5 Tips Can Help You Prevent and Treat Bed Bug Invasions
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Bed bugs are an issue for homeowners, apartment dwellers and even dorm room occupants. The pests are tough to exterminate because they spread easily, hide effectively and reproduce quickly. Five tips for bed bug prevention and treatment include thorough inspections of your accommodations when you travel, keeping your home clean and using caution when buying used furniture. Treatment suggestions consist of using extreme heat or cold to exterminate them.
Bed Bug Prevention Tips While Travelling
To prevent a bed bug infestation in your residence, be sure to vacuum your suitcases thoroughly when you come home from a vacation. Also, check your bed sheets for bed bug signs, which will include small blood specks or streaks. When you are traveling, consider storing your suitcase in a large plastic garbage bag. You should also travel with a flashlight to complete in-depth bed bug inspections.
Home Cleaning Recommendations
Be sure to keep the clutter in your home at a minimum to eliminate hiding places for the pests. Also, wash your bed linens and clothing regularly as the heat from your dryer will kill the bugs. Once you’ve confirmed that you have an infestation, you may be tempted to toss out many of your bug-filled belongings, but you should resist the urge because many items can be treated. Also, you could cause the infestation to spread to other homeowners.
Purchase Old Furniture with Caution
If you like to decorate your home with antiques, then use caution as you could bring bed bugs into your home. When you do furnish your home with previously owned items, be sure to inspect the items carefully. Look for signs of the pests under cushions and in nooks and crevices.
Cold Treatment Suggestions
An extreme temperature change is usually the most effective way to exterminate bed bugs. If you live in an area that experiences cold winter temperatures, then you can place bed bug infested items outside. However, it can take up to 30 days for the method to work properly. The application of carbon dioxide will kill the pests immediately since it freezes them, but it will only eliminate the creatures that the bed bug exterminator can find.
Heat Treatment Recommendations
Large bed bug infestations should be professionally heat-treated. In fact, an exterminator may suggest a whole house heat treatment. During the procedure, the rooms of your home will be heated for several hours. The method requires specialized equipment, such as a generator and several large fans, to distribute the heat throughout your residence. Your home’s interior will reach temperatures of 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, assess your belongings to make sure that they can withstand the excessive heat.
How to Get Rid of Bedbugs the Right Way
If bed bugs infest your home, then consider calling a bed bug exterminator. An expert will inspect your home to confirm the infestation. Also, he or she will recommend the best treatment technique for your residence. With professional help, you’ll gain peace of mind, and you’ll feel comfortable sleeping in your home again.
