Bed bugs are talented when it comes to travelling from one place to another. They latch themselves onto nearly any type of cloth material, including clothes, bedding, furniture, luggage interiors and more.
Bed bugs are hard to get rid of, and if you have an issue with these pests, call a pest control company immediately. If you’re worried about getting them, use the following tips for protecting your home against a bed bug invasion:
Check Items Before They Reach Your Door
The easiest way to protect your home is to double check any second hand furniture, mattresses or bedding that you recently purchased. If you happen to notice bed bugs, leave the furniture outside and dispose of your clothing immediately.
If you intend to purchase second hand furniture in the near future, check for bed bugs before you hand over the money.
Reduce Clutter in Your Home
Bed bugs like to hide in inconspicuous places where no one can find them.
Reduce the chance of giving them a safe haven by eliminating any type of clutter in your home. This includes piles of clothes, bed sheets on the floor and anything else made of cloth.
Fold Your Clothes at Home
Do you go to your local laundromat to do your laundry? If you do, make sure to keep your clothes in a bag at all times when transporting them between the washer and the dryer. When your clothes have finished the dryer cycle, take them out immediately and fold them at home. It’s impossible to know if anyone that had bed bugs used one of the folding tables before you arrived.
Wash Your Pets Constantly
Bed bugs love to latch onto all types of animals and may very well enter your home through one of your pets.
If you have dogs, wash them once a week with hot water and soap. If bed bugs are present, the hot water will help kill them off. Be sure to wear protective gloves when washing your pets and try to avoid any contact with them if you know they are infested with the bugs.
Perform Routine Inspections
One of the best deterrents is to make sure you currently don’t have an infestation.
Most people do not know to spot bed bugs. They are often mistaken other types of pests and therefore any treatments might not be effective. Have a professional pest control company do a routine inspection every four to six months to determine whether or not you currently have bed bugs in your home.
