I’ve always wondered if the new “green” detergents have had any effect in the increase in bed bug infstion.
The simpliest method of ridding them....which requires man-hours....is steam-cleaning. I worked in the Pentagon for three years, and the building maintenance guy covering the bug-department was absolute about the use of steam-cleaners. So many folks would complain about funny smells and fear of chemicals....that he said it wasn’t worth the pain of using them.
As for the steam-cleaners? They’d come into an area affected, and spend a couple of hours, and it was done. A month later, you’d have another report in the same area. What they tended to see was guys using the Pentagon gym, using their gym bag, and then bringing the pests around the building via the gym bag.
I tend to think as a society....we are using fitness centers on a continual basis now, and likely helping to move the pests into our homes quiet easily. Our kids use school facilities, and use the same bags to bring the bugs home.