Bed bug infestations can be a nuisance and are extremely difficult to eliminate. The infestations could start with a few bugs. However, they multiply fast and can render beds (and other furniture) unusable.
Taking action at the first sign of an infestation is crucial.
Bed Bugs Facts
Bed bugs are small, oval, and brownish insects that creep into nooks and crannies of the house. They live on human and animal blood. These bugs are characteristically flat, but when they are fed, their bodies swell and become reddish.
Female bugs can lay about 200 to 250 eggs at one time. Being about the size of a speck of dust, these eggs are almost invisible. When they hatch after 6 to 10 days, the nymphs seek out a blood meal. These will moult 5 times before they become adults.
You may be wondering: Do bed bugs move fast? How fast do bed bugs spread from room to room? Bed bugs are extremely agile creatures and can find their way to an adjacent room in a matter of minutes. You will be surprised at how fast bed bugs move since they only need to take a ride in your sheets or clothes to infest the rest of your home — and even other homes that you visit.
Additionally, while each bug can live for about 2 to 4 months only, they can reproduce about three generations per year which is why you need an effective bed bug killer spray.
Early Signs of Bed Bugs Infestation
Having bed bugs infestation at home can cause a lot of anxiety and discomfort. It is best to find the pests early before they establish a colony. If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your property, you may come across one or all of these signs:
- Small dark spots in your bed sheet which are bed bug excrements
- Eggs and eggshells or pale yellow skins that the nymphs shed
- Reddish stains on bed sheets which are caused by crushed bed bugs
- Live bugs or bite marks on your skin
What to Do at the First Sign of an Infestation
The most important question is: how do you stop bed bugs from spreading? The best time to start getting rid of bed bugs is now. Here are some of the steps that you can take to kick them out of your bed and home:
- Be in Control
The key to winning the battle is to know that you are in control. You may think that because bed bugs move fast and can take over rooms in the blink of an eye, they may come to ruin your peaceful existence at home. However, this is entirely up to you. With some initiative — and help from professional pest control — you can take control of the situation and get rid of them completely. - Do Not Panic
It is normal to feel initial panic at the sight of a bed bug bite, but this doesn’t mean you need to overturn your life and discard all your furniture. Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes some people make when they discover the presence of bed bugs is to throw away all of their mattresses, rip the carpets, or replace the cushions
This is not only a hassle, but it also takes a considerable amount of money to replace all these discarded possessions. Get a reliable bed bug spray or hire pest control services to save your home.
- Identify the Bugs
There are other animals that look like bed bugs and they are not always harmful to the environment or people. There are different ways to determine whether you have bed bugs or some other infestation. Tell-tale signs include their excrements and the places these are usually found — on your beddings, headboards, mattresses, and clothes.
Calling a pest control expert will allow you to get a more accurate diagnosis.
- Remove them Yourself
To eliminate bed bugs without professional help, you need the right tools — but what kills bed bugs instantly? Alcohol does. It kills bed bugs the moment it touches them, making it an effective home remedy.
However, bed bugs are experts at hiding so you may not be able to eliminate them completely.
- Call in the Right People
Do-it-yourself solutions can only go so far. To completely remove them from your home, you need to get in touch with a professional.
What you may have considered as the most effective bed bug spray, may no longer be as effective since bed bugs may have developed some resistance. The DIY route may help you save money at first. However, if not done properly, you may have to do it all over again, wasting time and money in the process.
On the other hand, hiring professional pest control technicians allows you to take advantage of their knowledge and resources so you can effectively be rid of bed bugs. They use heat and steam, dusting powders, and spraying chemicals — all of which require professional know-how and equipment.
- Do Not Move
One of the mistakes homeowners make when they find out that bed bugs have infested their property is to move to another room. Professionals recommend continuing to sleep in the infested room until they have been completely eliminated. This isolates the infestation and keeps it from spreading to other parts of the house.
- Clean Up Your Space
Even if you’ve hired professional pest control services, you can do your part to speed the process along. Clean the area, vacuum the room, or pick up bed bugs with a sticky lint roller. While doing so will not totally remove bed bugs, reducing their numbers is a good start. - Prepare Your Home
Making sure that your home is ready for bed bug treatment is a matter that you need to discuss with your chosen pest control agency. They may advise pregnant women and clients with health concerns to leave the house for a day during and after the treatment. Some professionals may also ask you to prepare the linens and other infested items around the house to make sure these get treated as well. - Take Preventive Measures
The most effective way to keep bed bugs out of your house is to take preventive measures. If you are going to stay for the night in a hotel or in another person’s house, make sure to disinfect your clothes when you get home to get rid of any bug that may have accompanied you.
If you’ve bought second-hand furniture, disinfect and treat them before introducing them to your home. Finally, see to it that your home is clean and free of clutter to make it less inviting to pests.
- Get Regular Treatments
The notion that once bed bugs are eliminated there is no need for another round of treatment is wrong. You may be wondering: Why? Can bed bugs survive extermination? How long do bed bugs live after treatment?
It depends on the extermination method used. However, no matter what treatment is used, regular preventive treatments play a great role in keeping your home free from infestation. The follow-up and maintenance treatments are less harsh and may not be as expensive as the first one.
While you may be tempted to look for a safe bed bug spray to use on your bed bug problem, it may not be enough. Keep the problem from becoming much worse with the help of a pest control company.
Mr. Pest Control offers effective bed bug removal services. Our team has the knowledge, skill, and tools to make sure that every single bed bug in your house gets kicked out for good. Get in touch with us by calling our toll-free hotline at 1-888-794-PEST (7378).
