Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Everything You Need to Know About Bed Bugs

If you’re considering sleeping on an infested mattress, don’t! That’s one of the first pieces of advice from professionals to anyone dealing with bed bugs. These pests are nocturnal and feed on human blood, so they’re much more active and visible at night, which makes them harder to get rid of.

In the morning, when bed bugs are hiding in your mattress again, you won’t even notice their bites until it’s too late! Here’s everything you need to know about bed bugs—and how to keep them away from your home.

What are bed bugs? And What do bed bugs look like?

Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed exclusively on blood. These wingless pests can hide in tiny spaces, but they usually nest near where people sleep. Bed bugs are most active at night, but during the day they usually hide in cracks and crevices in furniture, floors, bed frames and walls. A bed bug infestation is a major problem because it’s hard to eliminate an infestation once it has spread.

How do you get them?

Bed bugs are spread from person to person, or from their environment into yours. They’re typically found in places where people sleep or spend a lot of time, like apartments, hotels, and college dormitories. Some people may get bed bugs in their homes by bringing in used furniture that’s infected with them. And some people get bed bugs from public transit systems, such as buses and trains. The pests can also travel between floors in multi-unit buildings if there is an infestation present on one floor.

How do you get rid of bed bugs?

Bed bugs can be difficult to get rid of, especially when you’re not sure where they are hiding. The key is finding their hiding spots and getting rid of them before they get a chance to come back. For example, you may have bed bugs in your mattress or box spring.  around the house to kill any existing bed bugs that may have traveled from your bedroom into other parts of your home.

How do you prevent bed bugs?

There are a few ways you can prevent bed bugs from invading your home. First, seal cracks and crevices where bed bugs can hide. Next, discard clutter which could provide bed bugs with shelter. Finally, clean up after yourself and never bring used furniture into your home.

Click here to read Commonly Asked Questions about Bed Bugs 

Read 10 Essential Tips to Avoid Bed Bugs When Traveling

If you live in an area that gets cold during the winter, you may have some pest problems in your home even when it’s freezing outside. Here’s why—and how to handle it so your home stays pest-free all year long.

Why do you need pest control in the winter?

Winter is a beautiful time of the year. The holidays are in full swing. And winter sports are just around the corner. But in this season there’s one thing you need to be prepared for: pests! Without pest control in the winter, your home could become infested with pests as they find their way into your house looking for warmth and shelter from the cold.

What pests are active in the winter?

In fact, some pests like rodents, cockroaches, pharaoh ants and spiders are more prominent in the winter months and search for warmth inside homes to ensure their survival. 

“Droppings or body parts of cockroaches and other pests can trigger asthma. Certain proteins are found in cockroach feces and saliva and can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns online.

What can you do to prevent pests in the winter?

The best way to prevent pests from invading your home during the winter is to make sure that your home has a tight seal. In order to keep pests out, you need to close up every hole and crack on the outside of your home. The best way to do this is by caulking. Caulk all cracks or holes with silicone or latex caulk.

How can you get rid of pests in the winter?

Winter is the perfect time to get rid of pests in your home! There are a few ways you can do this. First, look for any cracks in the exterior of your home that might be letting pests in. This includes making sure there are no gaps where pipes or wires go through the outside of your house. Second, clean up any debris on the ground near the outside of your house and keep it cleared so that pests don’t have an easy way to get inside.

Don’t forget receiving quarterly pest control services from a professional will help keep pests at bay all year around!