We’ve all heard horror stories of bed bugs and the struggle it is to get rid of them once they’ve infested your home. As with most cases, the best treatment for these pesky pests is prevention. Bed bugs can be hard to spot, as they usually make their home in any little crack or crevice that they can squeeze into and that happens to be the correct cozy temperature. Contrary to what the name suggests, they are not always found in beds either. This opens up a world of opportune living spaces for them within your home, and many different ways they can access these spaces. Let’s check out some tips and tricks to help prevent these creepy crawlers from making your home their own.
Close Off Your Outlets
Power outlets are a common hiding spot for bed bugs, as they are tucked away and safe from the day-to-day foot traffic of most other places in a home. These outlets also allow bed bugs to travel to and fro between various rooms in your house. Blocking these access points off with outlet covers while they are not in use can help to prevent bed bugs from hiding out or spreading further into your home.
Vacuum-Seal Your Clothing
When traveling, before placing your clothing into your suitcases, store them in vacuum-sealed bags for safe-keeping. Keep them in these bags until they are ready to be worn, even while you are at the hotel, and place them back into the bags as soon as you are done with them. If you have seasonal clothing items that you switch out at your home, store them away in these vacuum-sealed bags until the proper season rolls around where they are ready to be rotated into your wardrobe.
Keep a Lookout for Early Signs
If bed bugs make their way into your home, it’s best to know the early signs of their presence before it turns into a full blown infestation. Bed bug bites appear as small red marks anywhere on the body, and typically form rows. They may or may not be itchy. Another thing to keep an eye out for is bed bug droppings. These look like small dark spots and can be found on furniture, around power outlets, and surrounding other access points like cracks or crevices in walls.
Clean Your Home
Regularly cleaning your home, vacuuming your floor, and tidying up clutter, can all help reduce the risk of a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs are known to make themselves cozy within the fibers of your carpeting. By vacuuming consistently, you can remove the bugs who have made their home there and eliminate the possibility of them traveling to other spots of your house. Decluttering can also help reduce the chances of bed bugs getting out of control. Get rid of belongings you no longer need, place your storage items in airtight containers, and move things away from the walls when possible.
Check Out Your Furniture
By completing consistent checks of your furniture, you can potentially catch a bed bug infestation before it gets out of hand. Watch for signs of pests along the seams and bottoms of the furniture pieces where it may be easy for bed bugs to hide.
As you can see, there are many steps you can take to aid in preventing a bed bug outbreak in your home. From avoiding contact with them completely, to addressing the issue if they do make an appearance in your home, there are solutions for you. If you think you might have a bed bug problem, or if you are interested in our pest control services, reach out to our experts today.