3 Ways To Prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a growing problem in the U.S. and can be very difficult to get rid of. The best thing you can do is prevent them from entering your home with the following methods.
Wash Your Pet's Beds
The first thing you need to do is always keep your pet's beds clean. You might not be able to wash your own mattresses, but your pet's beds can easily be put in the washing machine. Beds for dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and other pets should be washed on a regular basis. Bed bugs automatically head for mattresses and other bedding, which includes your pet's favorite sleeping spot. By washing the pet bed in hot water on a routine basis, you kill any eggs or bed bugs that might be lingering on them.
Keep Your House Clean
Regular cleaning of your entire house is essential. Bed bugs are a bigger problem in the bedrooms and pet bed areas of your home, but that doesn't mean this is the only place you will find them. You need to keep the entire house clean regularly. As you would with other pests, deter the pesky bugs by keeping the floors vacuumed of dirt and debris, always keep trash and food particles in the trash can, and have clean linens on the beds. It is a good idea to vacuum your mattresses each time you change the linens, and empty the vacuum or throw out the bag after each time the mattress is vacuumed. This is also a good chance to investigate your mattress and look for signs of the bugs.
Travel Safely
In many cases, you get bed bugs while traveling. Someone who had bed bugs on their person or in their luggage may have stayed in your hotel room, and the bugs may have made their way over to the bed. The problem just keeps escalating from there. When you are traveling, always investigate the bed and room before you accept a room. Check the linens for signs of the bugs, such as with tiny drops of blood. Pull up the linens and look at the mattresses next. Check the edges and creases of the mattress, looking for tiny reddish-brown bugs crawling alongside this area. They will typically hide during the day, so you might need a flashlight to look closely. Also check around the bed frame and carpeting near the bed.
Before leaving your hotel room, check your luggage. Even if you didn't find any bed bugs on the mattress, this is a good precautionary measure. Take a moment to look inside your luggage, paying close attention to the creases and dark corners. Use a flashlight or lighter to illuminate this area and look for signs of the bugs. The last thing you want to do is bring them home with you.
If you do find yourself with a bed bug problem in your home, visit Arab Termite and Pest Control.