed bugs exposed to 113°F for 90 minutes will die. At higher temperatures of 118°F, adult bed bugs die within 20 minutes. Bed bug eggs, however, require 118°F for 90 minutes to reach 100 percent mortality.
The most effective way to kill bed bugs is through professional heat treatment, which maintains lethal temperatures for extended periods throughout the infested space.
Exterminators vs Carpet Cleaners: What's the Difference?
Exterminators
Licensed exterminators are the only professionals equipped to fully eliminate bed bugs. They use industrial heating systems to maintain room temperatures above the killing threshold for several hours, ensuring that both bugs and eggs are destroyed. When heat cannot penetrate certain areas, exterminators may also use insecticides formulated specifically for bed bugs.
Carpet Cleaners
Carpet cleaners, on the other hand, use steam cleaning (hot water extraction). While the water reaches 220–240°F, the exposure time is too short to kill bed bugs or their eggs effectively. Carpet cleaning does help eliminate dust mites and refresh carpets, upholstery, and mattresses, but it cannot replace extermination services.
In fact, carpet cleaning companies should never advertise bed bug extermination. Exterminators require specialized training, licensing, insurance, and compliance with OSHA and EPA regulations. Carpet cleaners operate in a completely different industry.
Why You Should Call a Licensed Exterminator
If you suspect or confirm a bed bug infestation, do not attempt DIY treatments or rely on carpet cleaning alone. Only a licensed pest control company has the training and equipment needed to fully eradicate the infestation.
At HydroClean Carpet Cleaning in Colorado Springs, we will not service homes with active bed bug infestations. If we receive a call about bed bugs, we refer the customer to a trusted, licensed exterminator. This protects our team, our clients, and our business from unnecessary risk.
Final Takeaway
So, should you hire a carpet cleaner or an exterminator for bed bugs? The answer is always an exterminator. Carpet cleaning can improve air quality, remove stains, and refresh your home, but it cannot eliminate bed bugs.
If you are facing an infestation, call a licensed pest control company right away. Once the pests are removed, you can schedule carpet and upholstery cleaning to restore comfort and freshness to your home.
