We all know the rhyme, "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite". Well, this childhood rhyme contains a cue to the effort required not to let the bedbugs bite you while you sleep.
Bed bugs are those pests that spread like wildfire, meaning that they can easily be transferred from one place to another.
With the ease of travel restrictions, people are now revisiting different places in all their glory. While that’s good news, it might result in the spread of these nasty pests from one place to another. So if you have recently travelled to someplace with bed bugs, there are a few house pest control precautions you need to take.
You can also control and eliminate bed bugs in a few easy ways to reclaim your peace. This post will discuss the 10 effective house and home pest control tips to stop the bed bug epidemic.
Regularly Clean Your Bed
Cleaning your bed every day is essential to keep the bedbugs away. It doesn't only mean that you have to make your bed and aesthetically decorate the pillows. Cleaning means changing your bedsheets, dusting your mattress and pillows off, and replacing your duvet covers every few days.
To make house pest control https://thepiedpiper.co.uk/home-pest-control/ steps more effective, wash your bedsheets, pillow covers, duvet cover, and throw-blanket with hot water. This makes sure that even the last bed bug attached to the bedding dies.
Use a Mite Proof Casing
Cotton bed covers are the most common option among most house owners, but they are not bedbug proof. However, you can find a variety of house and home pest control bed covers that protect your bed from getting infested. For example: vinyl-based covers.
You can spread these covers on the mattress underneath your bed sheet. Even if your beds have bed bugs, it will stop them from surfacing during the night and prevent diseases and skin inflammation.
Keep Wet Clothes Off the Bed
Putting wet towels or clothes on the bed is one of the most common practices, especially among kids and teenagers. But unfortunately, doing so makes the bed more vulnerable to bed bug infestation. Since bed bugs like a dark, musty environment to grow, the moisture in the mattress will provide the mites with an ideal breeding ground.
Keep your wet clothes off the bed to prevent the growth of bed bugs. Put any damp cloth or towel in the dryer immediately to remove the moisture, while the heat can kill any bed bug attached to the fabric.
Inspect the Pillows
Bed bugs are not only limited to the mattress, but they can infest your pillows and duvets too. So make sure to inspect your pillow covers and the pillow inside to check for any eggs, droppings, or active bed bugs.
Another sign is having brown or black spots on your pillow, one of the most significant indications of bed bugs. If the infestation is getting out of control, you need to replace the cushions and hire a house and home pest control https://thepiedpiper.co.uk/home-pest-control/ service to eliminate these pests from your mattress.
Spray a Bed Bug Repellant
If you doubt that you might have carried bed bugs from your recent trip, use a bed bug repellent on your bed before sleeping. Even if there are any mites left in your clothes, they won't be able to infest your bed.
It’s also recommended to spray a bed bug repellent on your clothes when checking into a hotel. This will prevent the transfer of these mites to your place. In addition, you can contact house and home pest control experts to spray a strong repellent on your bed.
Do Not Put Your Sheets on the Ground
Ensure you don't dump your sheets and duvet on the floor while cleaning the bed. There might be bed bugs or other nights lingering around on the floor that can travel to your bed with the sheets.
Not only that, but sleeping with your duvet or sheets hanging on the floor may also allow insects, mites, or bugs to climb your bed.
Wash Your Clothes After Travelling
Whether you think the hotel or resort you checked into had bed bugs or not, it is essential to wash all your clothes with hot water when you come back from the trip. You can also use bleach for your clothes to eliminate bed bugs.
However, don’t forget to read the care instructions on your clothes’ fabric tags before using bleach. Bleach will make sure that there are no mites attached to your clothes.
Declutter Your Bed
A cluttered bed is an open invitation for bed bugs. So, do not use your bed to dump all the clothes after doing laundry or overcrowd the space with 10 different pillows. In addition, make sure every part of your mattress gets enough air to avoid trapping any moisture.
The less space these mites will have to hide, the lesser the chances of an infestation.
Avoid Secondhand Bedding
Second-hand bedding can be cheap, but it might come with a bed bug infestation that can cost you hundreds of dollars in the end. Not only that, but you might also have to pay hefty medical bills to treat the diseases caused by bed bugs.
Therefore, it is ideal to avoid second-hand bedding. However, if you do happen to purchase a used bed or mattress, make sure to run a proper check-up to find any sign indicating bed bugs.
Seek Professional Help
If the bed bug infestation problem is getting out of your hands, immediately contact a professional house and home pest control service. A professional house pest control service team will use heavy-duty medication, expert techniques, and tools to eliminate bed bugs efficiently.
Conclusion
Bed bugs not only disturb your sleep at night, but they can also inflame your skin and cause itching. While travelling, you can follow some basic hygiene tips and a few house pest control measures to prevent a bed bug infestation.
It is essential to see the early signs of the infestation to eliminate the pest effectively. When no tips or tricks seem effective, you can hire a professional house pest control service to get rid of bed bugs. This investment will save your furniture, bed, and health in the long run.