Keep Bed Bugs Out of Your House
Useful Tips for Preventing a Bed Bug Infestation in Your Home
The bed bug problem has grown rapidly since the turn of the millennium. Having been practically eradicated in North America in the 1950s and 1960s, the recent surge in international travel and the lack of powerful pesticides to deal with the bugs has led to a problem that just keeps on getting worse. An infestation can be incredibly hard to get rid of, as well as very expensive, so how do you prevent bed bugs from getting into your house in the first place?
Don’t Bring Infested Furniture into the House
The most common way for an infestation to begin in your house is by introducing infested furniture. To prevent the problem, do a detailed check for bed bugs first. Look for specks of blood or fecal matter, and then run your fingers around the seams of the furniture, under the pillows, and in the label. If any bed bugs live there, hopefully you’ll catch them before bringing them back home.
Don’t Let Bed Bugs Hitch a Ride on You
One of the best ways for bed bugs to get into your house is by traveling on people. Bed bugs are great travelers, and if a friend or relative has an infestation then they can easily transfer their problem to your house.
If a friend comes around who you know has a bed bug infestation, ask them not to bring any bags with them which could harbor the pests. Equally, if you are visiting their house, don’t take anything with you, and make sure that you wash your clothes on a hot wash when you get home.
Clean the House Regularly
Although many specialists may ask you not to clean your house during the treatment of a bed bug infestation, if you do not have a problem then it is a good idea to keep the place clean. Vacuuming can help to pick up any stray bugs and their eggs, and the cleaner a place is, the more chance there is of spotting a bed bug before it has turned into an infestation.
Use Bed Bug Encasements on Your Bed
Bed bug encasements go right around the bed, zipping up to create a barrier that prevents them from getting in. However, you could also use one of these if you already have a bed bug problem, and it will stop you finding any more bed bug bites in the morning. You need to make sure that it is done up tightly, as even a tiny gap will allow the bugs out.
Bed bugs are a serious problem for many people. Don’t become one of the unfortunate victims, and help yourself by taking a few simple measures to minimize the risk of an infestation occurring in your home. Check out Bed Bugs UK for a wealth of information on everything bed bug related.
