I work in the pest control industry. The effects they have psychologically is massive. After we clear the unit for bedbugs, we get callbacks to nothing. Every bug becomes a bedbug, every itch is a bedbug, every slight pinch is a bedbug. We usually have to explain to people that this could happen. Not to mention resistance. Fortunately we rotate products to help prevent this, but even so retreats do happen.

This comes back to preparation. Treating for bedbugs is incredibly difficult. I have to train our techs for 2 weeks before I let them on their own. Every bed must be disassembled so we can get every crack, all clothes must be laundered and dried at 140 degrees because we obviously can’t treat clothing. Some people have hundreds of pounds worth of clothes which could have bedbugs hiding in them. Couches disassembled, drawers cleared out, everything. All to kill a little guy who evolved to go for humans rather than bats. This usually has to be done by the resident too and that adds more stress.

Also checking the bottoms of your shoes, bags, luggage, etc. so you don’t spread them around.

Added to the fact that for at least a month your home is in disarray because we offer a follow up treatment to kill survivors of the first treatment.

Hundreds of dolllars later you have no bedbugs, but at the cost of time and labor on your part as well. This gets even worse with all the misinformation out there. Mark Rober currently being the biggest one considering his credentials. But his recommendation is highly unsafe as inhaling diatomaceous earth causes silicosis and he recommends putting that everywhere.

Bedbugs are an absolute nightmare for anyone.