This is the time of the year that bed bugs are shopping for new places to infest. These pests are notorious hitchhikers that can hide in belongings. While the winter wonderland is setting in, families across the US will be gathering and celebrating the holiday season.
Anyone traveling this season should be vigilant of the possibility that bedbugs may try to hitch a ride. There are some preventative measures travelers can take to avoid infesting their final destination. Bed bugs are everywhere and can survive extreme temperatures.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs
When holiday guests arrive with their suitcases and bags of gifts be cautious that they are not unwittingly bringing along these unwanted hitchhikers. To help prevent picking up bed bugs it is recommended to look for common signs of an infestation.
Using the S.L.E.E.P. acronym [Survey, Lift & Look, Elevate, Examine, Place]
- Survey for signs of a bed bug infestation when arriving at any new location.
- Look for red, brown or reddish brown spots on bed clothing, check all crevices in furniture, the mattress and box springs, baseboards and picture frames.
- Elevate luggage on a rack, or place it in the bathtub or somewhere away from bedding.
- Examine luggage for signs of bed bugs when repacking and on returning home.
- Place any clothing that can tolerate it into a dryer at highest heat setting for at least fifteen minutes.
Bed bugs are tough to find. They are the size of an apple seed. When dealing with a bed bug infestation, don’t panic. Be wholistic in your approach.
The sooner bed bugs are discovered, the easier it is to get rid of them. Be sure to notify locations that might be ground zero.
Bed bugs bite. They are blood suckers. These bites can cause an allergic reaction. Victims often develop itchy welts. These insects feed primarily on humans but are not disease carriers.
It can sometimes take a few days for the skin to react to bed bug bites. Meaning that victims are often unaware of a bed bug issue until well after leaving the infected area. This could mean bed bugs are unwittingly transported to new locations.
Prevent Bed Bug Infestations from Escalating
Bed bugs can hide almost anywhere; boxes, baskets, stuffed animals, furniture, etc. Clearing infested areas of clutter is a good place to start.
Clean all material that can tolerate it in hot water and dry them at the highest setting. Items such as bedding, linens, curtains and clothing.
Items that can’t be washed, such as stuffed animals or shoes, should be placed in a dryer set on high heat for 30 minutes.
Vacuum – Vacuum around bed frames, bedding and mattress seams often and replace vacuum cleaner bag, disposing old one immediately in sealed plastic bag. i
Mattress Covers – Encase both mattress and box springs in tightly woven covers.
Call a Professional Pest Management Specialist
The top three locations that pest professionals report as finding infestations are single family homes, apartments and hotels. Bed bugs are notoriously elusive and a difficult pest to irradicate. They can survive high heat or extreme temperatures. They are found in all 50 of the United States and can survive several months without feeding.
Bed bugs lay up to five eggs a day and more than five hundred in a lifetime. It is highly recommended to turn to a professional pest control specialist if you suspect or discover a bed bug infestation.
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The Bug Stops Here is a full service pest control and exterminator company serving Bohemia and Nassau County, New York and businesses located in Long Island, New York serving all of New York City; Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and surrounding area. For twenty years, our team at Pest Control team has been comprised of professional exterminators who provide high quality pest control services for both commercial and residential properties throughout New York. Our team of extermination professionals can get rid of a variety of pests, ranging from cockroaches, termites, ticks & fleas, bees, wasps,hornets, rodents, ants to bed bugs. Our goal is to provide you with the best pest control services that exceed both your standards and those of the industry as a whole.