3 Things You Should Know about Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a particularly frightening pest to many people. They’re difficult to see and their bites can be hard to identify. They don’t spread diseases to humans, but that doesn’t mean anyone wants to deal with them. Here are three things you should know about bed bugs.

1. How To Know if You Have Bed Bugs

While feared and difficult to eradicate, it can be relatively difficult to determine whether you have a bed bug infestation. Bed bugs can hide in many places, such as bedding, cracks in plaster or behind wall-mounted decorations. It can be easier to determine by the existence of small clustered bug bites, eggs, blood speckles on your bedding, exoskeletons or black specks, which may be bed bug excrement.

2. Prevention Tips

If you want to take preventative measures, there are many options. You can make sure you inspect all luggage after traveling, wash any clothes, towels or bedding you packed before putting them away and inspect your bedding and carpets for a few days after you get home. Additionally, keep your living space clean. You should focus especially on properly vacuuming and cleaning cloth surfaces such as furniture, carpeting, throw pillows and blankets.

3. Treatment

If you do have bed bugs, there are several treatment options. You can try DIY methods such as double-sided tape on the legs of your bed, household repellants or vacuuming your furniture. However, if the infestation persists after multiple attempts, you’ll need to call an exterminator to inspect your home and determine the severity. Then, depending on your situation, the exterminator will discuss treatment options with you. A bed bug treatment Staten Island may involve pesticides, repellants or steam treatments, for example.

If you think you have a bed bug infestation, you should contact a professional to make an assessment and advice you on treatment and extermination options.