From renters to homeowners, there are two words that put fear into any resident: bed bugs. These pests are more than just a nuisance but can cause serious health, residential, and financial damages. Whether you want to arm yourself with knowledge of preventing bed bugs, or you’re deciding the best course of action to eliminate them from your home, here are the expert tips you need to defend against Phoenix bed bugs.
How Bed Bugs Thrive
Knowing how to defend against bed bugs requires knowing how they thrive, so you can make sure to avoid creating an environment that is hospitable to them.
Bed bugs get their nourishment by sucking, causing irritation to skin and general annoyance to people. In addition, bed bugs can remain dormant without eating for as long as a year and still survive.
Because of their small size, bed bugs are difficult to detect. As their name suggests, bed bugs especially like to burrow into mattresses and other areas where it’s easy for them to hide.
Preventing Infestation
The idea that the best defense is a strong offense certainly holds true for bed bugs. To defend against bed bugs, it is necessary to take proactive measures to prevent their infestation in the first place. These are the precautions you can take to prevent bedbugs:
- Maintain a clean environment, especially by vacuuming frequently
- Encase mattresses and box springs with protective covering
- Seal gaps under doors, cracks in baseboards, light covers, etc.
- Use plastic bags if using public laundromats
- Check and treat any furniture items purchased from secondhand stores
Bed bugs can latch onto clothing, furniture, and other items and hitch a ride into your home, but while it may not be possible to guarantee 100 percent that they won’t get in, taking precautions can ensure a full-blown infestation does not occur.
Treating for Infestation
If you have a bed bug infestation on your hands, there are several steps you’ll need to take before you begin the treatment process.
1) Bag all clothing, bedding, and anything that can be washed and put in a dryer at high temperatures. High heat will kill bed bugs and eggs.
2) Inspect all furniture and floors throughout for bugs or eggs and clean thoroughly.
3) Enclose mattress and box-spring in bed-bug proof covers for treatment.
While it is possible to do a DIY bed bug treatment, the process is time-intensive and grueling because it requires a full clean of everything in the residence. Also, the chemicals in some of the bed bug treatments on the market are not always safe for animals and the environment. For comprehensive bed bug treatment that is safe for your health and the environment, you should seek a professional pest control service.
Take Control with Bellator Pest Control
If you’ve got an infestation of Phoenix bed bugs, take matters into your hands and call an Arizona exterminating company such as Bellator Pest Control. Starting with a customized treatment plan, and using environmentally friendly chemicals, we’ll get your infestation taken care of. Call now to get those beg bugs out.