Part of living in the 21st century is dealing with infestations. It could be termites, cockroaches or it could be bed bugs. The problem with bed bugs, according to pest control officials, is that most people aren’t aware that they exist or how to get rid of them. Of course, the only real solution for getting rid of bed bugs is to call a professional exterminator and ensure that the job is done right. If you don’t have any bugs and you want to keep it that way, there are a series of steps you can take to help prevent bed bug infestations before they happen.
If you are a frequent traveler, even if you stay in 5-star hotel rooms, you are at risk of bringing home more than just cheesy souvenirs. Pest control experts say that infested hotel rooms are the leading source of bed bugs. When you check into a hotel room, either leave your bags out in the hallway or carry them into the bathroom and place them into the bathtub. Walk over to your bed and pull out the sheets. Check under the mattress and under the ribbon around the edge and look for black and red dots or stains. The black dots are bugs, the red dots are feces or blood stains. If you see any evidence of infestation, grab your suitcase and get out of there now.
When you get back from a trip, be sure to do laundry right away, and be sure to either use plenty of hot water or a hot dryer. As you travel, try to put your dirty clothes in a sealed plastic bag or container of some sort. The goal here is to quarantine them away from non-infected items you might be carrying. Once you get them home, separate everything and wash them as quickly as you can. Experts in the pest control industry say that heat from either the washing or drying will kill off any eggs or bugs.
If you brought a large, bulky suitcase with you and you can’t wash it and you don’t want to pay for it to be dry-cleaned, be sure to grab your vacuum and give it a good once over. This isn’t a fail proof method by any means, but it can help remove eggs that you might otherwise miss. Pay extra attention to folds and seems where bugs might be hiding. Remember, bed bugs are small, flat creatures. Bed bug control experts will tell you again and again that bugs can hide in the oddest places.
Another common way that people get bed bugs is from buying used furniture, especially used mattresses. Bed bug control experts will tell you to never, ever buy a used mattress, and to avoid buying used chairs, sofas and bed frames. Even if you shampoo and vacuum everything before you bring it inside, you are risking a serious infestation. You can’t possibly see every egg or even every bug. In bed springs, bugs can get through the fabric layer and lay eggs inside on the wood frame. It is best not to tempt fate at all.