Bed bugs can be a nightmare, literally. Theses creepy crawlies love to burrow into mattresses and feast on you while you sleep, leaving itchy welts all over your body. They’re notoriously difficult to treat, often requiring a professional exterminator for removal. However, there are also several steps you can take yourself that’ll make bed bugs more manageable and reduce their numbers. If you’re worried about bed bugs in your home or want to prevent an infestation from starting in the first place (the best course of action), follow these tips:
Identify sources of bed bugs
When you’re trying to treat bed bugs, it’s important to identify the sources of infestation. Bed bugs are not a sign of poor hygiene, but they can quickly find their way into every nook and cranny in your home. They can hide in furniture, appliances, drawers and even your clothes. Bed bugs can be found in hotel rooms and rental properties (like apartments). When looking for a source of beg bug infestation, check all places where you think they might be hiding—such as behind headboards or under beds.
Bed bugs can squeeze through tiny openings, so you’ll need to seal any cracks or crevices in furniture and walls where they could hide. The best way to do this is with caulk or expanding foam sealant (you can buy both at home improvement stores). It would be best to seal any cracks or holes larger than 1/8 inch wide. This includes around electrical sockets, under baseboards and inside electrical outlets. If the crack is too deep for caulk alone, use expanding foam sealant.
Discard infested items
If you have items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, discard them. Items that can be washed or dry cleaned should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and treated with heat for at least 30 minutes (if the item can withstand high heat) or for an hour (if it can’t). If you’re unsure whether your infested item can tolerate high heat, do some research on its material before proceeding.
Even if you don’t want to get rid of your infested items, it’s still important to treat them so that they don’t spread bed bugs to other areas of your home. You should also make sure that any infested items are kept away from other rooms in your home until they’ve been treated, since this reduces the risk of spreading bed bugs throughout your home.
Clean and decontaminate
This is the most important step in eliminating bed bugs, but it’s not a quick process. You need to clean and disinfect all surfaces that might have been exposed to bed bugs. This includes:
- Furniture (especially chairs and sofas)
- Carpets and rugs
- Windowsills, window sashes and frames
- Walls, ceilings and floors (including under furniture)
Check your pets for bed bugs
You may not think that bed bugs could be on your pet, but they can. If you find bed bugs on your pet, it’s best to treat both your pet with an insecticide designed for pets or people. Do not use products meant for humans on animals and vice versa. You should also wash your hands frequently when handling animals or their belongings because bed bugs can transfer from one person or animal to another—and back again!
Hire professional pest control services
If you have bed bugs, hiring a professional pest control service is best. These companies will be able to help you find where the bed bugs are in your home, which is essential for getting rid of them. They can also recommend treatments that are safe for kids and pets.
It’s important to do your research before hiring a pest control company. Bed bugs are not your average household pest and will require a bed bug expert to successfully eradicate them.
Ask each company about their process for dealing with bed bug infestations to know what steps they’ll take and what it will cost you upfront (and long-term). It would help if you also asked about any guarantees they offer when controlling your problem and preventing future outbreaks.
Conclusion
We hope that these tips will help you get rid of bed bugs and their symptoms in your home. Bed bug infestations are not just a nuisance but can also cause allergic reactions if left untreated. If you think you may be suffering from an infestation, it’s important to get professional bed bug treatment before the problem worsens. And remember: always wear protective clothing when dealing with these pests!
Call FL Bed Bug Experts for help. 813.922.8475
