Bed bugs are tiny, parasitic insects that can make your home a living nightmare. They feed on the blood of both humans and animals and reproduce extremely fast. In fact, one female could lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime!
Needless to say, if you spot even one bed bug, it’s important to contact an exterminator right away. There are many places bed bugs like to hide, including in clothes, couches and, of course, beds.
Read on if you’re interested in learning more about how to spot bed bugs and how to remove and prevent them.
How to get rid of bed bugs
Getting rid of bed bugs after they’ve infested your home can be a pain, but it’s possible. While there are some DIY treatments you could try (like steaming items infested with bed bugs), it’s always best to contact a professional. This is the only way to ensure that all the bed bugs are gone. Using a bug bomb or insecticide on your own might be tempting, but only a professional exterminator with years of experience will know exactly where to look for those pesky creatures.
Preventing bed bugs in the first place
Bed bugs can end up infecting your home no matter how hard you try to prevent them. That said, there are several preventative methods that often work wonders. For example, frequently vacuuming your furniture could get rid of any eggs before they have time to hatch. It’s especially important to thoroughly clean any secondhand furniture you plan on bringing into the home.
People sometimes pick up bed bugs while traveling, as the insects can live in hotel rooms. When traveling, be sure to keep your clothes and other belongings in vacuum-sealed bags. This will make your clothing less appealing to bed bugs looking for a place to hide.
Common bed bug hiding spots
As mentioned above, some of the most popular hiding spots for bed bugs include clothes, mattresses and couches, though they can appear just about anywhere. Bed bugs could easily infect your carpets and the cracks in wooden furniture. Bed bugs will slip into any area to hide, then travel over 20 feet to feed.
Bed bug bites often result in small, itchy welts. They are similar to mosquito bites, making it hard to identify bed bug bites unless you’ve actually seen the insects around your home. There are plenty of ways to treat bed bug bites, including antihistamines and corticosteroids. Be sure to check with your doctor before using any medications you’ve never used before.
Identifying a bed bug infection
The easiest way of identifying a bed bug infection is by spotting one of the insects themselves. You might also notice a sweet, musty smell in areas infested with bed bugs. This is because the insects produce a sweet-smelling chemical to communicate with each other. Other common signs of a bed bug infection include random specs of blood, bed bug exoskeletons and small, oval eggs.
If you need your home treated for bed bugs, don’t hesitate to contact the expert exterminators at Excellence Pest Control right away. We know how to get rid of bed bugs quickly and efficiently.