How to Prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are a house pest that you certainly want to avoid having in your home, and thankfully there are some preventative measures that you can take to ensure that you don’t get bitten whilst trying to get some shut-eye.
Here we take you through everything you need to know about bed bugs and the steps you can take to ensure that you don’t have to worry about enlisting the help of professionals to get rid of those pesky bugs.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are wingless, small insects that are a red/brown colour, they’re oval-shaped and flat. Adult bed bugs will typically grow to the size of an apple seed, however, in their younger ages they can be much smaller. Bed bug eggs are incredibly small and white, making them hard to spot. They feed on the blood of humans and animals.
Whilst they might not fly, bed bugs move quickly over walls, floors and ceilings. They are mostly active during the night and keep themselves hidden during the day, hiding in the cracks and dark spaces in and around beds.
What’s more, bed bugs can easily move around your home and can be transported through bedding, furniture, clothing or luggage.
How to spot bed bugs
If you’re worried about bed bugs infesting your home then it’s important to know the signs of an infestation.
The first signs you’ll probably notice are small and itchy bites on your skin, typically on areas of skin that might be on show whilst you sleep. You’ll find that they are usually found in clusters of bites, as opposed to single bites here and there. However, some people won’t get any marks or itching.
Other signs of bed bugs in your home include:
- Spots of blood on your sheets or mattress.
- Small white eggs.
- Bedbug faeces, which look like small black dots.
- Bedbugs will shed skin, which looks like the bug.
- A sweet or musty smell around your bed.
How to prevent bed bugs
Whilst bed bug bites might not cause other health problems, they’re still something you want to avoid in your home. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get a decent night’s sleep if you know you’re sleeping amongst bugs that are feeding on your blood.
With that said, here are some tips on how you can prevent bed bugs from occurring in your home.
Home maintenance
To prevent bed bugs from infesting your home regular cleaning and maintenance of the home is important. Decluttering regularly also ensures that you’ll reduce the number of hiding spots for bed bugs. Minimise the amount of items that you have in your bedroom and living areas, places where bed bugs will fester.
Change your bedding regularly and keep an eye on your sheets every time you make the bed. Also ensure that any cracks in your home are sealed, as bed bugs can move from home to home through wall cavities.
Secondhand items
If you’re a fan of rummaging through charity shops, scouring market sites or thrifting of any kind, then you must inspect furniture, mattresses and clothing properly. Bed bugs can hide in items like these and then spread into other areas of the home. So, whilst you may love picking up bargains and doing your bit to help the environment, ensure that you check these items thoroughly to avoid a bed bug infestation.
Travel tips
Whilst you’re travelling, bed bugs might be the furthest thing from your mind, but in actual fact, you may bring them back to your home from your travels. Whilst we don’t want to put a dampener on your holidays, being aware is the best way to prevent bed bugs. So, you must inspect where you’re staying. Check the mattress, headboard and any furniture close to the bed for signs of infestation. If you do spot signs change your room or your lodging as quickly as you can.
Another tip is to keep your luggage off the floor to avoid bed bugs crawling in and nestling their way into your clothing or you could even use protective covers on your cases or bags.
Washing guidelines
When washing your bedding, you’ll want to ensure that you wash at a high temperature, at least 50 degrees, as this will kill any bed bugs or eggs that are present.
Vigilance
To help prevent bed bugs from infesting your home you want to be vigilant and move quickly if you spot an infestation. Bed bugs spread quickly, so by acting quickly, you can help to reduce the need for extensive treatments.
Alert the professionals
If you’re worried about a bed bug infestation then get in touch with us today. We have the tools and expertise to quickly and effectively eliminate them from your home.
Risks associated with bed bug infestations
Even though bed bugs might not carry diseases or pose a dangerous risk to your health, they certainly still pose risks.
Skin irritation
Getting bitten by a bed bug isn’t a nice experience, their bites can irritate your skin, cause redness, itching and some people might suffer worse if they have an allergic reaction.
Sleep disturbances
Having bed bugs in your home is certainly going to cause sleep problems, you’ll be lying in bed in fear of being bitten or even just concerned about how the infestation is going to affect your home.
Stress
Having a bed bug infestation in your home can cause emotional distress, you may feel stressed and anxious whilst you deal with getting them removed.
Financial impact
Getting rid of bed bugs is best left to the professionals to ensure a thorough job, not only that you may have to replace furniture and/or some of your belongings.