Bed Bug Prevention:

  • Isolate mattresses that are suspected to be infested
  • Tend to dirty laundry, never leave out for more than 5 days
  • Clean carpets by vacuuming at least every 2 weeks
  • Steam clean items that cannot be washed
  • Place luggage in hotel bathroom, never on carpets or beds
  • Inspect pre-owned furniture and clothing for the presence of bed bugs prior to purchasing

 

Bed Bug Facts:

  • Check sheets and mattress for black (blood) spots
  • Heat treatments in excess of 130ยบ kills bugs and eggs
  • Bugs are attracted to human exhalation (C02)
  • Trained dogs detect presence of bed bugs
  • Bites are always in multiples
  • Bugs harbor in cracks and crevices
  • Bed bugs are typically nocturnal
  • Humans who are victims of bites may also suffer psychologically
  • Bugs can infest a home by traveling on clothes, furniture or human visitors
  • Bedbugs will congregate once they find a suitable environment
  • A pest control practitioner could take up to an hour to find a bed bug infestation, whereas a trained dog takes only minutes
  • Increasing resistance to pesticides, an increase in travel abroad, and an increase in furniture bought and sold between households contributes to a rise in bed bug infestations in the United States since 1995