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Bed bug extermination
Montreal, Laval and the South Shore
Dark dots in the mattress seams, itchy bites in the morning, a small brown bug behind the headboard: we confirm what it is, walk you through the prep, then treat every affected area.
A bed bug is about the size and colour of an apple seed. It can't jump or fly. It hides close to where people sleep and comes out at night to feed on blood. At first it stays in the box spring and in the seams and underside of the mattress. Over time it moves into the headboard, drawers, upholstered furniture, baseboard heaters and electrical outlets, then into other rooms. Bed bugs can survive more than a year without feeding, so leaving a bedroom empty won't solve anything.
Bed bugs get into even the cleanest homes and hotels. They travel in suitcases, clothing and used furniture, and move between units through walls, floors, pipes and ducts. In a building, we also look at the neighbouring units; our apartment buildings page explains how we coordinate with tenants. A brown bug running around the kitchen rather than the bed is more likely a cockroach.
Before the exterminator: four things to do
Keep the problem in the bedroom
Don't carry the mattress, cushions or clothes from the bedroom to the living room or to a friend's place: bed bugs spread on belongings. Anything that has to leave the room, like bedding on its way to the dryer, should travel in a tightly closed bag.
Don't throw out the mattress yet
A mattress or sofa in good condition can often be treated, so wait for the exterminator's advice. If it has to go, make it unusable and wrap it in plastic before taking it out, so nobody picks it up.
Put the bug spray away
Over-the-counter products interfere with exterminators' work, the Quebec government warns. Misused, they can also push bed bugs elsewhere in the unit or next door. Why they fall short: exterminator or store-bought products.
Report it right away
Tenants should tell their landlord immediately; landlords should call an exterminator as soon as they hear about it. The newer the infestation, the less time it has had to spread.
Where bed bugs turn up
Residential
- Apartments and condos
- Plexes and rental buildings
- Homes after a trip or a move
- Shared apartments and student rooms
- Basements with a sofa bed or guest room
Commercial and institutional
- Hotels, motels and B&Bs
- Seniors' residences
- Rooming houses
- Second-hand stores
- Waiting rooms and offices
Signs of bed bugs in the bedroom
Inspect with a flashlight, starting with the bed: that's where they settle first.
- Small black dots, like felt-tip marker spots, on sheets, in mattress seams and on the box spring: these are their droppings
- Blood spots on the sheets or pillowcase
- Pale brown, empty shed skins shaped like the bug, in mattress folds and around bed frame screws
- Whitish eggs about the size of a pinhead, clustered in cracks in the bed frame or headboard
- Live or dead bugs in the seams, under mattress buttons or in box spring staples
- Itchy bites in the morning, often grouped or in a line, though bites alone don't confirm anything: some people don't react at all
How we treat bed bugs
Bed bug treatment takes preparation, and every step counts, yours and ours.
Inspection
We confirm that they really are bed bugs and how far they've spread: bedrooms, living room, upholstered furniture, baseboards, outlets. In a building, we recommend checking the neighbouring units.
Prep instructions
We explain what to prepare in each room, based on what the inspection found: what goes in the dryer, what stays in place and what gets bagged.
Treatment
We treat the affected areas with registered products, applied according to the rules, and tell you how long to stay out with children and pets.
Follow-up
We check in with you after the treatment and adjust if signs persist. In the meantime, keep treated fabrics in their bags and don't bring in new furniture.
Don't bring them home
- Never pick up a mattress, sofa or armchair left on the curb.
- Used clothing: carry it home in a tightly closed bag and run it through the dryer before putting it away.
- At a hotel, put your suitcase on the luggage rack or in the bathtub, and check the mattress and headboard before unpacking.
- When you get home, open your suitcase on a hard surface such as the bathroom floor, and wash all your clothes in hot water, worn or not.
- Before a move, seal fabrics in bags, tape boxes shut and make sure the truck is clean.
- Declutter the bedroom and seal cracks in baseboards and wooden bed frames: fewer hiding spots means faster detection.
Service 24/7, free quoteFrequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? A technician answers 24/7.
Call 514-231-1615How do I prepare my home for bed bug treatment?
Follow your exterminator's instructions first. Generally: declutter, empty drawers and closets in the affected rooms, run clothes and bedding through the dryer on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes, then seal them in new bags. For washing, the Quebec government recommends water of at least 60 °C that fully covers the items. Empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and put it in an outdoor garbage bin.
What should I do about bed bug bites?
We don't give medical advice. For questions about bites, call Info-Santé 811, a free and confidential service available at all hours, or see your doctor. Our job is to confirm that bed bugs are present and get rid of them.
I'm a tenant with bed bugs: who calls the exterminator?
Tell your landlord immediately: according to the City of Montreal, it's up to the landlord to bring in an exterminator, and you shouldn't try to deal with it yourself. In Montreal, if the landlord doesn't take the necessary steps, call 311; elsewhere, contact your municipality. The Tribunal administratif du logement, for its part, lists bed bugs among the examples of vermin tied to unsanitary housing. Montreal's by-law also requires exterminators to report every bed bug job to the City within 5 days.
If I move, will I leave the bed bugs behind?
No: bed bugs from your old place are likely to come with you, and the Quebec government points out that a new apartment won't make them disappear. Deal with the problem before moving day; if you're a tenant, start by notifying your landlord. Once you arrive, inspect the bedrooms in the new place with a flashlight, and if you find any, tell the landlord right away.
How much does bed bug extermination cost?
The price depends on the number of rooms affected, the amount of upholstered furniture, how far the infestation has spread in the building and the follow-up needed. We inspect first, then give you a free quote: just get in touch.
