The Birth of the Bed Bug Trap
This remarkable Bed Bug Trap was born out of sheer necessity, created by a family-owned business nestled in the heart of Anchorage, Alaska. Now branded as the Cleanrth CT900 Bed Bug Trap and also offered by other companies, the family is eager to share this invention so that others can finally reclaim their homes from these persistent pests.
The Beginning of the Bed Bug Nightmare
The family, who managed around 100 apartments in and around Anchorage, was caught off guard, like many property owners, when bed bugs first made their unwelcome appearance in 2007. Initially, they dismissed tenant complaints of bites as minor issues, advising them to wash their sheets more frequently. However, it quickly became evident that this was more than just a cleanliness problem—it was a full-blown infestation.
As the complaints grew louder and more frequent, the family realized they were dealing with a bed bug epidemic. This was the start of a nightmare filled with frustration, sleepless nights, and significant financial strain. The tenants were being bitten nightly, and it was confirmed: they were up against bed bugs.
The Struggle to Find a Solution
The family’s journey to rid their apartments of bed bugs was arduous. They tried everything they could think of:
1) Heat Treatments: They would remove all the furniture from an apartment and crank up the heat to over 140 degrees. Sometimes, this intense heat treatment would work, but more often than not, the bed bugs would just migrate to another apartment.
2) Purchasing Devices: The family spent money on several devices that claimed to solve the bed bug problem, but the results were disappointing. The traps weren't strong enough, the attractants couldn't be refilled, and in the end, it was a costly exercise in futility.
3) Pesticide Bombing: They tried using pesticide bombs that filled the rooms with chemicals, but this only made things worse, driving the bed bugs to other apartments.
The Creation of the Bed Bug Trap
As a low-income family running a small business, they couldn't afford to keep moving tenants out, discarding furniture, and spending on ineffective solutions. They needed something that would truly eliminate bed bugs, once and for all—without all the hassle and expense. And so, this wonderful Bed Bug Trap was conceived. Over the next seven years, through relentless trial and error, they perfected this device. They designed it to mimic human breathing patterns, not perfectly, but just enough to fool these stubborn pests. Bed bugs, notoriously difficult to trap, were irresistibly drawn to the device, where they were finally caught.
The Bed Bug Trap in Action
One story that highlights the effectiveness of this machine comes from one of their own apartment buildings—a six-unit complex with three three-bedroom apartments on the bottom and another three stacked directly above. In one of the ground-floor units, Apartment #2, the tenant reported that her children were being bitten every night. It was clear something had to be done.
The family set up three bed bug devices in the apartment: one in the kids’ room, one in the living room, and one in the mother’s bedroom. They activated the devices with a one-week supercharge and let them work their magic. Within four days, the mother reported a remarkable improvement—the biting had stopped, and she pleaded with the owners not to remove the devices.
Despite the cluttered apartment, with clothes, furniture, and everything else you’d expect in a busy home, they didn’t have to move a single item. The results spoke for themselves.
The Six-Week Bed Bug Treatment Program
After seven days, they returned to clean the traps and recharge them. Since this was a more severe problem, it was necessary to run the six-week bed bug treatment program. The treatment continued for a full 42 days, with each week showing fewer and fewer bed bugs caught and no new reports of bites.
By the end of the fourth week, only a couple of bugs were found in the traps, and by the fifth treatment, the traps were empty.
Ensuring Complete Success
The final step, just to ensure the bed bug issue was completely gone, was to run the traps for an additional seven days. This extra precaution solidified the success of what we now proudly call the six-week bed bug treatment program. After running the bed bug machine for these additional seven days, no more bed bugs were caught—the traps were empty.
...The End Result: It Works...
Extra Help/Hint
As an additional measure, they lightly dusted the edges of the carpet and other key areas with diatomaceous earth. This white powder, commonly used as a feed additive for chickens, has the ability to cut into bed bugs’ exoskeletons, helping to eliminate them. While not strictly necessary, having this extra firepower can be beneficial when dealing with these nasty bed bugs.