The first step is to identify and treat any existing bed bug infestations. Be sure to wash all bedding, including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and duvets, in hot water and dry on the highest heat setting. Vacuum the mattress thoroughly, paying special attention to tufts, folds, and seams. Next, cover the mattress and box spring with a zip-top mattress cover or bag designed to prevent bed bugs from escaping.
Next, take steps to prevent bed bugs from returning. Keep your bedroom clean and free of clutter to reduce hiding places for bed bugs. Vacuum floors, carpets, and upholstered furniture regularly Store clothes in airtight plastic bags rather than leaving them out in the open. And be sure to inspect any used furniture before bringing it into your home.
If you think you have a bed bug infestation, contact a professional pest control company. A trained exterminator will be able to confirm if you have bed bugs and develop a plan to get rid of them.
10 ways to make your bed bed bug proof
So, let’s narrow it down to 10 key ways to make your bed a fortress against bed bugs:
- Start with a clean slate. If you think you might have bed bugs, the first thing you’ll want to do is wash all of your bedding in hot water. This includes sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and any other piece of fabric that comes into contact with your skin while you sleep.
- Vacuum your mattress. Once you’ve washed all of your bedding, the next step is to thoroughly clean your mattress. Pay particular attention to tufts, folds, and seams, as these are all prime hiding places for bed bugs.
- Envelope your mattress and box spring. One of the best ways to prevent bed bugs from infesting your bed is to enclose your mattress and box spring in a zip-top mattress cover or bag designed to prevent bed bugs from escaping. This will create a barrier that the bed bugs will have a hard time getting over.
- Keep your bedroom clean and clutter-free. Bed bugs like to hide in dark, crowded areas. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent them from taking up residence in your bedroom is to keep it clean and clutter-free. This will reduce the number of bed bug hiding places and make it easier to spot them if you try to move in.
- Vacuum floors, carpets, and upholstered furniture regularly. In addition to keeping your bedroom clean, you should also vacuum your floors, carpets, and upholstered furniture regularly. This will help remove any bed bugs that may be lurking in these areas.
- Store clothes in airtight plastic bags rather than leaving them out in the open. If you have clothes that you are not currently using, it is best to store them in airtight plastic bags rather than leaving them out in the open. This will prevent bed bugs from getting to it and will also make it easier to spot any bed bugs that might be hiding in the fabric.
- Inspect any used furniture before bringing it into your home. If you’re thinking of buying used furniture, make sure you check it carefully for bed bugs before bringing it into your home. This will help prevent you from accidentally introducing bed bugs into your home.
- Watch for signs of bed bug activity. Some signs that you may have bed bugs include finding bites on your body, seeing small blood spots on your sheets, or finding small black dots on your mattress or furniture. If you see any of these signs, it’s important to contact a professional pest control company so they can confirm whether or not you have bed bugs and put together a plan to get rid of them.
- Contact a professional pest control company if you think you may have bed bugs. If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, the best thing to do is contact a professional pest control company. A trained exterminator will be able to confirm whether or not you have bed bugs and develop a plan to get rid of them.
- Take steps to prevent bed bugs from returning. Once you’ve gotten rid of a bed bug infestation, it’s important to take steps to prevent them from returning. Some of the things you can do to prevent bed bugs from returning include vacuuming your home regularly, keeping your bedroom neat and clutter-free, storing clothes in sealed plastic bags, and checking any used furniture before bringing it into your home.
By following these steps, you can make your bed a fortress against bed bugs and help prevent them from returning.
10 things you should know about bed bugs:
- Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals.
The insects are the size of an apple seed and are reddish-brown in color.
- Bed bugs usually bite people at night while they are asleep. The bites are painless, but they can cause itching and swelling.
- Bed bugs are attracted to body heat and exhaled carbon dioxide. They are also attracted to chaos where they can hide during the day.
- Bed bugs can live for months without feeding and can survive a wide range of temperatures, from nearly freezing to over 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
- A female bed bug lays hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, which hatch in about 10 days. Nymphs or bed bugs can begin feeding on blood immediately after hatching.
- Bed bugs can go without feeding for more than a year, which is why they can be difficult to get rid of once they have infested a home.
- Although bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can cause anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction in some people.
- Bed bugs are often found in hotels, apartments, and other places where people congregate. It can be easily moved from one place to another on luggage, furniture, clothing or other personal belongings.
- To prevent bed bugs from infesting your home, inspect used furniture before bringing it inside and clean it regularly. Be sure to wash all bedding in hot water and dry it on the highest setting.
- If you think you have a bed bug infestation, contact a professional pest control company. Also, contact your local health department. So they can inspect your home and provide information on how to get rid of insects.
The best way to prevent bed bugs is to avoid infested areas and take steps to prevent them from entering your home. When traveling, carefully check your hotel room for signs of bed bugs, and don’t bring any belongings into the room that could harbor the insects.
When you get home, wash all of your clothes in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting, and clean all of your suitcases. Vacuum your home regularly, paying special attention to tufts, folds, and seams from mattresses and upholstered furniture.
Store clothes in airtight plastic bags rather than leaving them out in the open. And be sure to inspect any used furniture before bringing it into your home.
5 things you should never do if you have bed bugs:
- Don’t try to kill bed bugs with insecticides from the hardware store. These products are not effective and can make the problem worse.
- Do not attempt to remove bed bugs with a vacuum cleaner. This will spread the bugs around and will be difficult to get rid of.
- Do not attempt to treat bed bugs yourself with over-the-counter medications. These will not work and could make you sick.
- Don’t get rid of your furniture if you have bed bugs. Bugs can live in other parts of your home and will just come back.
- Don’t panic! Bed bugs are a nuisance, but they are not dangerous and treatable.
We hope you found this article useful. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to us. We are always happy to help!