Think You Have Bed Bugs? What to do first!

​Discovering you may have bed bugs in your home is very disturbing for some people.
Getting rid of a bed bug infestation is far from easy. There are several things that you will need to take care of immediately.

Contact an Exterminator

Have the area assessed and serviced by an expert.  They can determine if the pests are in fact bed bugs and provide you with a correct treatment plan.
They will also recommend preparation steps to be taken.

This includes discarding any items you do not require anymore. Do not dispose of your furniture until conversing with the pest control operator (PCO). The PCO will indicate which items can or cannot be treated.

Use a vacuum cleaner and its crevice attachment to suck up all potential spots where bed bugs may be lurking.

Scrub away any evidence of bed bugs as much as possible. This will help you spot any new bed bug activity during the next inspection.
 
Wash and dry your bedding and clothing.  The intense heat from a clothes dryer will eliminate all stages of bed bugs.
 
After sanitizing items and making sure there are no more bed bugs on them, separate them from spaces in your home that may still have infestations.
 

Get rid of bed bugs in your sleeping area

Professional bed bug exterminators will tell you that the bed bugs will live close to their host.  Namely, you.  And the spot where you sleep is ideal for their habitation.  They are close to their food source, while it is sleeping.  So obviously, you need to focus on your sleeping area and minimize the bed bugs there.
Here are some tips in that regard:

-Take off the bed skirt to stop the bugs from climbing up.
-Vacuum all parts of the bed, including the mattress and box springs, frame (even underneath), headboard, and back of the headboard.
-Cleanse sheets, blankets, bedspread, and pillows with laundry detergent and then heat them in a dryer for 30 minutes so that any hiding bugs will be killed. Ensure that you don't overload the dryer or else items won't get hot enough.

Defending Your Bed Against Bed Bugs

While you may have strong evidence of bed bugs in one bedroom of your home, you may not be seeing the same signs in the other bedrooms.  It's time to get on the defensive against bed bugs.

Mattress Enclosures

• Cover your bed to keep bed bugs away. Invest in a special covering for the mattress and box spring that is sealed on all six sides with a zipper, and has the words "bed bug proof" written on it. Do not open or remove this casing for at least one year, and use it as a mattress cover if desired.

 

• Once the bed bug-proof cover is installed, any existing bed bugs will perish because they cannot chew through this material. The outer surface of the cover does not have any seams or piping, so there are no hiding places for these pests on its exterior.

Bed Bug Interceptors for your bed

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• An interceptor is a saucer-shaped device constructed from strong, glossy plastic. It features a depression in the middle to accommodate the leg of the bed, and a groove encircling the depression to capture any bed bugs that may attempt to ascend along the perimeter. The design of interceptors capitalizes on bed bugs' aversion to slick or adhesive surfaces.

 

• You can purchase bed bug interceptors from pest control companies, or you can make your own. To do this, you can wrap double-sided sticky tape around the legs of the bed, cover the legs with petroleum jelly such as Vaseline, or place smooth-sided containers (like a margarine dish or short glass jar) underneath the legs of the bed. The containers should have something in them to trap bed bugs, such as vegetable oil, talcum powder or petroleum jelly.

 

• Do not place any poisonous substances in the bottom of the well. Utilizing insecticidal dusts to eliminate bed bugs is effective, yet can cause respiratory issues if you are subjected to it for an extended period.

Separate Your Bed

​• Position your bed a minimum of 15 cm (6 inches) away from the walls.

• Refrain from keeping items on your bed.

• Remain vigilant in protecting your bed.

• Avoid placing any objects on your bed that may be harboring bed bugs, such as bags, coats or any other items that have not been checked or cleaned.

• Heat treat all linens at least once a week until all the pests have been eliminated.
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• Inspect and vacuum your mattress and frame at least weekly for new evidence of infestation.

​You should clean and examine the area at least once a week until you can be certain that all of the bed bugs have been eradicated. This could take several weeks, depending on how severe the issue was, and if it is in a multi-family building, how well everyone works together.

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