Bed bugs are a significant problem for homeowners and pets. They can cause severe itching, rashes, and even asthma in humans. For pets, bed bugs can be deadly if not treated correctly.
Bed bug removal is a delicate process that requires the right tools and attention to detail. However, removing these pests as quickly as possible is essential so there aren’t any more infestations in your home or yard.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They can be found in the seams of mattresses, box springs, and furniture. They’re about the size of an apple seed, but their bites are often painless because they don’t like to feed on humans or pets. The most likely place bed bugs will hide within cracks and crevices in your home’s flooring or walls (especially behind baseboards).
Bed bug life cycle and location.
Bed bug life cycle involves four stages: egg (eggs are about the size of an apple seed), nymph (the young ones are approximately 5 mm long), adult, and finally, the adult dies after mating with a female bedbug to produce eggs which will hatch into new nymphs.
The average lifespan of an adult bed bug is 18 months without feeding; however, they can live as long as two years without eating.
Do Pets Bring Home Bed Bugs?
Pets can bring home bed bugs, too. While pets are not affected by bed bug bites and do not carry or transmit the disease, they can be exposed to them at home.
What are the Chances of Pets Bringing Bed Bugs Into Your Home?
Pets are not a likely source of bed bugs. However, pets can carry fleas and ticks, more common carriers of these pests. If you have a pet that sleeps in your bed with you and scratches at the furniture, you may have brought in some bed bugs with them.
Are Bed Bugs Bad for Pets?
If you have pets, your pet may develop skin irritation from contact with bed bugs or breathing in their scent. In addition, many people report respiratory problems in their pets after being exposed to these insects.
How to Protect Your Pets from Bed Bugs
Keep pets off the bed. Use a pet bed instead of a human bed. Pets love sleeping on beds—and many people do too! However, because pets often crawl into beds while their owners sleep at night, they may bring home pests like fleas and ticks when they jump onto these cushions.
How to Safely Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Home?
Vacuum your entire house.
Vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to eliminate bed bug eggs, nymphs, and adults. Bed bugs hide in crevices and cracks on furniture, baseboards, curtains, or even behind wall hangings. Vacuum these areas thoroughly with a HEPA filter vacuum (or even better yet, hire a professional) so you don’t miss any hiding spots!
You should also vacuum your carpets because these critters often infest them. If you have pets, ensure they are kept out of their beds while being treated for bugs because pets can spread them around more efficiently than humans.
Launder sheets and linens.
- Wash all bedding and clothing in hot water. Hot water will kill any remaining eggs or nymphs that may be present on your items.
- Dry on high heat for at least 15 minutes. If you have a dryer, use it for at least this long to eliminate any remaining eggs or nymphs from your clothing items.
- Wash bedding and clothing in hot water at least once a week.
Get rid of clutter.
Clutter can be a bed bug hiding spot, so get rid of it. If you have any clutter in your home, such as furniture or clothes, move them to the garage or attic and seal them up until you’re ready to bring them back into the house.
Bed bugs can hide in tiny crevices—even under wallpaper and behind pictures—so ensure that nothing is piled up anywhere except on top of beds or mattresses.
Seal cracks and crevices.
If your home has cracks and crevices, it is time to seal them up. Bed bugs can squeeze through tiny spaces, so you must ensure that nothing is left for these pests to hide in. Look for cracks in the baseboards, walls, floorboards, windows, and doors. Use caulk (or silicone) to seal these cracks and all their edges around those areas.
Clean the furniture, baseboards, and floors.
- Vacuum the furniture. To get rid of bed bugs, vacuum with a crevice tool and clean the baseboards and feet with water and vinegar.
- Use a dust mop to clean hard-to-reach places such as chairs, tables, bookcases, and cabinets that bed bugs may have infested.
- Clean your home with baking soda and water before treating other areas.
Use diatomaceous earth (DE) to get rid of bed bugs.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural pest control product that works by cutting through the waxy outer layer of bed bugs. This leaves them unable to move or reproduce, so DE can effectively eliminate bed bugs without pesticides.
Use a spray that contains pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.
This chemical combination is effective against bedbugs and their eggs on contact, so you don’t need to wait for them to hatch into adults before exterminating them with this method. In addition, research studies have shown pyrethrin to be effective at killing adults and nymphs (larvae), which may be present when first infesting homes after moving into new ones.
However, Py-P-B does not kill eggs laid outside your house by the infestation. These must come inside through cracks where no cracks are left open due to maintenance work done over time by landlords/homeowners, such as painting walls, etc.
Call a professional pest control company in Atlanta.
The easiest and most effective way to get rid of bed bugs is to hire a professional exterminator. Call around to find affordable bed bug exterminators in Atlanta if you suspect you have bed bugs. They offer preventative measures and bed bug home treatment in Atlanta preventing new infestations and ensuring you eliminate all existing problems efficiently and effectively.
How can you keep your pet safe when treating a bed bug infestation?
When treating a bed bug infestation, keeping your pets safe is essential. If you need to treat the room, do so when they are away from it and return them after treatment.
To ensure that your pet has a safe place to stay while you’re getting rid of bed bugs, make sure that their current location doesn’t have any signs of infestation (such as live bugs or eggs). You can also give them an allergen-reducing shampoo before bringing them back to the room where you’ll treat them.
Be informed and take action.
The best way to deal with pets and your bed bugs problem is to take the necessary precautions regarding prevention. Vacuuming your carpets, furniture, and any other fabrics the pet might come in contact with will help remove the eggs from the surfaces.
Bed bugs are not easy to eliminate, but there are some easy ways to decrease the chances of them returning. Be informed and take action if you notice a bed bug infestation in your home.
