What to Do About Bed Bugs

May 4
08:04

2011

Emelia Laich

Emelia Laich

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Bed bugs are a pest that many homeowners dread and they are particularly hard to get rid of. Therefore, it is important to understand the signs of bed bugs, how to find them, and how to get rid of them if the time comes.

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Bed bugs are something that no one wants to think about let alone deal with in their home.  However, they are becoming more and more common in more and more places throughout our country.  People used to think that having bed bugs was a sign of poor hygiene,What to Do About Bed Bugs Articles but the truth is that bed bugs can infest any home at any time.  There are definite signs to watch out for that might indicate that you have a bed bug problem as well as ways to regularly inspect your home so that you can catch a bed bug infestation early.  Once you know you have a bed bug problem, there are several methods that professional pest control companies use to get rid of them.

The bed bug sign that most homeowners notice first is bites.  Bed bug bites are distinctive for a few reasons.  First, there will most likely be clusters of bites on your body.  Bed bugs will bite and then only move a small amount before biting again so you will have several bites in a line, a curve, or a cluster.  The bites will be itchy, red, and raised.  They look sort of similar to a bad mosquito bite.  If you are waking up with bites like these, then chances are that you have a pretty advanced bed bug infestation.

If you want to find bed bugs before you get bit, then there are other signs you can look for.  Every other week when you change your sheets, you should do an inspection of your mattress and the base boards behind your bed to look for signs of bed bugs.  Bed bugs are nocturnal so you probably will not see the bed bugs themselves, but rather their excrement.  You will find small black dots along the seams in your mattress or along the base boards or edges of your headboard.  It is also possible to see a bed bug.  They are the size of a small apple seed and reddish brown in color.  They look redder immediately after a feeding and they do not fly.

In addition to regular inspections, you can help prevent the spread of bed bugs in your home by being careful about what you bring into it.  If you travel, make sure to wash all clothing immediately and wrap the suitcase or bag in a plastic garbage bag for a few days to kill any stow aways that you might have brought home.  When in hotels, never put your clothing in the drawers or on the bed.  Keep everything in your suitcase and store the suitcase on a raised hard surface like the desk or bathroom counter.

If you discover that you have bed bugs, then your best bet is to call a professional pest control service.  Bed bugs are particularly hard pests to get rid of and you will need the help of a professional.  There are several methods that can be used to exterminate bed bugs.  The pest control service will most likely start by spraying a bed bug spray to kill as many bugs as possible right away.  In addition they might use freezing or heating techniques.  They can raise the temperature of a room with heaters after it is sealed to kill any eggs as well as adult bugs.  Some companies use dry ice to freeze out bed bug infestations.