Make Bed Bugs Crawl Out of Hiding with These Tips!
Do you have bed bugs? If you’re not sure, these tips will help you find out and get rid of them!
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They’re usually active at night and hide in dark, secluded places during the day.
If you think you might have bed bugs, it’s important to act quickly. They can reproduce quickly and infest your entire home if left untreated.
Here are some tips to help you make bedbugs crawl out of hiding and get rid of them:
Make Your Bed an Un inviting Home for Bed Bugs.
Inspect Your Home for Bed Bugs.
Before you can take steps to get rid of bed bugs, you need to know if you have them. Check your bedding and furniture for signs of bed bugs. Look for:
• Small, brownish-red stains on sheets or pillowcases
• Dark spots (about this size: •) on mattresses, box springs, or upholstered furniture
• Tiny red bumps on your skin
If you see any of these signs, it’s time to start cleaning.
Keep Your Home Clean and Free of Clutter.
Bed bugs love to hide in clutter. Get rid of anything that’s not being used and keep your home clean and tidy. This will make it harder for bed bugs to hide and will make it easier to spot them if they are present.
Vacuum Regularly.
Vacuuming is an important part of getting rid of bedbugs and preventing them from coming back. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens that may be present in your home. Be sure to vacuum all areas where bedbugs could be hiding, including:
• Beds
• Mattresses
• Box springs
• Furniture (especially under cushions)
• Carpets and rugs
• Floors (including hardwood and tile)
Reduce Hiding Spots for Bed Bugs.
Bed bugs love to hide in small crevices and cracks in furniture or walls. To reduce the number of hiding spots for bed bugs, seal any cracks or openings in your walls or furniture with caulk or another sealant material. You should also consider covering any exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or tape so that bedbugs cannot crawl into them.
Store Your Clothes Properly.
If you have any clothes that are not being used, make sure to store them in a sealed container or bag. This will prevent bedbugs from getting into them and infesting your home.
When Traveling, Keep Bed Bugs at Bay.
Inspect Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs.
The first step to keeping bed bugs from following you home from your travels is to inspect your hotel room for bed bugs. Look for telltale signs of bed bug infestations, such as rusty or reddish stains on sheets and pillowcases, dark spots on mattresses and furniture, and exoskeletons (cast-off skin shells) in the seams of mattresses and upholstered furniture. If you see any of these signs, alert the hotel staff and request a new room.
Keep Your Luggage Off the Ground.
Bed bugs are experts at hitchhiking—they can easily climb onto your luggage when it’s sitting on the floor or ground. To prevent this, keep your luggage off the floor and away from walls when you’re not using it. If possible, place it on a luggage rack or other elevated surface.
Hang Up Your Clothes.
Another way to keep bed bugs from getting into your clothes is to hang them up instead of leaving them in a pile on the floor or in a dresser drawer. Bed bugs are attracted to body heat and the carbon dioxide we exhale, so they’re more likely to crawl into clothes that are lying close to us (such as those in a pile on the floor). Hanging up your clothes also makes it easier to spot bedbugs if they’re already in your clothing—you’re less likely to miss them if they’re not hidden in folds of fabric.
Use a Luggage Cover.
If you’re really worried about bringing bedbugs home with you, consider investing in a luggage cover—a zippered cover that goes over your entire suitcase. This will help keep bedbugs from getting into your suitcase in the first place, and will also contain any that happen to be hiding inside once you get home (more on that later).
Check for Bed Bugs Before You Leave.
Once you’ve taken all of the precautions above, do one final check for bed bugs before leaving your hotel room for good. Inspect all of your clothing and luggage carefully, looking for any signs of bedbugs (rusty or reddish stains, dark spots, exoskeletons). If you find any evidence of an infestation, leave those items behind—you don’t want to risk taking them home with you!
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs.
Call a Professional Pest Control Company.
If you think you have bed bugs, the first thing you should do is call a professional pest control company. A trained exterminator will be able to confirm whether or not you have bed bugs and develop a plan to get rid of them.
Treat Your Home with Insecticide.
There are a number of different insecticides that can be used to kill bed bugs. You can purchase these products at your local hardware store or online. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before using any insecticide, as some products are not safe for use around children or pets.
Use a Vacuum to Remove Bed Bugs.
Vacuuming is an effective way to remove bed bugs from your home. Be sure to vacuum all of the areas where bed bugs might be hiding, including under furniture and in cracks and crevices. After vacuuming, dispose of the bag immediately so that the bed bugs cannot escape back into your home.
Wash Your Clothes and Bedding in Hot Water.
Any clothes or bedding that may be infested with bed bugs should be washed in hot water (at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit). This will kill any bed bugs that are present in the fabric. Be sure to wash all items on the hottest setting possible and dry them on high heat as well.
Subsection 3-5 Use a Steamer to Kill Bed Bugs
Steamers can also be used to kill bedbugs by heating up water until it turns into steam which then penetrates fabrics and other surfaces where insects may reside killing them on contact.
If you think you might have bed bugs, don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to get rid of them. First, make your bed an uninviting home for bed bugs by keeping it clean and free of clutter. Vacuum regularly and reduce hiding spots for bed bugs. When traveling, inspect your hotel room for bed bugs and keep your luggage off the ground. If you suspect you have bed bugs, call a professional pest control company or treat your home with insecticide. Use a vacuum to remove bed bugs and wash your clothes and bedding in hot water. With a little effort, you can get rid of bed bugs for good!
