Don’t let the “bed bugs” bite, a common household threat!

Don’t let the “bed bugs” bite, a common household threat!

Let’s get rid of these squatters who don’t pay rent or mortgage, electricity or water bill. I like to call them bed vampires because they are usually in the bed and they feed off your blood. It is important to understand where to find them, how to prevent them and get rid of them. Read the highlighted items below that I thought were the best items to keep in mind.

How to spot a Bed Bug

You know you've spotted a bed bug if what you see is: reddish brown, 4-5 mm in length & 1.5-3 mm wide, relatively flat, covered in small hairs making their bodies appear to be striped and wingless

Evidence of Bed Bugs

Identifying Bites - Bed bug bites are usually flat welts or raised, red bumps that are rather itchy. However, only 30% of people who are bitten have a reaction to the bite. So if you don’t notice any reactions to a bite, that doesn’t necessarily eliminate the possibility of bed bugs.

Tiny Black Spots - Keep an eye out for tiny black spots that are smaller than a poppy seed. If it sticks to the surface and smears when wiped with a wet towel, it could be bed bug droppings. This signals that you may have bed bugs around.

Blood Stains -And if you notice small blood stains on your sheets when you wake up, you may have rolled over a bed bug that was paying a visit from its hiding spot. Ugh.

Scent - Bed bugs can smell like raspberries. That’s right. Raspberries. However others have described their odor smelling like raw beef or moldy shoes in places that are infested.

Eggs - Bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. These eggs are pearly white, 1mm in length, and are very difficult to spot with the human eye.

Minimize Hiding Spots
Now that you know how they get in, take precautions in case they try to come back. Here are a few ways you can minimize potential bed bug hiding spots:

Caulk cracks along molding and baseboards.

Seal up holes in areas where pipes or wires go through the wall.

Source: RidBedBugs.com

Reduce bedroom clutter, especially near the bed.

Defend Yourself
There are products already available that are designed to guard you from bed bugs.

• Bed Bug Barrier Tape. Barrier tape has a slippery surface that bed bugs can’t crawl up when placed vertically. By sticking it on bed legs and headboards, you can stop them from interrupting your night of sleep.

• Portable Luggage Heater. Portable heating units are a simple, safe way to make sure you don’t bring bed bugs home from vacation.

• Dry Vapor Steam Cleaners. Steam kills bed bugs and their eggs on contact, which makes dry vapor steamers perfect for the household cleansing of mattresses, bed frames, pillows, box springs, chairs, headboards, and wall boards.

• Bed Bug Traps. Bed bug interceptors can catch the critters when they try to climb up your bed posts. They can also give clues as to which direction they’re coming from.

I recommend Good Night spray.