Traveling Companions
Bed bugs are only the size of an apple seed, and usually close to transparent. For a pest you can’t see very easily, they can cause big problems and are difficult to get rid of. But how do they get in? To understand how bed bugs infiltrate your house, you have to know how clingy they are. They’re the world-wide leader in hanging on to things and riding all across the world. Gold-medal status hitchhikers.
That means they’ll easily ride straight through your doors and onto your furniture by clinging tightly to you, your clothes, your shoes, your pets, and your luggage. Not checking your luggage for bed bugs is one of the easiest ways to incur a bed bug infestation after you travel. Bed bugs might crawl onto your bag in the hotel, or they can crawl onto your bag during the trip, as airport and bus terminals are bed bug hot spots. It’s scary. You might put your bag onto your hotel bed to unpack your clothes and then realize later that there are bed bug marks on the sheets. Even if you change rooms, they’re probably already in your suitcase.
Another way you can easily pick up bed bugs is by purchasing furniture secondhand. Just because something is cheap and the seller is friendly doesn’t mean they don’t have bed bugs unknowingly. Whether it’s a couch, a mattress, an office chair, or even a refrigerator, check it for bed bugs before bringing it into your home. Bed bugs may occupy any space, even offices, and may be on any furniture, so you never know until you check.
Signs Of Infestation
If you do allow bed bugs to get into your house, you can’t let the infestation last very long. Prolonged infestations are known to lead to insomnia even after the problem is solved, and we all know how dangerous a lack of sleep can be. If you notice:
- Rust-colored excrement on your sheets
- Red bumps in a straight-line on your skin
- Bloodstains on the sheet from bed bug feedings
- A musty odor
You most likely have a bed bug problem. Since they feed at night while you’re sleeping to remain undetected, you’ll notice the bumps on your skin in the morning, and any markings on the sheets will stay. If you notice these signs, get professional bed bug control services right away to avoid the prolonged risk of insomnia.
Home remedies typically only kill the surface layer of pests, leaving you with recurring attacks every few days. Bed bugs will lay eggs deep within your mattress and couch cushions, so you have to get all the way down to the source (which is nearly impossible with sprays and vacuums).
Instead of wasting your time and energy on home remedies that put you at risk, go with the method that gets it right the first time. Here at Pest Ref Services, we have professional pest technicians who can come out to your house at your convenience to help you get back to a peaceful night’s sleep.