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All you want is to get the perfect night’s sleep, but those pesky bed bugs keep waking you up in the middle of the night. According to the Orkin 2020 study, Washington, D.C., has surpassed Baltimore as the nation’s bedbug capital.
The worst thing about bed bugs is that they are more resilient than ever. Those companies that carry out Bed Bug Extermination in Washington DC need to use eco-friendly methods and products for effectiveness. Read to learn how to stop the bedbugs from biting.
How to Stop Bedbugs from Biting
It’s no secret that bedbugs are an incredibly stubborn problem to deal with. But you can take steps to ensure you aren’t spreading them around your house or letting them bite you while you sleep.
- Clean clutter! Clutter is a big draw for bed bugs because it provides hiding spaces for them to live in. Get rid of any excess stuff and ensure it’s in a place where it won’t attract bugs—like under the couch.
- Wash your sheets weekly and dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes—or dry clean them if you can afford it! It will kill any bed bugs or eggs hiding in your bedding before they hatch into full-grown bugs.
- Vacuum all of your furniture at least once a week. Bed Bugs are tiny creatures that can hide anywhere they can find a crack or crevice.
- Use heat. If the bed bugs are in other tiny goods, get them heated enough inside a black plastic bag left in the sun, and they may be killed. Bed bugs perish whenever their internal temperatures hit 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Freeze things. Freeze anything that might be hiding a bedbug—including clothes, shoes, books, and electronics! The longer the infested equipment gets frozen, the better chance it has of killing any bedbugs that might be hiding inside.
- Avoid buying second-hand furniture. If you’re purchasing a new piece of furniture, scrutinize it for signs of infestation before bringing it inside your house.
- Use mattress encasements. A mattress encasement is a thin plastic cover that fits over the top of your mattress and protects it from getting infested by bedbugs or other pests like dust mites or roaches.
- Put your dirty laundry in plastic bags and seal them tightly. Also, put your luggage on a metal rack—bed bugs can’t climb metal, so this is a great way to keep them away from your belongings while traveling.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs feed on the blood of humans and their pets. They are nocturnal and come out when it’s quiet and undisturbed. The most common way to get bed bugs is through traveling; they hide in luggage, purses, backpacks, and other belongings. They can also be brought into an apartment building on furniture or other items.
The signs of a bedbug infestation are easy to spot. Here are common ones:
- Tiny red welts on your skin – this is one of the earliest signs of a bedbug infestation. Others may experience itchy welts lasting up to two weeks or more.
- Blood spots on your sheets – these tiny spots are caused by bed bugs biting through the skin and leaving behind a small amount of blood. The blood spots can also be found near the headboard or footboard.
- Bed Bugs shed their dark brown skin as they grow, and you may see them in your bedroom, on your mattress, or on your sheets.
- Dark fecal spots. Bed Bugs poop while they eat, so if you see dark spots in the corners of your bedding or near your bed frame, it might be from bed bugs. They resemble a smattering of tiny spots. The bed bugs’ poop is laced with undigested blood. Bed bug feces can be dark brown to black.
- Eggs. You’ll see them as white dots about 1mm long.
If you see bedbug signs, seek professional help immediately. Once bedbugs are established in a home, they are tough to get rid of on your own. The sooner an exterminator is brought in, the easier it will be for them to eliminate the infestation.
Bedbugs are an annoyance and cause significant damage to your finances, health, and life. If you live in a bedbug-infested environment, you may want to take preventative measures against these tiny creatures. The above steps should assist you in doing so. Remember that prevention is the best policy when fighting bedbug infestations.