Did you just spot Bedbugs in your house?
Were they dark reddish-brown in color?
Bed Bugs are small, oval, brown flattened wingless insects of the genus Climax that feed on human blood at night. These tiny pests can hitchhike into your house and infest your bedroom space. They even cause health problems like skin rashes, allergy symptoms, and psychological stress as bed bugs bite mostly at night when you’re asleep.
So, can you spot bed bugs early before they start to infest?
Early Signs of Bed Bugs
The first signs of bed bugs are subtle. If you find one sign, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have bedbugs, but it’s worth investigating further. The more signs you find, the more likely it is that your living space has bed bugs.
- Unpleasant
Begbugs release a musty smell, especially when they’re in masses, as they excrete sweet and stale-smell pheromones from their bodies.
- Bedbug Bite
Bed bug bites are small and itchy. You will notice mostly on your head and neck, as these are usually not covered by bed linens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bedbug bites typically take 14 days to appear.
Note that, they tend to leave clusters of bites rather than biting just on arms or shoulders. However, you can’t tell the difference whether a flea or a bed bug has bitten you as their bite marks are very similar.
- Dark Stains
Did you just notice dark stains on your bedding, walls, and floors? If so, inspect for bed bugs now because a small infestation can turn severe quickly.
Bed Bugs often excrement on the bedding during or before feeding. So, these smelly dark stains are nothing but the dung. You may notice these stains in large numbers in case of moderate to severe bed bug infestation.
4. Bloodstains
If you spot blood stains on bedding and nightclothes, it could be an early sign of bed bugs as they often get crushed or rolled over at night.
Note that these stains are hard to find at first. However, they become more apparent when the bed bug infestation grows. These early signs of bedbugs are a wake-up call for you. If the infestation gets worse, hire professionals for Bed Bug Treatment in Houston now!
How to get rid of bedbugs at home?
Using High Heat concentration in the bedroom is the best-known method for a 100% kill rate of bed bugs. High temperature of 120°F (46.11°C) or intense cold at 32°F (0°C).
Some other ways to eliminate these bed bugs are:
- Hot water
If you suspect bed bugs in your living space, wash your bedding, clothes, rugs, and blankets thoroughly with hot water for 30 minutes as they can’t withstand the heat. This simple treatment can help you get rid of such pesky pests because they tend to get dehydrated during hot water washing.
After washing, let your clothes dry in the highest heat setting for 30 minutes to avoid any little chance of bedbugs’ survival. Importantly, you can use a steamer on mattresses, couches, and other places where bed bugs typically hide.
- Vacuuming
It’s important to vacuum your bedding, furniture, cupboard, and kitchen daily. Bed bug love to hide inside the cracks and rest mostly on the walls, bed frames, and wallpaper. You can use a brush to kill the eggs on your mattress, sofa, or upholstery.
After vacuuming, you can sprinkle baking soda on areas where you think these pests are laying. Baking soda is the best home remedy to remove moisture from the upholstery or bedding because moisture attracts bed bugs.
- Tea tree oil
Bed bugs hate the smell of tea tree oil or any other essential oils. Moreover, it has antiseptic, antifungal, and antibiotic properties that can sanitize your house too.
Therefore, spray essential oil in the corners or cracks or near the furniture where there are possibilities of a bedbug infestation.
Once you have cleaned and sanitized all the visible bedbugs from the mattress, bedding, or sofa, cover them with a bedbug-proof zip cover. These covers trap the bedbug inside, that’s how they will die and no new bedbug will be able to penetrate.
If these methods still didn’t help you effectively, call Conquest Pest Control now and get a professional bed bug control today! We’re experts in conquering back your living space for a healthy and pest-free environment.