The key is ensuring that the low temperature reaches all parts of the suitcase. If you intend to put items within the case, then leave the case open to allow thermal access or re-bag the clothes, in plastic carriers and putting them in separately.

The time is difficult to determine without knowing the variables, but if the freezer can take all the items easily, then 6 hours should be sufficient.

Overpacking the chest freezer will extend the time required as the temperature will need to penetrate through all the items.

It is not always necessary to dispose of your mattress or any bedding if you have bed bugs. If the infestation is small and contained within the mattress and bedding then we would recommend using the BB ALERT® O2PM which is an eco-friendly and chemical free method of bed bug elimination.

The O2PM system works by enclosing the infested items inside a treatment flexi-bag along with oxygen depletion packs and then giving the flexi-bag an airtight seal. The oxygen inside the flexi-bag then begins to reduce until there is no more oxygen left in the flexi-bag. This eliminates all life forms from the items in the flexi-bag, including adult bed bugs, nymph bed bugs and bed bug eggs as well as any other insects that may have been in the item(s). Following the completion of the treatment period, which is 10 days, the items can then be removed and re-used immediately.

You can find out more information about O2PM here.

Click here to download the O2PM brochure.

You do not need to throw away your couch, it can be treated, especially if the numbers of bed bugs are low. Insecticides should be fairly quick in terms of control, certainly within 48 hours or sooner if the insecticide was sprayed directly onto the bed bug. If it was generally sprayed around the room then the bugs need to walk over it to be affected, however this can be problematic as sometime we have found bed bugs avoid areas that have been sprayed.

Were the bugs you found adults or young? This is important as female adult bed bugs can lay eggs and start the process all over again, so you need to be quick to ensure that you have complete control of the active bugs.

We would suggest that you monitor the situation and see if the spray treatments have been successful. If not then you may need to start the process again, however do not use chemical sprays - try to get non-chemical sprays, this will prevent resistance and is better for your property.

We are sorry to hear that the bed bugs have spread to the bed frame, while this is not uncommon, it is possible to eradicate the infestation. However, depending on the population levels, you may not need to throw out the frame.

Steam is a good method of control, as it will kill all stages of development i.e eggs as well as adults, but this must be carefully completed.

The temperature of the steam needs to be kept as high as possible and the nozzle should only move at a rate of 3cm per second - so it will take a bit of time to treat the whole frame.

It would be worth putting in bed bug monitors after you have completed the steam treatment to make sure all the bugs have been controlled. It may also be beneficial to vacuum up or wash-up all evidence of bed bugs to help with spotting fresh activity.

If your attempts to treat the infestation yourself have not been successful then you may need the assistance of a professional. Please go to bedbugfoundation.org and click on 'find a professional' and click on your location.

Firstly it is important to confirm that the insect that you have seen is actually a bed bug. If you have a photo available of the specimen then please email it to us so that we can confirm whether it is a bed bug or not.

If you are certain that you had seen bed bugs then it is recommended that you get a second inspection done by another reputed pest control company. If they confirm an infestation then they can advise you on the best course of action for controlling the infestation. Using mattress encasements and bed bug monitoring and detection units will also help you spot any signs of an infestation if a pest controller cannot.

We have a list of Top Ten Tips for Bed Bug Prevention which you can read by clicking here.

The hotel may have had a recorded bed bug problem before, however this does not necessarily mean that every room was infested and it is very possible that the treatments were successful in eradicating the bed bugs

If you have looked for the obvious signs; that being blood spots, cast skins or actual live insects; along with looking in all the usual locations such as edging of the mattress, bed legs/draws, headboards or bedside furniture and there is no sign of any bed bug activity, then you should be reasonably assured that no bed bugs are present. We recommend that you use bed bug monitors to give you further reassurance.

Bed bugs have recently gained a lot of press coverage and awareness, however they have been around since the earliest days of humanity. The relatively recent growth in international travel has allowed bed bugs to spread across the globe, creating a raised awareness of the insect.

There is a great article by Michael Potter from the University of Kentucky on the history of bed bugs from the beginning of recorded time until more recent years. You can read this article here: http://bbalertshop.com/downloads/AE-Potter-spring2011.pdf

We would suggest that the pest control operator didn't identify all of the harbourage points within the room and those bugs that were not controlled simply stayed inactive until the insecticide 'wore-off' after which they became active again.
We would suggest that initially you place monitoring devices around the areas in which people sleep, allowing you to know where the bed bugs are active and you should start to identify a pest management company who specialise in bed bug control. Make sure that you check the experience of the individual.

The following link will provide some additional assistance:
Selecting a Pest Management Professional

No. The reaction to Bed Bug bites varies from person to person and even from bite to bite. In some people, bite marks will not show up at all, while in other people the reaction to the bites may take weeks to surface. Also, not everyone reacts in the same way, therefore it is very difficult to tell if the bites were from Bed Bugs or some other insect.

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Adult Bed Bugs are usually dark brown and measure about 5mm long (about the size of an apple seed), while the younger nymphs are even smaller ranging between 1.5mm to 4.5mm. You can view some photos here.