You might have even heard that bed bugs are returning. Bed bugs are a widespread issue. Knowing the telltale indications of a bed bug infestation is crucial due to the recent rise in infestations and the fact that they can be challenging to spot without assistance from a specialist. Here are some warning signs:
Check the bed.
Little bed bugs can hide in any crack or crevice. If you spot an area where bed bugs might be hiding, pay close attention to the bed.
Moreover, bed bugs can be discovered in headboards, frames, tufts, and seams of mattresses. They will nest inside drawers or nightstands where you keep your clothes.
Watch out for tiny brown stains.
It is time to take your bed apart when you notice tiny brown stains on the box spring, mattress, or headboard. Bed bugs are small, brownish insects that live in houses worldwide and feed on human blood. The areas where people sleep—under beds, inside mattresses, and occasionally even concealed inside electrical outlets—are where they are most likely to be discovered.
The best approach to determine whether bedbugs are present in your home is to examine their feces (what they leave behind when they eat). There may be an infestation nearby if you discover any minute black specks where someone has just slept (for example, under their pillow or in between their sheets).
Examine your sheets for a dark, rectangular-shaped bed insect excrement stain.
Poop from bed bugs is oval in shape, black, and about the size of a pencil eraser. Usually, it shows up on your bed’s sheets or mattress.
Bedbugs are notorious for leaving behind fecal debris in their feces (poop). Although their feces may resemble blood stains, they are simply waste products from their digestive system. The type of food they consume and the amount of protein consumed at meals can affect the hue.
Look for bite marks on mattresses, sofas, and other soft surfaces.
Bedbugs can leave bite marks on cushions, beds, and furniture. Cotton blankets, chenille bedspreads, and even leather handbags have all been known to be eaten by them.
If you have a cat or dog, look into its sleeping areas.
Pet carpets and beds have been known to be infested by bed bugs. If your animal exhibits symptoms of an infestation, it may be time to get them examined by a veterinarian.
Even if you do not see any signs of bed bug activity in your home, remember that cats and dogs can enter these spaces (for example, from being brought into the house). Alarms are unnecessary because they can distribute their eggs wherever they want.
What places do bed bugs typically hide?
Bed bugs can hide in multiple areas at home, even though they are hard to detect and catch during the day. These little nocturnal creatures have common places where they stash and lounge themselves.
Bed bugs have many areas they can hide:
Mattress seams.
Bed bugs have reportedly been discovered in some people’s mattress seams. When you sit on the bed, there is a lot of friction in this location, encouraging them to move about inside your mattress more quickly.
Mattress boxes
Mattresses and box springs are comparable, but box springs often have fewer seams or cracks where bed bugs could hide. It will be more difficult for them to avoid being discovered if your box spring moves in any way because there will be more areas to hide.
Slats on beds
These bothersome creatures can also hide in their bed frames, but this seems improbable given that most people need to shift their beds more frequently to accomplish this.
Electrical receptacles
Electrical outlets can be a haven for bed bugs. This is due to the electricity’s insect-repelling properties. Due to their offensive stench and aversion to the sensation of electricity on their bodies, bed bugs do not want anything to contact them. They stay away from anything that can damage them, including light sources.
Mounds of clothing
Bed bugs like to hide in mounds of clothing as well. They will frequently travel with their hosts while concealing themselves in their attire. They might look for another hiding spot when they return home to avoid being discovered.
How can to eliminate bed bugs?
Some opt for DIY techniques to get rid of bed bugs, while some call professional bed bug exterminators to handle the situation. Which method works best in getting rid of bed bugs? Here are several methods used to eliminate bed bugs:
Steam Clean
Using a steam cleaner to kill bed bugs and their eggs effectively, it’s crucial to check that the steam tip has a large enough opening to suction them up from furniture crevices. Having the right steam tip size is essential for a successful bed bug eradication process with a steam cleaner. If not, utilize a portable steamer in its place.
Chemical procedures
If the infestation is recent or continuing, chemical treatments will kill adult bed bugs. Still, they won’t eliminate all the eggs that may be present. Treatments should be used repeatedly until your house is free of any indications of bed insect activity.
Heat treatment
Adults and eggs are both killed by heat treatment (if they are present). You can buy gas- or electric-powered heaters that can produce temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) or consult a professional. Electric heaters can have temperatures up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius). These treatments should be applied at least twice to guarantee that all eggs are destroyed. Baltimore, Maryland’s bed bug heat treatment might benefit that situation.
Cold treatment
Freezing all items that come into contact with bed bugs is part of cold therapy (such as your mattress, box springs, and linens). Although more complex than the other solutions mentioned above since it takes a lot of time and work, this method has the potential to be effective against bed bugs.
Take the initiative!
Although bed bugs might be challenging to get rid of, you can do so much more rapidly if you learn to check for the indications of an infestation. Even if you do not currently have a bed bug issue, being aware of the signs makes it much simpler to prevent infestations in the future.
