Bed bugs have become a big problem over the last couple of years and they are in more places than you can imagine. According to experts, summer is seen as the worst season for bed bugs. There is a lot of travel going on and you could get bed bugs in hotel rooms while on vacation. As a homeowner, you should take a proactive role in ensuring that there are no bedbugs in your home. Because bed bug bites can harm your body or skin very seriously. Here are some tips that will come in handy.
Stay on Top of the Vacuuming and Dusting
Even though this won’t help in getting rid of bed bugs, you will make note that there are not a lot of hiding spots which could encourage rapid breeding. Bed bugs can still be found in clean places like 5-star hotels. When you don’t vacuum or dust regularly, you will promote a good breeding ground. Vacuuming the house shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes if you do it on a regular basis.
Watch For Signs
A lot of people will not know they have a bed bug infestation because they don’t know what to look out for in the first place. There are some obvious signs that can’t be ignored. If you wake up with irregular bites in the morning that are itchy, chances are you have bed bugs in your home. You’re also likely to see bloodstains on your bedding. You might have unconsciously squeezed them when they were just feeding. Another sign that you could have bed bugs is the musty smell. This smell is likely to get stronger the more the infestation gets worse. The signs should never be ignored and you shouldn’t wait until it is too late for you to start looking for Alpha Bed Bug Exterminator Queens before the problem gets out of hand.
Preventing Bed Bugs From Entering Your Home
The best line of defense against bed bugs is by preventing them from entering your home. This could be a challenging endeavor since you don’t have control of where other family members will be. It will also be weird to screen your friends and neighbors for bed bugs. The best way to ensure you’re not letting bed bugs into your home is by making sure that all the clothes go into the washing machine when you’re back from a vacation. Bed bugs don’t like heat and there is no way they will survive your drier. Do not unpack your luggage on your bed when you get home. Ideally, you should have a trash bag outside so that you can transfer all the clothes including the ones you did not wear. After that, the next step would be to inspect the suitcase for any signs of bed bugs.
Unpacking With Care
You will be in trouble if you happen to transport a female bed bug. They’re known to lay eggs with reckless abandon and you will be dealing with a full-blown infestation before you can even blink. Make sure the dryer is on the hottest settings so that all the eggs are being destroyed just in case you might have transported the bed bugs.
Don’t Forget the Office
The office is also another place where the bed bugs could be hiding. You should keep all your personal belongings in a plastic container so that you avoid any exposure in the office. A person working in welfare is likely to be more at risk of carrying bed bugs because they deal with a lot of people and sometimes go into their homes.
Houseguests
It will be rude to ask the guests if they have bed bugs as we’ve already mentioned. You should not shy away from the discussion if there is a breakout in your neighborhood. A good neighbor will alert you so that you’re aware of the potential menace. There is a social stigma that is associated with bed bugs and your friends or neighbors are likely to keep it a secret which shouldn’t be the case. Anyone can be a victim of bed bugs. They don’t discriminate and it can be tough to identify them, especially when they’ve not reached maturity.
To sum it up, the sofa could also have bed bugs. If you suspect you have an infestation, the best thing to do will be to look for an experienced exterminator. This will ensure that you’re getting rid of the bed bugs permanently.