How Effective are Bed Post Traps at Preventing Bed Bugs from Reaching You?
One of the most popular devices used against bed bugs are bed bug bed post traps, or more commonly known as interceptor traps. These easy-to-use devices consist of a dish made from plastic that is large and sturdy enough to fit and hold a bed post. It has an outer well designed to capture and retain all bed bugs trying to climb on your bed.
The outer portion of the dish that is either vertical or near vertical is usually rough so that bed bugs can climb in easily. They get stuck inside the polished or powdered area inside the dish.
As you may know, bed bugs are not very good climbers which is why the slippery surface inside the well makes it impossible for these bugs to climb out of the trap once they get stuck. You’ll find that most interceptors today no longer use talcum powder. Instead, the inner well of the dish is well polished to make it as slippery as possible. Seeing bed bugs inside the dish is an indication that the trap is working.
Click here to learn which interceptor will work best for you.
Can You Create DIY Traps Similar to Bed Bug Interceptors?
Aside from the interceptors that are ready to be used, you can also use household items to create similar traps. According to researchers from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, all you need are:
- Disposable plastic containers (one container must be small enough to fit inside the other and still leave some space between the two)
- Glue
- Masking tape
All you need to do is glue the smaller container inside the larger plastic container and wrap the outer part of the bigger container with masking tape. The finished item should look and work similar to the interceptors sold commercially.
Similar to how bed bug interceptor traps work, this homemade trap relies mainly on the poor climbing ability of bed bugs. Remember that a lot of people use DIY treatments or methods when dealing with bed bugs. However, if you don’t have the time and patience to create a DIY trap, you can always resort to readily available interceptors that you can buy from trusted retailers.
How to Make Bed Bug Bed Post Traps More Effective
Living with bed bugs is both stressful and frustrating. However, if you ever find out about your situation while it’s just starting, there is a great chance that you can manage the infestation. Proper implementation of pest control is essential to prevent the infestation from getting worse.
Try the following tips to make the interceptors more effective:
- Isolate your bed when using the traps. This will prevent the bed bugs from reaching you by climbing on your wall or nearby furniture. Just ensure that your bed is no longer infested by bed bugs prior to doing this process.
- Instead of discarding your mattress or box springs, it is highly recommended that you have them treated or use bed bug mattress encasements and box springs covers. These covers and encasements are made especially to prevent bed bugs from getting in and out of the mattress or box springs. There are more things that you should know about using mattress encasements, and familiarizing how it works will give you a greater advantage when dealing with a bed bug infestation.
- Wash all bedding or tumble dry at high heat for 30 minutes to an hour. When putting and setting it back, see to it that nothing is hanging over the floor. If it is possible to tuck in some of the sides, do so, especially when you’re not on the bed yet.
An important note to keep in mind is to check the interceptors every now and then to get rid of the captured bed bugs. This will prevent the bugs from piling inside the dish. It is also one way of monitoring the level of infestation inside your home or room.
Though DIY traps are affordable and easy to make, they can’t guarantee effectiveness. Make sure that you can protect your bed and furniture from bed bugs through the use of high-quality interceptors. Choose from our wide selection of ClimbUp interceptors that are proven to work in monitoring and trapping bed bugs. For other bed bug products, feel free to browse through our various collections at bedbugsos.ca.
