If you notice signs of a bed bug problem in your home, then it’s important to contact a bed bug exterminator right away. Bed bugs are small, flat-looking parasites that feed on the blood of humans. While bed bugs aren’t known to carry any diseases and their bites don’t typically require medical attention, bed bug infestations can be a huge hassle.
When bed bugs have taken up residence in your home, it can impact your mental health, causing insomnia and anxiety. If bed bugs are keeping you awake at night, then contact bed bug exterminators in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, right away to explore options for extermination and removal.
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
If you’ve got a bed bug problem, then you’ll likely notice new bites appearing on your body in addition to signs of bed bugs throughout your home. Keep an eye out for some of the following warning signs, and consult a pest control company as soon as possible.
Check Your Skin for Multiple Red, Itchy Bites
There are a few telltale signs of a bed bug infestation. Adult bed bugs bite during the night, so when you first wake up in the morning, take a close look for any new red bumps. Bed bug bites are often itchy and painful and usually show up on areas of the skin that are exposed while you sleep. You might find bed bug bites on your face, neck, arms, legs, and hands.
While bed bug bites resemble other insect bites, there are a few features that can set them apart. Most notably, you might find three or more bites appearing in a line or a zig-zag pattern. Sometimes, a bed bug bite can swell up and feel warm to the touch, like a mosquito bite. Some people have bad reactions to bed bug bites, in which case the bites will look more like a rash. Bed bugs often bite multiple times, so if you notice several new bites in one spot on your body, it might be time to contact a pest control company and schedule an inspection.
Look for Signs of Bed Bugs in Furniture and Cluttered Areas
In addition to bites, you’ll likely notice signs in your living space. Bed bugs themselves are small and can be difficult to see. However, if you suspect that you might have a bed bug problem, be sure to thoroughly check all of your personal belongings. Bed bugs prefer darker fabrics and dirty or messy environments where it’s easier for them to hide. They often take refuge in box springs, mattresses, and bed frames, so look for signs of blood or excrement on your sheets or pillowcase. But bed bugs don’t only hide in your bed. Keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs in your clothes and your furniture, especially sofas or other furniture with tight spaces and hiding places, as well as in any carpeting and around baseboards.
How to Handle a Bed Bug Problem
If you’ve spotted signs of a bed bug issue in your home, then there are a few things you should do to try to get a handle on it. First, try killing bed bugs by washing your sheets and clothes in hot water. Then, once everything is clean, throw them in the dryer on the highest possible heat setting. For the same effect, you can also use a steamer on any furniture where you suspect bed bugs might be hiding, such as in your mattress or sofa.
Since bed bugs are so small and hard to find, it’s important to inspect and clean as much of your home as you can. Vacuum the floors and carpet and empty the vacuum outside. Get rid of clutter to reduce the amount of hiding space for bed bugs. Inspect windows and doors that lead outside to see where bed bugs might be coming in.
Don’t forget to contact a reliable pest control company to ask about options for bed bug extermination. The key is finding a pest control company with the ability to kill bed bugs in every stage of life. Because bed bugs reproduce so quickly, you need to be able to exterminate bed bugs at different life stages, including eggs, nymphs, and adults, to mitigate the infestation. A local pest control company can come up with a strategy for bed bug control that exterminates any bed bugs currently in your home while also preventing any future infestations.
Keeping Your Home Free of Bed Bugs
Once you notice signs of bed bugs in your living space, they can be notoriously difficult to get rid of. You can often find bed bugs hiding in mattresses and furniture at hotels, so if you travel, make sure that no bed bugs hitch a ride in your luggage and follow you back home. Whenever you get to a hotel room, check the corners of your mattress and your bed sheets for signs of bed bugs. If you notice signs of an infestation, you can request a different room or opt to stay at a different hotel if it would make you more comfortable. When you return home, be sure to inspect your luggage for signs of bed bugs and wash your clothes and other fabrics in hot water right away in case any bed bugs found their way into your belongings.
If your home is usually messy or dirty, do your best to clean more frequently to discourage bed bugs from hiding out in piles of clutter. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the tidier your home is, the harder it is for bed bugs to find hiding places. Focus on getting rid of piles of laundry and keeping things off the floor. The less stuff there is sitting out, the easier it will be to clean and disinfect, which can make it easier for you to keep bed bugs out of your home.
Pest Control Treatment for Bed Bugs in Fort Lauderdale, FL
If you suspect you need bed bug treatment, then contact Nationwide Pest Control today. Our licensed pest control specialists can schedule a free estimate and provide you with more information on pest control treatment plans. We can connect you with a qualified exterminator to address your bed bug needs. For more information, reach out to us at (866) 584-9183 or contact us online.
