One of the worst pest invasions in your Riverside home could quite possibly be bed bugs. People who've had to deal with a bed bug infestation have a shared understanding of the agony that can ensue. The thought of having to deal with putting all your things in bags, washing all your clothes, and throwing out your mattresses; bed bug infestations are just sheer horror.
In this article, we explore ways to tell if bed bugs are invading your home, how to prevent them, and how to get rid of them fast with Riverside pest control.
What Bed Bugs Look Like
A common occurrence when people have bed bugs is that they don't know if they're bed bugs or some other invading insect. If you've never had to deal with them, consider yourself lucky. There are, however, some distinguishing characteristics that can help you identify whether you've got them. These characteristic features include the following:
- An oval, flat shape (when they haven't eaten)
- A swollen, longer shape when they're engorged
- A reddish-brown color
- A lack of wings
- Six legs
Following these guidelines, you'll likely know if what you've found is actually a bed bug.
What It's Like To Have A Bed Bug Infestation In Your Home
Having a bed bug infestation in your home can be a literal nightmare. First, because they bite at night, most people don't get very much sleep. It's hard to sleep with even the thought of an insect crawling on you when you least expect it.
Bed bugs can spread quickly to other areas of your home, such as your couch and other furniture. Many who've experienced bed bugs find their furniture sometimes unsalvageable, so they get rid of it altogether, especially their mattresses.
Finally, bed bugs likely will have spread to your clothes as well. Washing them with very hot water is likely to kill any trace of bed bugs, but you may want to launder them at least twice before you bring them back into your home.
Easy Tips To Prevent Bed Bugs Catching A Ride Into Your Home
Bed bugs are such an unfortunate pest to have to deal with, and most of the time, it isn't your fault. Often, a bed bug issue occurs after someone has been traveling. You see, bed bugs can easily hitch a ride on your luggage and often will. They can also grab onto your clothes in hotel rooms or latch on to that old piece of furniture you found on the street. Below are some tips to prevent bed bugs from getting into your house:
- Vacuum all luggage after a vacation and inspect it inside and out before you bring it back into your home.
- When you first enter a hotel room on a trip, inspect the room for any possible pests. Don't be afraid to look under the mattress, behind the headboard, and around sofas or chairs.
- When purchasing used furniture, be sure to look it over for any signs of pests before bringing it inside your house.
- After a trip, or when purchasing used clothing, wash your clothes on a hot cycle before wearing them or putting them in your dresser drawers.
These preventative tips are a great way to reduce your chances of getting bed bugs. However, if you find that you already have a problem, it's time to look up the best bed bug pest control near you.
What's The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?
Let's say you've followed all those preventative tips and still end up with bed bugs. What do you do now? While it's nice to think that natural pest control for bed bugs could potentially help, they often come back. The quickest and most effective way to get rid of bed bugs is to hire a professional like Compass Pest Management. With years of experience and the proper tools, we give you the best local pest control for bed bugs in town. If you've found yourself with a bite or two, which is indicative of bed bugs, take action now and call us at Compass Pest Management.