The bed bug infestations have been rising over the last several years. Those little creatures are appearing everywhere; even in places we'd least expect them. Bed bugs are very small, flat and a reddish brown color. They compare in size to an apple seed. And no one is invulnerable to their presence. Dirty or clean, rich or poor, young or old. Bed bugs affect all people equally. They are really good at getting into our dwellings, and once they get in it's very hard to get them out again. They are not disease transmitters so that is good news.
Because these bugs are flat and tiny, and they get into places we wouldn't even consider. They'll squeeze into any crack or crevice, and they live along mattress seams. They set up camp in sheets and blankets, behind baseboards, wallpaper and furniture. They love hotels because there are so many hiding places; and since human blood is their main food, hotels provide plenty of choices. They'll get into your luggage while you sleep, and you won't even know you're bringing them home. It is not long before your home is infested, and then you unwittingly carry them with you to the gym, the theatre, the store, etc...
But before you think they are only a problem in hotels, understand they also infest homes, shops, gyms, and any other places where humans dwell. The female can lay up to five eggs per day, so it isn't long before one becomes a hundred. Bed bugs have a sickly sweet odor, so if there are a lot of them you'll begin to smell them.
So, what can you do to eliminate these bugs? There are things you can do to exterminate them if they've already invaded your living space. Along with that, there are steps that can be taken to make sure they stay gone. The first thing you can do is try and detect them in your main living areas. Perhaps you already know you have a bed bug problem. If you don't know for sure, you'll want to investigate and eradicate them before their population has a chance to grow. You should begin with your bedding. Look first at the seams on your sheets and blankets. Take a look at the seams along the mattress as well. Shift the mattress and also take a look at the box spring. They prefer to roost in the various crevices and seams so that they're not spotted right away. Also examine the sheet for blood spots or rust-colored spots. When they bite they trigger a small amount of bleeding. This blood will show up on the sheet somewhere. Once you've completed the bedding area, proceed to examine the rest of the house.
If you travel regularly, you should check the bedding at the hotel you check into. Even though they may change the sheets, the bed bugs will get into the mattress and multiply. If you find some, you can request to change rooms. Odd are, though, that if your room is infested the other rooms are as well. Believe it or not there is a bed bug registry for hotels. Some travelers don't have an option to choose their own hotels. But if you do, you should check out www.bedbugregistry.com before you book. You can input a hotel and city and it will give you all kinds of information. The information comes from other users who have experienced the problems first hand. This makes it pretty reliable.
If you find you have bed bugs there are some things you can do to get rid of them. The three basic processes are heat, ice, and suction. What I mean is that you can heat them up with an iron or a hair dryer. (The heat category also includes washing your bedding in the hottest possible water.) Or you can freeze them with ice. Or you can vacuum them up. Both heat and ice work well, but if you have more than one or two, vacuuming is probably the easiest solution. Don't forget to immediately empty the vacuum bag when you're done. It is preferable if you dispose of it as far away from the house as possible.
Travelers in the hotel should put their luggage on a shelf or bathroom counter or desk while they check out the bed area. When they return home they should take their laundry right to the washer and never mingle it with home laundry. Immediately vacuum out the luggage as well, just in case some bugs found their way in there. Keeping the two separate will reduce the spread.
It's true that bed bugs are a big issue in America. But that doesn't mean you have to have the issue. Clearing up the infestation by using one of these tips is the key to success. Then continuing with weekly cleanings will ensure they stay out going forward.
Because these bugs are flat and tiny, and they get into places we wouldn't even consider. They'll squeeze into any crack or crevice, and they live along mattress seams. They set up camp in sheets and blankets, behind baseboards, wallpaper and furniture. They love hotels because there are so many hiding places; and since human blood is their main food, hotels provide plenty of choices. They'll get into your luggage while you sleep, and you won't even know you're bringing them home. It is not long before your home is infested, and then you unwittingly carry them with you to the gym, the theatre, the store, etc...
But before you think they are only a problem in hotels, understand they also infest homes, shops, gyms, and any other places where humans dwell. The female can lay up to five eggs per day, so it isn't long before one becomes a hundred. Bed bugs have a sickly sweet odor, so if there are a lot of them you'll begin to smell them.
So, what can you do to eliminate these bugs? There are things you can do to exterminate them if they've already invaded your living space. Along with that, there are steps that can be taken to make sure they stay gone. The first thing you can do is try and detect them in your main living areas. Perhaps you already know you have a bed bug problem. If you don't know for sure, you'll want to investigate and eradicate them before their population has a chance to grow. You should begin with your bedding. Look first at the seams on your sheets and blankets. Take a look at the seams along the mattress as well. Shift the mattress and also take a look at the box spring. They prefer to roost in the various crevices and seams so that they're not spotted right away. Also examine the sheet for blood spots or rust-colored spots. When they bite they trigger a small amount of bleeding. This blood will show up on the sheet somewhere. Once you've completed the bedding area, proceed to examine the rest of the house.
If you travel regularly, you should check the bedding at the hotel you check into. Even though they may change the sheets, the bed bugs will get into the mattress and multiply. If you find some, you can request to change rooms. Odd are, though, that if your room is infested the other rooms are as well. Believe it or not there is a bed bug registry for hotels. Some travelers don't have an option to choose their own hotels. But if you do, you should check out www.bedbugregistry.com before you book. You can input a hotel and city and it will give you all kinds of information. The information comes from other users who have experienced the problems first hand. This makes it pretty reliable.
If you find you have bed bugs there are some things you can do to get rid of them. The three basic processes are heat, ice, and suction. What I mean is that you can heat them up with an iron or a hair dryer. (The heat category also includes washing your bedding in the hottest possible water.) Or you can freeze them with ice. Or you can vacuum them up. Both heat and ice work well, but if you have more than one or two, vacuuming is probably the easiest solution. Don't forget to immediately empty the vacuum bag when you're done. It is preferable if you dispose of it as far away from the house as possible.
Travelers in the hotel should put their luggage on a shelf or bathroom counter or desk while they check out the bed area. When they return home they should take their laundry right to the washer and never mingle it with home laundry. Immediately vacuum out the luggage as well, just in case some bugs found their way in there. Keeping the two separate will reduce the spread.
It's true that bed bugs are a big issue in America. But that doesn't mean you have to have the issue. Clearing up the infestation by using one of these tips is the key to success. Then continuing with weekly cleanings will ensure they stay out going forward.
About the Author:
Norita Sieffert has traveled extensively looking for helpful hints on a variety of topics. She has gathered information on many subjects, including eliminating bed bugs. To read more interesting facts, visit her articles page. To browse her outstanding selection of down comforters, visit her online home decor store.
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