If you have ever been plagued with a bed bug infestation, then it is likely that you have wondered what the best way to prevent another one is. There are many prevention methods for you to consider including bed bug home treatment in Atlanta. Still, none are more important than knowing your enemy. Suppose you know what type of bed bugs are in your environment and how they are moving around your home. In that case, it’s much easier to prevent future infestations.
Know your enemy.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They hide in your mattress, box spring, or other soft furnishings during the day and come out at night to feed on you. You can also find bed bugs in the cracks and crevices of walls, floors, and furniture.
How do you know if you have bed bugs?
You may not see evidence of an infestation right away. The first sign could be bites on your skin (usually around the ankles). It can happen when someone bitten by bedbugs tries to move into a new place without properly cleaning it first.
Minimize Clutter in Your Home
Clutter provides hiding places for bed bugs, and the more space there is for their eggs to hatch, the more likely you’ll have an infestation.
Remove any large items from your bedroom that could serve as hiding spots or places where they can lay their eggs.
Vacuum Regularly
Vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to prevent an infestation. It is also a great way to reduce allergens and dust mites in your home, which can affect your health.
Vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are especially effective in removing bed bugs and their eggs from mattresses, box springs, and pillows; they’re also suitable for removing dust mites from mattresses as other surfaces like curtains or upholstery.
So how often should you vacuum? The answer depends on what level of infestation you’re dealing with.
- Bed bug bites – once every two weeks (or more often if necessary)
- Bed bug eggs – once a week or biweekly
Steam clean often.
Steam cleaning is a great way to get rid of bed bugs and eggs. You’ll need a steam cleaner and some cleaning solution to do this. Extreme caution is the most important thing when using a steamer on your mattress or box spring because the heat will be hot enough to burn you if you’re not careful.
Keep Items Stored Off the Floor and Away from the Bed
When storing items, keep them off the floor. It is especially important for clothing and towels that bed bugs can use as nesting material.
- Don’t store items on top of the bed or near it. It will provide a shelter for them to hide in when you’re not looking.
- Don’t put anything under your bed, including bookshelves or other furniture (such as boxes). Bed bugs love hiding places like this because they are warm and dark–perfect environments for breeding!
Limit Light
Bed bugs like the dark and will not travel far from their hiding places when exposed to light. Therefore, keep your bedroom as dark as possible by closing all curtains, blinds, and curtains in other rooms. You should also use a night light to help keep an eye on your surroundings while you sleep.
Clean and Store Laundry Properly
- Wash clothes in hot water.
- Dry clothes on high heat.
- Use a dryer sheet in the dryer and air them out before putting them away.
Use a Mattress Cover
A mattress cover is a thin, plastic cover that fits over the mattress and prevents bed bugs from getting in or out. It’s also an excellent step to take when trying to avoid an infestation, especially if you need clarification on whether there are bed bugs in your home.
A correctly fitted mattress cover will remove dirt, dust, and other materials that could help bed bugs thrive.
Use Box Spring Encasements
Encasements are an excellent way to prevent bed bug infestations. You can purchase them at most hardware stores. To use an encasement, place it over your mattress and box spring (or any other furniture with a removable cover). Be sure to leave enough room for air circulation between the mattress and encasement so that moisture does not build up inside them.
Inspect Your New Furniture
Look for any signs of damage or bed bug infestation, and have a professional inspect the furniture for further signs of infestation. If you suspect that bed bugs may present in a new piece of furniture, always use caution when moving any item that might be harboring them. Check for signs of damage (i.e., holes) and other telltale signs like droppings or blood stains on the fabric surface.
Traveling? Take note of these:
Avoid drag-and-drop travel.
Do not bring luggage, backpacks, purses, or other gear into your hotel room. Put all your luggage and clothing into the bathtub and inspect it later.
Avoid putting suitcases under beds in hotel rooms.
Bed bugs are also very good at crawling through openings like zippers and other small spaces where they can hide undetected. If you must put a suitcase under the bed, place them in plastic bags first and zip up the bags tightly. Keep suitcases away from walls and headboards in hotel rooms and lock them securely, as bed bugs can crawl through tiny cracks to get inside.
Bedbugs are more common than you think.
According to the U.S. Bed Bug Registry, there are more than 1 million reported bedbug incidents in the United States every year. That is more than one per minute! Bed bugs are highly contagious and require immediate treatment. Infestations can spread quickly, and without warning, so it is essential to act now if you suspect an infestation.
If you have a problem with bed bugs, hire the bed bug exterminators in Atlanta. At Atlanta Bed Bug Experts, we offer bed bug treatment, the most effective way to prevent bed bugs from infesting your home.
