7 Mistakes That Increase Chances of Bed Bug Infestations

Many bedbug infestations are preventable because they result from homeowner mistakes. Minimize your chances of experiencing an infestation by avoiding the following seven mistakes. 

Bedbugs don't like to be out in the open. They like to have hiding places to sneak around in. Bedbugs are particularly attracted to cluttered areas of a home.

Keep clutter off your floors so that bedbugs won't feel comfortable. Not only will bedbugs be less attracted to your home's interiors if they're clutter-free, but bedbugs will also be more visible so that you can immediately detect their presence and get rid of them.

You're more susceptible to bedbug infestations when you put a lot of secondhand furniture in your home. Bedbugs travel from place to place easily when furniture pieces go from one property to another.

You should avoid putting too much secondhand furniture in your home. When you do buy used furniture, inspect and clean it thoroughly to make sure it doesn’t have any pests.

Mattress covers are a good way to prevent bedbugs. A vinyl or plastic mattress cover prevents bedbugs from burrowing down into your mattress.

When you put a cover over your mattress, you often kill bedbugs trapped inside because they can't get out to find a food source. However, remember that mattress covers need to be sealed up tightly to be effective at killing bedbugs.

Those who travel frequently on overnight trips where they stay in hotel rooms or the homes of other people are more likely to experience bedbug infestations.

If an individual stays in a hotel room with a bedbug infestation, bedbugs can get on and in their clothing and luggage. Then, these bedbugs follow the individual back to their own home and start reproducing there. 

Decrease your bedbug infestation risk by minimizing how many different places you stay at when you travel. Also, only stay away overnight when necessary.

By periodically inspecting your sheets and bedding, you can become aware of the presence of bedbugs before infestations become too severe.

Bedbugs often hide in crevices in and around beds. Don't just look for bedbugs themselves, but also learn to recognize their feces. Bedbug feces appear in clusters as tiny reddish-brown or black dots. 

Vacuuming frequently clears away bedbugs and their eggs before an infestation takes root. When you vacuum to prevent bedbugs, be sure to vacuum down into crevices where bedbugs are likely to hide. 

Be aware of the fact that bedbugs can survive going through the vacuum cleaner. For this reason, you should take the contents of your vacuum outside immediately after vacuuming so bedbugs don't escape and get back into your floors and furniture. 

Bedbugs sometimes penetrate homes by coming in from outside at openings around baseboards, doors, and windows. You should periodically apply caulking to seal up any gaps you see in your home to prevent bedbugs and other insect pests from coming in from outside. 

If you need assistance in handling a bedbug infestation, contact us at Bobby Grisson's Pest Management. We are happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you have about bedbugs in your home. Talk to us about our seven-step program that can keep your home pest-free for up to a year!