Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. These pests are commonly found in beds, but they can also infest couches, chairs, and other furniture. If you have a bed bug infestation, it is important to take immediate action to eliminate the pests and prevent them from spreading.
In this article, we will explore some ways that bed bugs spread in your home.
How to get rid of bed bugs in your home for good!
Hitchhiking on clothing and luggage
One of the most common ways bed bugs spread is by hitchhiking on clothing and luggage. These pests are excellent at hiding in small spaces and can easily crawl into the seams and folds of clothing and luggage. When you travel, it is easy to bring bed bugs home without even realizing it.
Through shared living spaces
Bed bugs can also spread through shared living spaces, such as apartments, dormitories, and hotels. If one unit in a shared living space has a bed bug infestation, the pests can easily spread to other units through the walls, floors, and ceilings. This is why it is important to check for bed bugs when moving into a new living space.
Via secondhand furniture and items
Bed bugs can also spread through the use of secondhand furniture and items. If you bring home a used couch, bed, or other item with bed bugs, the pests can quickly spread to other areas of your home. This is why it is important to inspect secondhand items carefully before bringing them into your home.
By crawling through small spaces
Bed bugs are excellent at crawling through small spaces, and they can easily move from one room to another through electrical outlets, cracks in the walls, and other small openings. This means that even if you only have a small infestation in one area of your home, the pests can quickly spread to other areas if left unchecked.
Through visitors
Bed bugs can also spread through visitors to your home. If someone who has a bed bug infestation comes to visit, the pests can hitch a ride back to their home on their clothing or other personal items.
How to stop bed bugs from spreading
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. These pests are commonly found in beds but can infest couches, chairs, and other furniture. If you have a bed bug infestation, it is important to take immediate action to eliminate the pests and prevent them from spreading.
Identify the source of the infestation
The first step in stopping bed bugs from spreading is identifying the infestation’s source. This can be challenging, as bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can be brought into your home on clothing, luggage, and other personal items. Look for physical signs of bed bugs, such as the insects themselves, their eggs, and their excrement, in the seams, folds, and crevices of your bed, couch, and other furniture. You may also notice bite marks on your skin or blood stains on your sheets and pillowcases.
Contain the infestation
Once you have identified the source of the infestation, it is important to contain the pests to prevent them from spreading to other areas of your home. One way to do this is to seal off the affected area using plastic sheeting or tape. This will help to prevent the bed bugs from crawling or flying to other areas of your home.
Clean and vacuum thoroughly
Cleaning and vacuuming can help to remove bed bugs and their eggs from your home. Be sure to vacuum all areas where bed bugs are likely to be found, including the seams, folds, and crevices of your bed, couch, and other furniture. Dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister immediately after vacuuming to prevent the bed bugs from escaping.
Wash and dry bedding and clothing on high heat
Bed bugs and their eggs can be killed by washing bedding and clothing in hot water and drying them on the highest heat possible. This includes sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and other items that may have come into contact with bed bugs. If you cannot wash and dry items on high heat, you can also place them in a sealed plastic bag and store them in a hot, sunny location for several days.
Contact a professional pest control company
Employing a specialized bed bug control service is the optimal strategy to prevent bed bugs from extensively infesting your residence. Expert pest control firms possess the necessary skills and knowledge to pinpoint and eradicate bed bug populations efficiently. They are adept at evaluating the extent of the infestation and deploying the proper treatment approach to not only get rid of the bed bugs but also to ensure they do not return.
Pest control companies have access to a wide range of safe and effective treatments unavailable to the general public, like professional heat treatment. One of the benefits of bed bug heat treatment is that it is non-toxic and does not require chemicals. This makes it safe for use in homes with young children or pets and is also a good option for those sensitive to chemical pesticides.
Heat treatment is highly effective at killing all stages of bed bug development, including eggs, nymphs, and adult insects, making it a comprehensive solution for eliminating infestations.
