How To Avoid Bed Bugs

It is important to know how to avoid bed bugs in both our homes and while traveling. Bed bugs are an epidemic in many cities of the world because they spread relatively easily and can be difficult to exterminate since many times they escape our notice until there is already a strong infestation. As with most everything, the best way to get rid of them is simply to prevent them. It is important to know a few basic precautions that will help you prevent bed bugs.             One of the main ways that people will end up with bed bugs is because they have traveled to a location which had an infestation, and they returned with articles of clothing or other cloth materials that had some bed bugs hidden within them. With these tiny crawling creatures, you may wonder how to avoid bed bugs when traveling, especially how to avoid bed bugs in hotels. For this, there are a few helpful hints.

First, when arriving in a new hotel room or when staying in a bed away from home while traveling, remember not to just throw your suitcase on the floor or on the bed where, if there is an infestation, the bugs could easily craw into your suitcase and clothing. Instead, use provided racks in hotel rooms or place away from any nooks or crannies or carpeted areas where bed bugs may be hiding. Secondly, pull back the sheets on the bed you will be using and check all the corners and edges and other good hiding places for any small bugs that may be hiding there. It helps to have a flashlight for this examination. Most hotels offer white sheets and mattresses, so checking for the little black bugs is relatively easy. If you do find that there are bugs or traces of bugs, it is best to go see hotel management or the owner of the property as soon as possible. Where there is one or two bugs, there are sure to be more! Many hotels may also provide information on how to avoid bed bugs.

When returning from travel, it is wise to wash all clothing, even unsoiled clothing, in the hottest water they can stand along with drying them on the highest heat possible for at least 30 minutes. This will kill any bugs you may not have noticed. Steam-cleaning or vacuuming your suitcase is also helpful for any bugs that may be lurking there. Be sure to inspect your clothing and suitcase in an area outside or away from your home; even the garage is a better place than the living room.

If you have the misfortune of getting bed bugs in your home, bed bug removal is a fairly straightforward though somewhat time-consuming process. The first step will be to call a bed bug exterminator. Though there are some methods such as using bed covers, cleaning all of your clothing and linens, and spreading fossil shell dust among other powders which cause the bugs to die. However, the surest way is by hiring a bed bug extermination service. Exterminator websites will often provide information also about how to avoid bed bugs. These exterminators will use a combination of pesticides and chemicals as well as heat to eradicate the bed bugs. They are likely to be more thorough for bed bug removal than any personal remedies, though they may be expensive. Find a reputable exterminator so that you only spend the money once, and alert your neighbors, especially in apartment buildings, so they can check their homes as well.