Bed Bug Control Roodepoort | Homes & Rentals

Bed bugs close up, treated by our bed bug control in Roodepoort

Bed bug control in Roodepoort takes a careful inspection, a targeted treatment of beds, furniture and cracks, and a follow-up visit two weeks later to catch the bugs that hatch from eggs. We find where they're hiding, treat every harbourage in the room, and show you how to prepare and what to do between visits so they don't come back.

How bed bugs reach Roodepoort homes

Bed bugs don't come from dirt or from the garden. They travel with people and their belongings. On the West Rand, as anywhere in Johannesburg, the usual sources are luggage after a trip, second-hand mattresses, beds and couches, visitors who stayed over, and furniture moved between rentals. In townhouses and flats, they can also spread between units along shared walls and through plug points. Guesthouses and holiday lets see them because of the steady turnover of guests.

Anyone can get bed bugs, and a clean, tidy home is no protection. What matters is catching them early, before they spread from the bed to the couch and the next bedroom.

Signs of bed bugs

Itchy bites in lines or clusters, often on arms, neck and shoulders, that appear overnight
Small dark spots of droppings on mattress seams, the bed base and the headboard
Tiny blood spots on sheets or pillowcases
Pale shed skins and tiny white eggs in seams and crevices
Live bugs: flat, oval and reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed
A musty, slightly sweet smell in rooms with heavy activity

Bites alone don't prove bed bugs. Fleas, bird mites and mosquitoes can all leave similar marks, which is why we inspect before treating. If there's a nest of birds in the roof above the bedroom, our bird mite treatment in Roodepoort may be what you need instead.

How we treat bed bugs

Inspection. We strip back the bedding and check mattress seams, the bed base, headboard, bedside tables, skirting boards, picture frames, curtain folds and plug points, and look at nearby rooms and couches.
Treatment. We treat every place we find bed bugs or that they could use, including the bed frame, base and cracks in the room, with registered products applied carefully. Mattresses in good condition can usually be treated and kept.
Follow-up. Bed bug eggs are protected from most treatments, so we return after about two weeks to treat the new hatchlings before they can breed.

Getting ready for treatment

Preparation makes a big difference. Before we arrive, wash bedding, curtains and clothes from the affected room on a hot cycle and dry them on high heat, then keep them in sealed bags. Clear clutter off the floor and from under the bed so we can reach the skirting boards. Don't move furniture or sleep in a different room, because that carries the bugs with you. You don't need to leave the house during treatment, but keep children and pets out of the treated room until surfaces are dry.

What people get wrong

Throwing away the mattress straight away. A new mattress in an untreated room is reinfested within weeks, and an old one dumped on the pavement can spread bugs to the next person who picks it up. The other mistake is using insect bombs or foggers. They don't reach into the seams and cracks where bed bugs hide, and they can drive them into walls and other rooms.

A Roodepoort tip

When you come home from a holiday or a stay in a guesthouse, unpack your suitcase outside or in the bath rather than on the bed, and put travel clothes straight into a hot wash. Store the empty suitcase in the garage, not under the bed. It's the simplest way to stop bed bugs reaching your bedroom.

Landlords, guesthouses and complexes

For rentals and guest rooms, we can inspect between tenants or guests and treat quickly when a problem is reported. In a complex, if one unit has bed bugs, it's worth checking the units on either side, because bugs move through shared walls. We'll advise the owner or managing agent on which units to inspect.

What bed bug control costs, and why

The price depends on how many rooms and beds are involved, how far the bugs have spread, whether couches and other furniture need treatment, and the follow-up visit, which is part of doing the job properly. One bedroom caught early is far simpler than a whole house. You'll see the starting "from" price for bed bug work on this page, while our Johannesburg price guide lists the rest.

Questions we get asked

How much does bed bug treatment cost?

It depends on how many rooms and beds are affected, whether couches need treating, and the follow-up visit. A single bedroom caught early costs much less than a whole house.

Do I have to throw my mattress away?

Usually not. A mattress in good condition can be treated and kept. Replacing it without treating the room just gives the bugs a new bed.

How many treatments are needed?

Normally two: the first treatment and a follow-up about two weeks later to deal with bugs that hatch from eggs. Heavy infestations can need more.

Can I sleep in my bed after treatment?

Yes, once the treated surfaces are dry. Sleeping in your own bed actually helps, because bugs come out to feed and cross the treated areas.

How do I know if the bites are bed bugs?

Look for dark droppings on mattress seams, tiny blood spots on sheets and shed skins. Bites alone aren't enough, so we inspect before treating.

Can bed bugs spread to my neighbour's unit?

Yes, in townhouses and flats they can move through shared walls and plug points. If you have them, it's worth having adjoining units checked.

What should I do before you arrive?

Wash bedding and clothes from the room on a hot cycle, bag them, clear clutter from the floor and under the bed, and don't move furniture to other rooms.