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Bed bugs feed on blood, usually at night when you sleep. Bites can lead to skin changes that range from small redness areas to prominent blisters.
If you are looking for steamers that best get rid of bed bugs, you are in the right place. In this guide, we will be mentioning the best steam cleaner for bed bugs and writing a short review on them.
Bed bugs are small and resilient, making them one of the toughest pests to exterminate. These hardy insects in your bed can wreak havoc on physical and mental health, so a bed bug infestation should be given immediate attention.
To exterminate these parasites, you should invest in a good steam cleaner for bed bugs. Bed bugs die at around 122 degrees Fahrenheit in all stages of development and can not tolerate much heat. So steam makes for a deadly weapon.
To ensure you get the best steam cleaner for the job, you should consider features like the heat and steam output, if the steam cleaner is pressurized, its capacity, heating time, nozzle, and cord size, if the steam has dry vapor and extra attachments. We cover all these features later, but first, let’s look at the best steam cleaners we recommend for killing bed bugs.
Best Steam Cleaner for Bed Bugs
This is a bed bug dry vapor steam cleaner that is very effective for killing bed bugs. It is a powerful spot and stain cleaner. It uses a combination of superior suctioning, scrubbing action, and specially formulated BISSELL cleaning solutions to remove spots, stubborn stains, and embedded dirt.
This steam cleaner not only exterminates bed bugs but can also help clean the spots and stains that usually come with a bed bug infestation. This compact, 13-pound machine is easy to Cary. You can easily take it to hard-to-reach areas to clean steam carpets, area rugs, stairs, upholstery, auto interiors, and similar soft surfaces. It usually comes with a Deep Stain Tool, 3″ Tough Stain Tool, and two 8 oz. trial-size bottles of formula.
This steam cleaner has superior suction power that ensures thorough cleaning and extermination; its portable design is great for hard-to-reach areas. It has a large capacity tank that holds more, so you can refill less.
Best Budget Steam Cleaner
This steam cleaner has 1050 watts, with 3-5 minutes fast heat up and emits pressurized powerful hot steam. It has up to 230℉(110℃) for 8-12 minutes. This steam cleaner has a feature for a large water tank of 350ml capacity. It also you to focus on treating the bed bug and not refilling.
This steam cleaner is suited for virtually all sealed hard surfaces: ceramic, vinyl, laminate, granite, marble, and sealed hardwood. Its handheld design and compact body make it easy to carry around. It has 9.4 feet power cord that provides efficient operation and easily cleans hard-to-reach areas.
Professional bed bug exterminators usually use commercial-grade steam cleaners, including several premium features. For those looking to splurge on a professional steam cleaner, you can consider this model from Dupray.
This heavy-duty steam cleaner steams up to an impressive 316 degrees Fahrenheit. It is effective and efficient for killing bed bugs, viruses, and bacteria. It has a 4-liter tank and an 8 minute heat time. It also offers up to 90 minutes of cleaning time. A digital display shows the active temperature, pressure level, and maintenance reminders.
It has an adjustable steam control that allows users to control the low moisture steam emission. It has a 10-foot hose and 25 heavy-duty accessories. This steam cleaner is very efficient, but it is expensive.
How To Choose A Steam Cleaner For Bed Bugs
There are a few things to search for when choosing the best steam cleaner for bed bugs. Below, we’ve listed all the features that a steam cleaner would have and why each feature makes a difference in killing bed bugs.
Heating Time
A steam cleaner’s heating time measures how long it takes to convert water to steam after switching the steamer on. Heating time ranges from 30 seconds to 15 minutes. A faster healing time is more effective and efficient.
Heating time may also depend on the steam cleaner’s size. Small capacity steam cleaners generally heat up faster than the larger ones. When shopping for the best steam cleaners, consider tank capacity in relation to heating time.
Steam Adjustment
Adjustable steam settings can add flexibility to a good steam cleaner. When treating bed bugs, different areas would require different amounts of steam. For example, Fabrics would need little steam pressure to penetrate, while the walls may require more pressure to ensure the steam penetrates the wall. Adjustable steam settings will make it easy to tailor the pressure to your needs.
A continuous stream feature is very useful for exterminating bed bugs. This feature is often called a steam lock. Some steam cleaner allows you to adjust the wetness of the steam. If the steam cleaner does not have adjustment features, a drier steam cleaner is a better pick for dealing with bed bugs. Dry vapor usually helps to keep things dry.
Heat Output
When used properly, steamers can be a lethal weapon against bed bugs. Bedbugs die at around 122 degrees Fahrenheit, but in order not to experience heat loss and human error, a steamer for bed bugs should reach hotter temperatures.
The steam-treated surface should reach at least 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the steam does its job. A bed bug steam cleaner’s high temperature should not exceed a heat output over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as it doesn’t, it will be perfect for the job when you consider heat loss.
Steam Pressure
When shopping for a steam cleaner for bed bugs, a model capable of delivering the right amount of steam is one you should look for. When there is too little pressure, the steam will not penetrate deep into the surface or bed.
Also, too much pressure can be a problem. Too much pressure can blow bed bugs and eggs to other locations in the room where they can spread. If the model you want to buy has specifications that include pressure range, you should go for an option in the 40 to 60 psi range.
Capacity
Steam cleaners have a tank that turns water into steam while you work. The tank capacity will determine how long you can steam before you refill. Most products include continuous steaming time in the product specs, which translates tank capacity into usage time. Many steam cleaners can run from 40 to 90 minutes on a single tank.
How Steam Cleaners Work To Kill Bed Bugs
A bed bug infestation is not to be taken lightly. These small pests can be a source of great physical and emotional anguish. We researched over 20 steam cleaners and narrowed them down to the most convenient, efficient, and effective choices to create this guide. We have chosen only bed bug steam cleaners that are up to this tough job.
Each steam cleaner on this guide meets or exceeds the minimum requirements to kill bed bugs. They each produce a consistent stream of steam at a minimum temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit or more. We have chosen products from reputable brands and have paid attention to consumer feedback and reviews to ensure a good, stable steam flow that does not sputter or spray.
Steam cleaning for bed bugs is usually slow work, so a comfortable and user-friendly design has topped our priority list. We have chosen steam cleaners with long hoses, wide nozzle options, and a long steam time to make the job less strenuous. Steamers work like when you use a dryer to kill bed bugs, but much more localized and efficient. Lastly, steam cleaners are more useful for more than exterminating bed bugs.
Using Your Steam Cleaner For Bed Bug Treatment
The first thing is to mark the places you want to go through. That is your bed, couch, some cracks in the wall, etc. Prepare the ‘zones’ in advance, as this will save you some time when you eventually turn the steam cleaner on.
Often, you would have a few nozzles and the actual steam wand. You can use the floor nozzle for furniture as well. All you have to do is move the nozzle more slowly. However, to have the best results, it is recommended to use a smaller triangular nozzle.
You can develop your very own technique. However, it is advisable to first move with the nozzle from the top downwards. You can use the biggest nozzle at first and then move to a smaller version. The triangular nozzle is great for steaming in strips.
The steam cleaner bed bug treatment will be effective if the surface reaches 160°F (71°C). Bed bugs may survive if the temperature is not high enough. But if the temperature is over 180°F ( 82°C), the heat may damage some surfaces, so be careful.
Conclusion
Getting your own steamer is great if you don’t want to keep calling in the professionals, especially if you can’t afford an exterminator. Choosing the right bedbug steam cleaner can prove difficult. However, with this guide and review, you should be able to pick out the best-pressurized steam cleaner bed bug option suitable for your needs.