Our Story

Problem solving has a long heritage at PF Harris. In 1924, two years after its founding, the company tackled the Calvin Coolidge White House, which had been overrun for years by roaches and water bugs. Harris’s product was so successful in eliminating the scourge that he was described on the front page of the Washington Times as a "vermin slayer" who has just fought a decisive, winning battle with a horde of cockroaches which infested the lower regions of the Executive Mansion.

Over the course of the next few months Harris took “his final feast” to dozens of government buildings, including the Senate Office Building, the Department of Justice, the Supreme Court and Walter Reed Hospital. Success followed success: Each superintendent of the various buildings was highly satisfied with the results.

The company today stays nimble enough to respond to changing market demands, leading the way in the development of numerous products, including natural insect repellents like Swamp Gator and Swamp Gnat which repel biting insects without using deet. Beyond the products it sells, Harris helps customers find easy and economical solutions to pest problems through helpful labeling, instructive videos and personal advice.

It’s a brand with a reliable past and an innovative future. PF Harris is America’s oldest EPA-registered company. With more than 55 products, the company provides solutions to treat everything from roaches and bed bugs to scorpions and stink bugs.

Identify, Eliminate & Prevent

Harris Diatomaceous Earth Bed Bug Powder is an important part of the bed bug treatment process. Using a liquid spray and mattress encasement cover along with the powder will increase your chances of success. Below are the steps to identify, eliminate and prevent bed bugs infestations. 

1. Identify 

Appearance
Bed Bugs are tan to brown blood sucking parasites up to 5mm long (roughly the size of an apple seed) with a flat, oval shaped body. Bed Bugs are often confused with the following insects:

• Fleas
• Lice
• Lint/Seeds
• Carpet Beetle

Many people believe that bed bugs are too small to be seen. This isn’t true. While Bed Bugs are usually found in the bed, they can navigate around the bedroom and even into the living room. Bed bugs spend the day in harborages close to a bed, couch or chair that people sit in for long periods. They come out at night and crawl to a bed or chair to get a blood meal.

To check your bed for activity, look along the underside of the seams of the mattress. In most cases, if you have bed bugs you will notice dark colored fecal matter in this area.

Next, check the cracks of the headboard and bed frame. Bed bugs, if squished, will leave a dark red stain behind. In cases of heavy infestation, the blood sucking parasites may be found all around the room most commonly in the following places:

• Folds of curtains
• Seams of chairs and couches
• Behind wall hangings
• Edges of electrical outlets and window frames

Bed bugs usually feed between at night while we are asleep. They can feed up to 10 minutes before returning to a hiding area to digest the meal. After feeding, bed bugs may be dormant for 5 to 7 days while they digest the blood meal.

Although the bite may not be immediately felt, people often react to the proteins of the bed bug saliva introduced during biting. Usually, a reddish spot may develop, associated with some swelling and itching. There may be little response immediately following the bite, with peak itchiness being noticed one to two days later. Repeated exposure to bed bug bites may produce more intensive reactions and itchiness. However, these reactions are highly variable and some people may show absolutely no signs of being bitten while others react strongly. Fortunately, testing has determined that bed bugs are incapable of transmitting human pathogens.

• Wash and dry bed linens and furniture covers at high temperatures. Minimum drying time: 20 minutes.
• Disassemble bed. Thoroughly vacuum all six sides of box springs, mattress and bed components. Vacuum furniture, carpets and floors. 
• Shake container prior to spraying mattress, box springs, bed components, flooring and baseboards. Allow to dry completely.
• Enclose mattress and box springs in encasements to prevent bed bug entry and exit. Do not remove encasements.
• Apply powder into cracks and crevices in furniture and rooms.

Most insecticides used for bed bug control are primarily of the pyrethroid class of pesticides, like Harris Bed Bug Killer. Elimination of bed bugs in a home involves use of effective insecticides applied to all points where bed bugs are present. Our water-based, odorless treatments must directly contact the bed bugs during application. Repeated insecticide applications within 4 weeks may be required to kill bed bugs that later hatch from eggs, along with those that may have been missed during earlier treatment.

Thoroughly vacuum all 6 sides of box springs and mattresses. Vacuum all cracks and crevices within the furniture of the bed and nearby electrical outlets, baseboards and floors prior to treatment. Empty the vacuum contents into a plastic bag and discard in trash.

Sheets and other bedding can be easily disinfected by laundering that involves a dryer cycle. The high temperatures involved in drying are critical to successfully kill bed bugs, with exposure to temperatures exceeding 120º F for 20 minutes usually sufficient to kill all life stages.

When stripping beds during a bed bug treatment, pull the sheets carefully so as not to dislodge eggs or drop bed bugs onto the floor where they may be missed by other treatments. Accidental spread of bed bugs can also be prevented by bagging the bedding as it is moved to the laundry.

Mattress encasements enclose your mattress and box spring and are an integral step in the treatment process for two reasons: Firs, they protect your investment in bedding. Second, they reduce the areas where bed bugs can hide nearest to you. Water-resistant, tight-weave fabric prevents the entry of even the smallest bed bug.

Disposal may be considered for mattresses, box springs, couches or other furniture that is heavily infested with bed bugs. If this is done, proper disposal should be ensured. Leaving such items on the street for disposal may cause them to be scavenged, which will spread infestations to new dwellings. Be careful when removing the items from the structure so that bed bugs will not become dislodged and infest other areas inside.


3. Prevent

Prior to Travel

• Spray luggage and allow to dry completely
• Pack clothing and personal effects in sealable plastic bags
• Bring extra resealable plastic bags for soiled clothing

• Place luggage in bathroom while you do inspection. If there are signs of bed bug activity, check out of that hotel
• Pull back the sheets back and check the along the seams of the mattress for bed bug feces
• Never put your suitcase on the bed and do not unpack your suitcase contents into dressers
• Re-pack luggage contents into sealable plastic bags

• Unpack luggage outside, or in a garage, laundry room or utility room. Leave luggage in garage, laundry or utility room
• Inspect luggage and clothing for signs of activity. If signs are found, spray luggage again
• Wash and dry clothing at high temperatures