Bed bugs enter homes on luggage, clothing and second-hand possessions. They can also hide behind loose wallpaper, in plug sockets and sofas.
Washing all clothing and bedding on hot settings will kill bed bug eggs and adult insects. Items that cannot be washed should be isolated in plastic bags. Interceptors like Climbup Monitors (also known as pitfall traps) can be placed under bed posts and upholstered furniture legs.
Bed bugs fly are small insects that bite people at night. They survive by sucking blood and laying eggs. They are typically found in places where people sleep, such as mattresses or bed frames. They can also hide in suitcases, bags, backpacks, and clothes. Bed bug infestations can be difficult to get rid of.
If you discover a bed bug problem in your home, the first step is to clean your mattress and surrounding areas thoroughly. Start by washing your bedding in hot water. Then vacuum your mattress using the hose attachment, paying special attention to seams and crevices. Be sure to vacuum the box spring and foundation as well.
Vacuuming alone is not enough to remove a bed bug infestation, so you should also use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool to reach into seams and folds. Next, wipe down the entire surface of your mattress and bed frame with a cleaning agent. You should also apply a pesticide spray to the infested area. Be sure to read the directions on the label carefully before applying any chemicals.
Alternatively, you can try sprinkling a nontoxic bed bug deodorizer on your mattress and cleaning it with a steamer. If these home remedies do not work, you may need to consider buying a new mattress. However, be aware that new mattresses can become infested with bed bugs as soon as you bring them into your home.
When you find bed bugs in your clothes it is vital to wash them immediately. These tiny creatures can travel from person to person and spread to other parts of your home when you wear these infested clothes. The best way to prevent this is to sort your clothes and put them into separate plastic bags before washing. This will ensure that your clean clothes remain free from these pests and also keeps infested items away from them. We recommend using large Ziploc bags (not the small ones used for food storage) for this purpose.
Before taking your clothes to the washer, carefully sort them into piles of those with and without signs of a bed bug infestation. Then place each category of clothing into a separate plastic bag, sealing it shut. This will prevent the bed bugs from traveling from one bag to another while you transport them to your laundry room or a laundromat. It will also ensure that non-infested items stay free of these annoying pests and that only infested clothes go into the washing machine.
Once you have all of your clothes in the washing machine, wash them on the highest temperature that the fabrics can withstand. The heat will kill the bed bugs and their eggs. Then when the laundry cycle is done, transfer the clothes to the dryer and run them for at least 30 minutes.
Whether you have purchased new furniture or a thrift store score, be sure to inspect any type of upholstered furniture for bed bugs before bringing it inside your home. Use a flashlight to help you see any signs of infestation, which are typically dark stains or shed skin that resembles fecal matter.
Look along seams, in fabric folds and under cushions, where bed bugs often hide. You should also inspect the legs and frames of the furniture. If possible, lift the cushions to examine the seams and underside of the furniture, as well as any crevices or cracks that could serve as hiding spots.
If you find any indications of bed bug activity, you should carefully wash the contaminated furniture using hot water, detergent and a dryer cycle with high heat. Alternatively, you can ask a professional pest control company to sanitize the furniture with heat, steam or specialized chemicals that will kill the insects.
Inspect any unused or used items of furniture for signs of bed bugs as well. These bugs aren’t picky and can live in almost any type of furniture, so be sure to check stuffed animals, bookcases, toy boxes and even cabinets for signs of infestation. Inspect the interior of your closet as well, looking in any cluttered areas like clothing piles or boxes of shoes and clothing.
Getting rid of clutter is an effective preventative measure against bed bugs. Clutter provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes it more difficult to inspect, treat, or eliminate them when they’re present.
When you’re decluttering, don’t forget to check behind wall outlets and behind wood trim or panels, as well as in the tiny cracks and crevices around window frames and sills. The same goes for closets and cluttered areas like clothing piles, shoes, toys, and coats. Look for signs of bed bugs in these areas, including rusty shed skins, black and rusty spots on bedding linens and red itchy welts or rashes from bites.
If you suspect a bed bug infestation, make sure to take steps to confirm the presence of bed bugs with the help of a professional. Capture several specimens and have them tested in a laboratory for evidence of the pest. Also note that bed bug bites are not reliable proof of an infestation, as the itchy welts can be caused by many other things as well.
To prevent the spread of bed bug inspection near me, put interceptors on the legs of all upholstered furniture in your home, including couches, accent chairs and futons. These traps are effective because they release a chemical that’s lethal to the pests. You can also use heat to kill them, a process known as thermal treatment.
