Nothing ruins a good night’s sleep quite like bed bugs. Not only do these tiny insects leave behind painful, itchy bites, but they’re also known for being expert hitchhikers. Once they make their way into your home, getting rid of them is no easy feat. The best way to avoid an infestation is to keep them away from your home in the first place. Here are a few ways you can do that:
1. Think Twice About Secondhand Furniture
Used furniture. While a great way to save money when updating your space, it’s also one of the most common ways bed bugs enter a person’s home. Before bringing any secondhand furniture inside, especially mattresses, bedframes, couches and upholstered furniture, inspect it thoroughly. Look carefully along seams, joints and crevices, as this is where these tiny creatures love to hide. If you can’t be sure that there are no bed bugs, it’s best to pass.
2. Use Mattress Protectors
A quality mattress protector zips around and encloses your entire mattress, effectively removing the seams and folds where bed bugs like to hide. It also traps any bed bugs that may already be present, preventing them from spreading and killing them off over time. Make sure that all six sides of your mattress are fully covered, and don’t forget to get an encasement for your box spring, as well.
3. Keep Your Space Clean and Clear of Clutter
Regular maintenance can also go a long way in preventing bed bugs. Wash your bedding at least every other week on the hottest setting, as bed bugs can’t survive the high temperatures. For items that can’t go in the washer, like pillows and stuffed animals, throwing them in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat should do the trick.
Aside from bedding, keeping the general space around your bed and other furniture clean can work wonders when trying to avoid an infestation. First, try to keep the area clutter-free, as less clutter means fewer places for bed bugs to hide and eventually settle in. You can also vacuum carpets, baseboards, furniture crevices and mattress seams regularly to catch any bed bugs before they establish a full-on infestation.
4. Take Precautions When Traveling
Travel is one of the primary ways that people accidentally pick up bed bugs and bring them back home. When traveling, inspect your hotel room for signs of bed bugs. This includes taking an up-close look at the mattress, headboard and nearby furniture before settling in. Store your luggage off the floor and away from the wall, preferably on a hard surface or table. When you get home, inspect your luggage before bringing it inside. Immediately wash and dry your clothes on high heat before putting them away. It’s these quick, simple steps that can make all the difference.
5. Know the Early Warning Signs
If you know what to watch out for, you can catch a bed bug problem before it turns into a full-blown infestation. Keep an eye out for small reddish-brown bugs about the size of an apple seed, and be wary if you spot tiny dark spots or blood stains on your sheets, shed skins in your mattress seams, or itchy bites on your skin that appear in a line or cluster. Regularly check your mattress, boxspring, bedframe and nearby furniture for signs of bed bugs. The earlier you catch the problem, the easier it is to treat.
Regardless of how vigilant you are and how many precautions you take, bed bugs are sneaky, persistent pests that can still make their way into your home. If you’re dealing with a bed bug problem, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Omaha bed bug control experts at Pro-Staff for help! Call us at (402) 819-7378 or contact us online for a free quote.
