Bed bugs are very elusive, nocturnal pests that will make their home in the bed, mattress, furniture, baseboard, and any other crack they can fit in near their hosts. Once they set up shop, they can be very hard to get rid of, which is why we’ve written this guide to help you prevent bed bugs from infesting your home.
Tips for travelling
Since bed bugs can infest items such as hotel beds, public transport seats, and seats in public areas, it’s important to have some preventive measures in place when traveling. For example, when you arrive at your hotel room, do not place your backpack or suitcase directly on the bed. If you want to be super safe, place it in the bathroom while you inspect the room. Check the headboards, the closet, the mattresses, nightstands and dressers. The degree of thoroughness during these inspections is up to you. You can lift up the mattress and check every corner of your room, or you can perform a quick inspection to put your mind at ease.
If, during your stay, you notice any blood spots on the bedding, or red marks on your body, it may indicate that you have been bitten by bed bugs. At that point, you want to make sure that you thoroughly wash your clothes and travelling items when you get home, and if the spots continue to appear on your body, your home is likely infested as well.
Buying clothes
When buying clothes, keep them in their wrapping until you are ready to wash them. If they do not come in plastic bags, wash the clothes as soon as you get home. The water should be set at the highest temperature that the material can handle. When buying used clothes, the same principles apply.
Buying furniture and mattresses
You may get a bed bug infestation from buying second hand furniture. Make sure that you inspect the furniture thoroughly before bringing it inside the home. It’s important to note that bed bug infestations are not only found in beds and mattresses. Bed bugs can also infest tables, drawers, cabinets and even electronics that were placed in the bedroom.
Identifying a bed bug infestation
Bed bugs are oval shaped and about 3/16” in length, or something similar to the length of an appleseed. They have a mahogany coloration and are flat. After feeding, their bodies will be swollen, and the coloration will turn reddish brown. If you notice such an insect, make sure to count the number of legs it has. Six legs means that you are dealing with a bed bug, eight means that you are dealing with a tick. Their antennae point forward and are about half their body length.
If you notice a bed bug inside your home, you may already have a full infestation. In this case it’s best to call an exterminator. Contact us today, and we will come and help you remove the infestation.