Any home can be prey to a bed bug infestation. How can you know when bed bugs have taken up residence in your house, apartment, or place of work? Here are a few tips, tricks, and pieces of advice that will help you handle your bug problem.
How to Keep Bed Bugs Out
Keep your home clear of clutter on the floor. Bed bugs love to hide in clutter of all kinds, so keep those things off the floor and put them away in their proper place.
Don’t bring used pieces of furniture into your home. These used pieces of furniture can potentially harbor bed bugs, and it can be nearly impossible to check them or remove them if they are found.
Use your dryer liberally to cleanse pieces of clothing of potential bed bugs. Bed bugs cannot handle the extreme heat of a simple clothing dryer. If you’re nervous you might be carrying bed bugs back home with you, toss all your clothing into the dryer when you arrive home at the end of the day.
When to Call for an Inspection
You, your family, and loved ones start getting bitten. Not all people develop rashes due to these bites, so remember that you might not see these bites at all.
You start seeing droppings or byproducts of bed bug infestation. These bugs leave a trail when they live in a home long enough. You might find droppings, eggs, or shed skins.
You physically see the bed bugs. These small bugs are small, brown, and have tear-drop shaped abdomens. They can be hard to spot due to their nocturnal habits.
What to Do if You Have Bed Bugs
Schedule an inspection with a professional bed bug exterminator. Find a professional by looking through your local paper, or searching on your favorite online search engine. If you live in New York City, for example, you’ll want to look for a bed bug treatment.
Get your home specially treated for bed bugs. Once the inspectors have confirmed the existence of bed bugs, you’ll want to get treatment as soon as possible. Go with a reliable exterminator, and never get treatment without an initial inspection.
Ensure the bed bugs won’t return. Follow the steps illustrated in our “Hot to Keep Bed Bugs Out” section, and you’ll ensure these pesky bugs won’t be coming back into your home.