• 20 Jun

• How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs Before Bedtime

Sleep is an essential part of our daily routine. After coming back home from a long day, our places of respite are so important. Having an environment that allows us to recharge for the next day is crucial to our well-being. A conducive environment for rest involves a bug-free home. Bed bugs are a major threat to our places of respite. They reside in the areas where we frequently take a nap, or lie down. What is a bed bug and how can we get rid of it? This article will go through everything you need to know about these blood-thirsty insects.

Intruder’s Profile

Before knowing how to get rid of bed bugs, it is important to understand their key characteristics. A bed bug is a small, flat insect that expands when they feed on the blood of humans or animals. Once a bed bug is finished with feeding, it can take a few weeks for it to start feeding again. Bed bugs are brown in colour, and oval in shape. They lurk near places where humans rest, so that they can reach their target host easily.

These insects go by the name, ‘bed bug’ because they are most commonly found in bedrooms. Humans often get bitten by bed bugs when asleep. Though the bed bug has an easy name to remember, the insect also goes by other names. Worldwide, there have been common sightings of the Cimex Lectularius (Common Bed Bug), the Cimex Hemipterus (Tropical Bed Bug), both of which belong to the family of bed bugs. These bed bugs have a common habit of residing in the homes of unsuspecting humans.

The Hideouts

Bed bugs can be found in different areas of a home. They are attracted to warmth, blood, and carbon dioxide. They typically place themselves in areas where they can easily come into contact with humans. Bed bugs have hideouts that we sometimes overlook. Here are some examples of places where they are usually found:

Closets – Clothes are ideal places for bed bugs to hide in. They are attracted to soft fabrics. It is crucial to look at places where you store your clothes for bed bugs. Your closets and wardrobes that hold all your clothes can attract unwanted company.

Travel Baggage – It would be a good idea to check your luggage every time you come back from a holiday. Hotel rooms that are not properly cleaned may have bed bugs. They may crawl from the beds or carpets into your luggage, and get transported back home.

Bedding – Your bed is an easy target for bed bugs to reside in. At night when you go to bed, these insects will come out of their hideouts to attack. It is important to check your mattress and headboards frequently to identify the presence of any bed bugs. They can hide in the different compartments of the bed.

Areas Near the Bed – Besides the bed, bed bugs may hide in other places of your bedroom. They will usually stay within 20 feet away from their target host. This makes the curtains, cluttered areas and corners of your room attractive spots to hide. Bed bugs hide in places where they can easily access their next blood meal.

Clues to Find Bed Bugs

Identifying the presence of bed bugs can be challenging. These insects hide so well. Nevertheless, a little bit of detective work can help you to discover if they are present at home. It is always better to be on the lookout for bed bugs. Staying vigilant can prevent you from getting bitten by them.  

A Crime Scene – Identifying the presence of dead bed bugs is similar to looking at a crime scene. If there are tiny blood stains on your bedsheets or mattress, you might have a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs like to feed on their sleeping, oblivious, human host. If you are someone that tosses and turns a lot in your sleep, you might crush and kill these bugs. The blood stains are a result of their unanticipated murder.

Bed Bug Droppings – The presence of blood stains can also mean that bed bugs have excreted digested blood. It is characteristic of bed bugs to excrete while drawing blood from their host.

Bite Marks – If there is a bed bug infestation at home, chances of getting bitten are high. A bitten individual typically would have multiple bed bug bites on the arms and legs. Bed bug bites can be itchy. The bites can cause allergic reactions. Some of the symptoms of allergic reactions include redness and swelling.

Repulsive Odour – There might be a strong, unpleasant smell coming from your bedsheets. This could mark the presence of bed bugs. Their glands produce an odour.

Prevention and Eradication Plan

When it comes to prevention and eradication measures, there are many ways of going about it. Here are some ways to ensure that you do not get bitten by a bed bug:

Cleaning – It is necessary to constantly clean the areas where bed bugs may frequent. From bedsheets to curtains, it is ideal to regularly have them washed. When doing the laundry, a good tip would be to wash and dry them under the highest temperature advised for the fabrics. Bed bugs will not be able to survive the high temperature.

Bed Inspections – Inspecting your bed regularly helps with identifying bed bugs early. A good habit would be to regularly change your bed covers. As you remove your bed covers, you can also look for blood stains or droppings.

Luggage Placement – Bed bugs, once nestled inside your luggage, can get transported to your home. This makes it easy for them to invade and multiply. A good practice would be to place your baggage on luggage racks in hotels rather than leave them on hotel beds. This reduces the chances of bed bugs crawling into your luggage while you are unloading.  

Clutter Removal – Removing potential spots that bed bugs might frequent can eliminate hideouts. If your bedroom is cluttered with items around your bed, it is ideal to clear them. A messy room is one that can attract bed bugs and other pests over.

Professional Bed Bug Exterminators

It can be challenging to exterminate these pests on your own. These insects are small and are frequently in hiding. Engaging with professional bed bug exterminators can help to ensure that these bugs do not reside in your home. First Choice Pest Specialist offers consultation services and inspection services for all kinds of pest problems. Our experienced pest controllers can also tailor treatment methods to your every need.

For more information about a bed bug infestation, contact us today.