How to Know When You Need Bed Bug Extermination

Everyone lives in fear of having them, but no one wants to talk about them. These little creepy crawly bugs can invade a person's home and make their life a living hell. These critters are a nuisance to deal with, and infestations have usually already taken place before people begin to see signs or notice that they may have a problem. If you want to prevent your home from becoming a bed bug resort, there are some things you should look for that will alert you to whether or not you are in need of bed bug extermination.

One of the most obvious signs that most people notice is bed bug bites. These bites often appear as small red bumps in clusters and can be rather itchy. They don't often appear all over the body unless your home is severely infested. Bed bugs tend only come out at night to eat and are attracted to warm bodies, including those of animals, so many people who have pets often wake up to a fresh amount of bites. Bed bugs feed by sucking blood from their victims. Some people can have more severe reactions to the bites, including blisters, pain, rashes and hive-like welts.

Since bed bugs tend to move at night, it should be easy for you to determine if they are present in your home during the day. Check your mattress, inspecting every inch of it with a flashlight. Look for small dark brown stains or dots. If you have any tears or holes in your mattress, chances are they are hiding inside the mattress itself. Check your furniture, baseboards and wallpaper. If you find little dark colored specks, that is a sign of an infestation. You will want to call a bed bug extermination company to come out and get rid of them right away.

If you start to notice a sweet and musty smell near the beds, walls and other furniture in your home, this could also be a sign of an infestation. Getting rid of these pesky critters can be very challenging to do on your own once they have invaded your home. You may be wondering how they got into your home in the first place. Surprisingly, bed bugs travel on pets and humans. They can also travel on clothing and luggage. Children can unknowingly bring them home from school, or you can get them while you are traveling.

Don't attempt to get rid of your visitors yourself. You can accidentally spread them into other un-infested areas. If you have pets, you may want to have them inspected by a vet. Remember, bed bugs love to go where there is warmth and moisture. While you may see items in the stores that claim to get rid of bed bugs, such products can actually cause more harm than good. Hire a reputable bed bug extermination to inspect your home and get rid of your problem. They can also do regular appointments to keep them from coming back.