Did you know that around 20 percent of American homes have some sort of bed bug infestation? These pesky creatures are one of the most common bugs that can invade your household and wreak havoc.
Have you ever wondered how to get rid of bed bugs fast? Here is a brief guide to looking for signs of bed bugs, bed bug treatment, and ensuring that the bed bugs are gone for good.
Find the Source
You should check your home regularly for pests, rodents, and bugs. Since bed bugs are so common, you need to look at different places they could be to keep them out of your house.
Bed bugs like to breed in furniture, such as the creases of couches and mattresses. They are also more likely to spread through multi-unit homes, new people in your house, and used or thrifted furniture.
If you stay at a hotel, make sure that you check for bed bugs before you use any furniture. The bed bugs can jump onto you or your luggage and ride with you back to your home.
Know the Signs of Infestation
There are many different signs of bed bugs that you need to look out for at all times. The bugs themselves are a rusty brown or red color, relatively small, and of an oval shape.
Since bed bugs engorge themselves on blood as their food source, you should take note if you see any rust-colored stains on your sheets or furniture.
If you wake up with mysterious bites, you may have bed bugs. Bed bug bites tend to be numerous and close together, smaller in size than mosquito or spider bites.
You may also notice bed bug feces on your furniture or dead bed bugs. These are signs that you still have a live infestation that you need to eliminate as soon as possible.
Vacuum and Wash Bed Bug Infested Areas
After you spot a bed bug infestation, you need to carefully vacuum the affected areas. Make sure that you vacuum up as many bugs, eggs, and droppings as you can.
Once you are done vacuuming, seal the contents of the vacuum canister in a plastic bag and dispose of it safely. This way, the bugs inside will suffocate and die, so they cannot reproduce.
Then, you should wash all upholstery covers, sheets, pillowcases, and other furniture in very hot water. For furniture that you cannot wash, you can also use steam cleaning to take out the bed bugs.
Kill the Bed Bugs
Next, you need to make sure that you kill all of the bed bugs and eggs. This way, you can stop the bed bugs from attacking your home, laying eggs, and continuing the infestation.
While using hot water or steam is a great natural method for getting rid of bed bugs, it is not the only way. You may need to combine multiple intervention measures to get the problem under control.
Insecticides
Insecticides are a great method that can help to kill bed bugs quickly. In addition, many bed bug insecticides are actually not very toxic, so you can have them around people and pets with little worry.
Diatomaceous Earth
For a completely natural remedy, try a desiccant like diatomaceous earth. You can sprinkle this directly where the bed bugs hatch and thrive. The diatomaceous earth will destroy their shells and kill any baby bed bugs that hatch as well.
Heat Treatment
Since bed bugs can die with heat, you can take it a step further and use heat treatment to eradicate them completely. Some companies specialize in using these methods to eliminate pests.
Once the bugs and their eggs are removed, the heat treatment involves heating a room to around 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The bugs cannot survive in this environment and will die quickly.
For any remaining bed bugs, a small amount of chemical treatment will take them out. This is a solution that does not involve heavy pesticides like bug bombs to get the job done.
Use Regular Pest Control Services
A professional bed bug exterminator can come up with a plan to eliminate the bed bugs and keep them from infesting your home again. Pest control services have the resources to wipe out infestations quickly and easily.
In addition, pest control services often have plans that involve monthly, quarterly, or as-needed inspections. You can have them check for bed bugs regularly. When they see even minimal signs of bed bugs, they can solve the problem sooner rather than later.
There are some types of bed bugs that are resistant to insecticides and other treatments. A bed bug exterminator is knowledgeable about many different species of bugs and what works best to rid your home of bed bugs completely.
Keep the Bed Bugs Away
Once you get the bed bugs out of your house, you need to take measures to ensure that they do not invade again. Pest control maintenance is just one tactic you should employ.
Whenever you stay somewhere unfamiliar or in a hotel, you should check for bed bugs as part of your standard routine. Do not sit on any furniture in the room until you are sure there are no pests.
In addition, try to avoid used furniture or inspect it closely before you bring it into your home. If you see anything in good condition that is free, it could be a red flag for bed bugs.
Learn How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Fast
If you have a case of bed bugs in your home, you should not panic about what to do. With this guide, you can learn how to get rid of bed bugs fast and keep them out of your home permanently.
Want to learn more about how to keep your house clean and eliminate bed bugs and other pests? Take a look around our site or contact us today for answers to all of your questions.