Bed bugs – there’s a lot of misconception and misinformation floating around out there about them. Some people think they’re safe as long as they’re not “dirty.” Others think bed bugs spread disease. Others think you can only get bed bugs in apartment buildings or communal living spaces like dorms. The truth, however, is much more unpleasant. The truth is anyone can get bed bugs, and they’re a lot easier to get than you’d want. Below, we’ll bust some of the most common myths about bed bugs and talk about what you can do to keep them out of your Chapin home.
Myth: Bed Bugs Are Only For Dirty Places
Most people imagine bed bug infestations occurring in fleabag motels, shelters, or hostels. Maybe they think bed bugs can’t occur in their nice, clean houses. However, bed bugs can happen anywhere. Vacuuming and washing your sheets can indeed reduce bed bug populations, but bed bugs can happen to you regardless of how clean you are.
Bed bugs feed on blood. They live in your mattress and other furniture, and they snatch meals while you sleep or sit on this furniture. That means they don’t need crumbs from your dirty dishes or food from your garbage like roaches, ants, and other pests. Since they don’t need crumbs or trash, keeping these things out of their reach won’t starve them out of your home.
Myth: It’s Hard To Pick Up Bed Bugs
It’s straightforward to pick up bed bugs. The two main risk factors for bed bugs are travel and secondhand shopping. And when we say travel, we don’t just mean getting on a plane and flying cross-country. There are tons of bed bug hot spots closer to home. Bus and train stations, laundromats, rental car pick-up locations, and more can all be hot spots for bed bug activity. Pretty much anytime you travel outside your home and go to a place where many people carry stuff around, you might pick up bed bugs.
Since it’s so easy to get bed bugs, you’ll have to be vigilant against picking up a few of these little hitchhikers. To avoid bed bugs, take measures like:
1. Thoroughly inspect hotel furniture for signs of bugs, including:
- Bloodstains on mattresses or sheets
- Bed bug feces and eggs
- Bed bug exoskeletons
- Actual bugs hiding in mattress creases or buttons
2. Never lay clothes or luggage on hotel beds
3. Always wash and dry clothes on the highest heat setting when returning from travel
4. Inspect luggage for signs of bugs before bringing it in from travel
5. Never fold or sort clothes at the laundry facility. Pull them out and bring them home.
6. Avoid secondhand shopping. If you choose to buy secondhand items, inspect them for signs of bugs before bringing them inside.
Myth: Homeowners Can Take Care Of Bed Bugs On Their Own
When you wind up with a bed bug infestation, many people try to deal with it independently. Many home remedies homeowners try – diatomaceous earth, isopropyl alcohol, borax powder, essential oils, and more are all touted as solutions to bed bugs.
As you can probably guess, the issue with most of these solutions is that they cannot get the entire infestation. Because bed bugs are so good at hiding, most home remedies can reduce their populations. You’ll never find every single bed bug, so the infestation will always bounce back. Fortunately, The Original Bugman Pest Elimination has your back. We’ve got the latest and greatest bed bug control exterminating tools that won’t just reduce the population around your home but eliminate it. So give us a call or visit our contact page to schedule your inspection!
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