To say that living with bed bugs can be traumatizing is not an exaggeration. There are many documented cases of people developing social anxiety, depression and PTSD from living with bed bugs. There are many myths and misconceptions about what you should and shouldn’t do in the event of a bed bug infestation. It is easy to make things worse with misinformation.
Below are a few things you should and shouldn’t do according to professional pest control Kitchener experts.
Bed Bug Do’s
Do call a professional exterminator to get rid of bed bugs as soon as you notice the problem. Delaying will only make the infestation worse and more expensive to treat. A single bed bug can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime so this is a problem that has the potential to spread exponentially.
Do maintain your home as neat as possible. Although bed bugs are not particularly attracted to dirt, clutter offers them more hiding places. A well organized house gives the critters fewer hiding places and makes the inspection to locate them easier once exterminators arrive.
Do keep everything in its place as much as possible aside from getting rid of clutter. Moving furniture, clothes and other items increases the risk of spreading bed bugs to new locations.
Do use bed bug certified covers or encasements over your box spring, mattress and pillows. The cover won’t get rid of the bed bugs but it might make your nights easier as treatment continues.
Do wash your clothes regularly and at the highest heat setting allowable for the fabric and the same for the dryer. Store your clean clothes in sealed plastic bags until ready to wear. Keep your dirty clothes in sealed plastic bags until ready to wash.
Do keep any evidence of bed bugs that you might find. It may help the exterminator identify the pest. Other insects that look like bed bugs include beetle, bat bug, carpet beetle, book lice, and cockroach and spider beetle among others.
Bed Bug Don’ts
Don’t try to get rid of bed bugs on your own. Recent studies prove that bed bugs are impervious to common household pesticides. The insecticide will only irritate the bugs and cause them to spread further.
Don’t attempt to starve the bed bugs by changing sleeping location. Bed bugs can last up to a year without a blood meal so moving temporarily doesn’t help and increases the chances of spreading the bugs to others. Moving to a different room means the bugs follow you to the previously un-infested room. The critters use CO2 emissions and body heat to find their host.
Don’t throw away furniture, mattresses, bedding or any other household items unless directed by a professional. Most household items can be salvaged with professional extermination. Attempting to get rid of the items may also spread bed bugs to other areas of the house and furniture picked up by unwitting people.
Don’t use foggers and bed bug bombs. Studies show that the chemicals do not penetrate deep enough to exterminate bed bugs where they hide. These pesticides may also be harmful to pets and humans.
Don’t buy additional items until the problem has been eliminated permanently. The new items will only provide new hiding places for the bed bugs.
Don’t scratch bed bug bites. Use anti-itch cream or antihistamines if necessary. Scratching the bite risks a secondary infection.
Do Hire Professional Pest Control Kitchener To Get Rid of Bed Bugs Permanently
Bed bugs are getting increasingly more difficult to exterminate even by professionals. The pests have developed enzymes that break down pesticides and thicker skin which makes them more resistant to pesticides. Pest Control Kitchener has developed an elaborate strategy for effectively dealing with bed bugs on a case-by-case basis using comprehensive bed bug exterminator Kitchener methods. We also invest heavily in research and products that have proved effective and consistent in handling difficult infestation. Extermination includes a warranty to assure clients that our technicians are on hand until the pest problem has been eliminated permanently.