When it comes to pests, bed bugs are some of the most tenacious. They can be extremely difficult to get rid of. What’s more, you don’t even know how they got in your home in the first place. After all, you keep it clean and tidy. The idea that bed bugs only infest dirty homes is a common misconception. In fact, any home is susceptible to bed bugs, and the unfortunate truth is we often bring them in ourselves, though unbeknownst to us.
Like little hitchhikers, bed bugs hop onto our clothes and bags and we bring them right in the front door. Therefore, knowing the places you are most likely to pick up bed bugs, as well as a few precautions you can take, should help to lower your odds of bringing bed bugs into your home.
What Is A Bed Bug?
A bed bug is a pest that has a small oval-shaped body. They are a brownish color, however, after feeding, they will engorge and take on a more reddish hue. Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and animals and are more active at night. Therefore, they often infest mattresses and box springs where they can feed on sleeping humans. If you notice blood smears on your sheets and pillows or bites around your ankles, there is a very good chance you could have a bed bug infestation.
Bed Bug Hotspots
Because bed bugs feed on the blood of humans, hotspots for them are anywhere with large numbers of people. This could be bus stations, airports, hotels, malls, dormitories, subways, or conventions. While avoiding these places altogether is not realistic, there are some precautions you should take during and after visiting areas with large quantities of people. These include not putting your bags or purse directly on the ground, avoiding brushing against other people, and checking your coats and bags before returning home. If you can be cognizant of yourself and your surroundings, you should be able to somewhat limit your exposure to bed bugs.
How Bed Bugs Get Inside
As previously stated, bed bugs are like hitchhikers, and more often than not, we are their ride. We pick them up on our clothes and luggage while we are out in the world, and then bring them home with us. In addition to this, bed bugs will also infest homes after being brought in on second-hand items such as things you might buy at a garage sale. Whether it be furniture, toys, or second-hand clothes, there’s no shortage of means by which bed bugs could get into your home.
How To Prevent Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, preventing bed bugs is not so easy. Given that they can be picked up in any number of places, it’s unrealistic for you to totally avoid anywhere that bed bugs might be. However, there are some simple techniques you can use to lower your chances of picking up bed bugs. These include:
- Don’t set your luggage or purse directly on the ground in public places.
- Inspect hotel mattresses and sheets before using them.
- Check your clothes and bags before entering your house.
- Refrain from sitting on the ground in public places.
- Thoroughly clean any second-hand items before bringing them into your home.
If you can follow these basic tips, you should lower the chances of bringing bed bugs into your home.
Getting Professional Help
Bed bug infestations are no joke and are hard to get rid of. Therefore, if you are dealing with a bed bug infestation, call the professionals here at Green Flag Services right away. We have the required experience and expertise to fully eliminate any bed bug infestations so that you and your family can sleep at ease. Don’t hesitate – give us a call today.
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