6 Ways to Prevent Bed Bugs
Most of us know someone who has contracted bed bugs—and it’s never a pleasant experience. Here are some tips on how to prevent a bed bug infestation, and the signs to know before it becomes unmanageable.
1. Vacuum regularly.
Shaggy carpets, cracks in the floor, and other opening places are places where bed bugs like to make themselves cozy. Vacuuming often prevents them from nesting, particularly where the floor meets the wall.
2. Buy a mattress protector.
Bed bugs are called bed bugs for a reason—they love hiding in mattresses near warm-blooded bodies. We’d recommend getting a durable protector with a zipper on it to keep bed bugs from getting through the bottom. Washing your sheets often also helps kill any bugs or eggs that may be nesting in between your covers.
3. Cover power outlets.
You probably wouldn’t suspect a power outlet to be a bed bug hideaway—but they love to nest themselves there. Bed bugs enjoy power outlets because there is little traffic, they’re dark, and they are a small hiding spot until they come out at night time. By using an outlet plug, you can block them from getting comfortable in there, and from traveling to different parts of your home.
4. Check your hotel room.
One of the most common ways homes becomes infested with bedbugs is by accidentally taking them home after traveling. In your hotel room, always check under the sheets along the edges of the mattress and box spring for signs of bed bugs. Just to be sure, keep your suitcase zipped when you’re not using it to prevent them from crawling in and coming home with you.
5. Clean your pet’s bed.
Your furry friends are just as susceptible to bed bugs as you! Make sure to keep their space clean to eliminate hiding spots for bed bugs, and from making your pet a carrier as they travel around your house. Keeping their space clean also prevents other insects such as ticks and fleas that like to latch to their skin and hide in their fur.
6. Take precautions before buying second-hand items.
Before buying furniture second hand (or anything really), run your fingers along all the seams and crevices to check for signs of bed bugs. When receiving second hand clothing, or even after traveling, run clothes through a hot cycle in the dryer to make sure there’s no bugs hiding.
Signs of Bed Bugs
- Unexplained blood spots on your sheets
- Bite marks in clusters of 3 or in a line around your face, neck, arms, and legs
- Redness and itchiness on your skin
Bed bugs are small, reddish brown insects about the size of an apple seed. They lay shiny white eggs and their feces looks like brown black flakes.
Our Promise
At BRD Pest Solutions, we hope you never get infested with bed bugs. But with these tips and our top-of-the-line repellents, we have confidence that together we can prevent an outbreak. Should you somehow contract bed bugs, give us a call so we can come help you out before they begin to multiply. By knowing these signs, you can have peace of mind, and the good night’s sleep you deserve.
