Bed bugs will not infect you with any disease, but they can certainly be a nuisance. These elusive brown insects feed on animal or human blood, and are most active at night. People living in a home infested with these insects are likely to face isolation, sleep deprivation, excessive itching, and discomfort. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to exterminate, but not impossible.
Bed bugs are able to fit into tiny spaces and enter your home undetected through luggage, clothing, boxes, furniture, bedding, or other portable items. They then hide in crevices, seams, folds, and narrow cracks. Their presence should never be mistaken as a sign of dirtiness, as they infest all kinds of homes. This is because bed bugs feed on blood, and can survive for several months without feeding. We share tips that you can take to protect your home from bed bugs.
1. Get professional bug treatment
If bed bugs have already infested your home, the best approach would be to reach out to professionals. Home remedies alone may not be sufficient to treat them. Most professionals will either use heat, steam, or spray chemicals on the bugs. For the best bed bug treatments Charlotte, NC, be sure to hire a reputable pest control company.
2. Get a protective cover for the mattress
Consider having a protective covering on your box spring or mattress, preferably one that has been pretreated using a pesticide. A mattress cover will protect your mattress from getting infested, but will not get rid of the bugs. If the mattress gets infested, get rid of it. A plain, light-colored cover is the most preferred one as it makes it easy to spot the bugs. Also, vacuum them from time to time to prevent a bed bug infestation.
3. Be on the lookout when traveling
Most travelers get bed bugs from dressing rooms in stores, hotel bedding, carpets, and furniture. Check your hotel room for bed bugs by inspecting the furniture, the folds of bedding, and the mattress where the bed bugs hide. To be safe, hang your clothing on the wall hooks instead of placing them on cushioned furniture, and put your suitcase on the rack, not the bed.
When you return home from a trip, move the luggage and clothing you traveled with into the drier. Set it on a high, and leave the clothes there for at least 15 minutes. You can also wash them in hot water, vacuum clean the luggage, and seal the contents in a plastic bag. For items that cannot be heat treated, use cold treatment to kill the bugs. Deal with the bed bugs before they get into your home.
4. Vacuum the floor
Bed bugs often hide in your rugs and carpets. Get into the habit of vacuuming to get rid of bugs from time to time, as this can help eliminate any bed bugs before their infestation gets out of control. After you are done, remove the vacuum bag with all the contents, place them in a sealed bag, and then dispose of them in the outdoor garbage bin. Should any of them be trapped therein, it will be hard for them to escape and make their way back into your house.
End note
It is possible to be extra careful and still have your home infested by bed bugs. Should your home become infested, plan an elimination strategy as soon as possible. The longer the bugs stay in your home, the more they multiply, and the more difficult it will be to get rid of them.
