Beds should be a place of rest and relaxation, but bed bugs can turn them into places of pure torment. It’s possible to wipe out an infestation after it takes root, but it’s much better to take a few preventative steps to make sure the problem never gets out of hand.

Check Used Furniture

That old chair or mattress on the side of the road may look like a great deal, but it can be more trouble than it is worth. Most bed bugs sneak into the house on infested textiles, usually in the form of used furniture. Fortunately, you can take advantage of low prices and avoid bed bugs if you take the time to check the furniture carefully before you take it into your home.

You should start by looking for the actual bugs, especially in any cracks or crevices where they could hide. The eggs are tiny, so you might not be able to see them, but they look like little pearly spheres, possibly with a dot near the middle. Bloodstains and droppings can also indicate that bed bugs have lived on the furniture at some point. If you see any of those signs, leave the furniture where it is. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

Act Fast

Bed bugs are living organisms, so they need time to reproduce. If you deal with them as soon as you see the first sign of their presence, you’ll strike while their numbers are low and have a better chance of success. Don’t hesitate to call for professional help at this stage. They offer the best chance of exterminating every bug, and calling them early can prevent you from suffering the unpleasantness of a full infestation.

Declutter

Bed bugs will hide in any small, sheltered place that they can find. There are relatively few of those in a clean house, but a home that is full of clutter offers plenty of living space for the bugs. Clutter also makes it harder to get rid of them all, since the odds of missing a hiding place increase as more of the places become available.

This means that simple cleaning can help to prevent bed bugs. Focus on the area around your bed and closet, with a special emphasis on things that touch the floor. Cleaning everywhere is ideal, but just covering those important locations will take less work and do almost as much good.

Wash Regularly

Bed bugs and their eggs have a hard time surviving a washing machine or a dryer. Clean all of your textiles regularly to keep the numbers under control. This won’t get all of them, but it will help with the problem. Some of the eggs might fall off in the laundry hamper, so be sure to clean that after you use it if there is any chance of an infestation.

If you feel like you are having a bed bug issue call our bed bug exterminators and bed bug pest control experts at 480-832-8888