We commonly find bed bugs in warm, dark areas, which is why they love our mattresses so much. Bed bugs are virtually invisible to us, meaning they can go for long periods of time without even being noticed. Knowing what causes bed bugs and how they get into your home can go a long way in preventing an infestation. Read on to discover our expert tips on this pest, what causes bed bugs and how to prevent them.
How To Identify Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are hard to spot, and even harder to identify. They’re very small and can move quite quickly. Plus, they’re mainly active at night, so you normally only notice an infestation when it has become a big problem. If you think you’ve spotted a bed bug, you should know what to look out for. They will be a reddish brown colour, quite long and flat in shape and around a quarter of an inch long.
If you can’t get your hands on the bug itself, there are other ways you can spot a bed bug infestation. They leave a lot of traces behind them. When you know what causes bed bugs and you think you have them, look out for these signs.
• Stains that are red or rusty in colour on your sheets and mattress
• Dark spots on the bed
• Noticing bites on your skin from bugs
What Causes Bed Bugs?
There’s a common belief that dirty and messy homes are what causes bed bugs. The reality is that even the tidiest and cleanest of homes can suffer from a bed bug infestation. The real reason of what causes bed bugs is us carrying them into our homes from, for example, hotels or in second hand furniture.
Hotels are a huge part of what causes bed bugs in UK homes. A hotel that has bed bugs allows them to attach themselves to your clothes or luggage and travel home with you. If you love to buy antique or second-hand furniture, bed bugs are commonly found there too. They will infest boxes, bedding, luggage and clothing. Any item that gives them some warmth and close access to a food source – people – is something they will infest.
Even avoiding hotels and not buying antique furniture doesn’t mean you are completely safe from a bed bug infestation. It’s a problem that is almost unavoidable. But there are ways you can prevent them and get rid of them if you suffer from an infestation.
Preventing Bed Bugs In Your Home
There are some precautions you can take to stop bed bugs infesting your home. The most common ways are listed below.
Inspect Second-hand Furniture Before You Buy It
Taking used furniture into your home without giving it a close look poses a real risk of introducing bed bugs into your property. If buying antiques or thrift shopping is a hobby of yours, you should give the furniture a look over before you buy it. The best places to look for bed bugs are along all the seams. A general rule is to never buy a used mattress.
Even if the furniture looks like it’s been cleaned with a fine toothed comb, you should still give it a good once over when you get it home. Don’t put it straight in the house. Instead store it in the garage or shed. Vacuum furniture that has fabric or upholstery, then take hot and soapy water to it. Storage spaces and drawers should also be carefully checked.
Inspect Bedding For Bed Bug Signs
If you have had a plague of bed bugs before or suspect there may be a problem, your bedding is the first thing you check. This doesn’t need to be on a daily basis. You can give the mattress and covers a good once over when you wash the sheets.
Spotting any sign of a bed bug should send you into action mode. The first thing you should do is take any bedding off the bed and put it straight in the washing machine. Wash the bedding on a high temperature. Heat and soapy water is a great combination for killing bed bugs.
The next step is to call in the professionals. We can expertly treat your mattress and bedroom with a highly effective heat treatment that kills bed bugs at every stage of life.
How Empire Can Help With Bed Bugs
The main reason Empire offers a 24 hour pest control service, is so that we can take care of your pest problem swiftly and successfully, thus reducing any of the risks outlined in this post. If you would like to find out more about how we can help, please don’t hesitate to call our office on 0800 633 5220 or 0203 633 2143. We are based In London, but cover the Home Counties too.
Empire offers a bed bug heat treatment service that will can take care of your bed bug problem quickly and successfully, thus reducing any of the risks associated with an infestation. If you would like to find out more about how we can help, please feel free to contact our helpful telephone staff on 0800 633 5220 or 0203 633 2143. We are based In London, but cover the Home Counties and surrounding areas.
Empire use heat treatments for bed bugs because an eco-friendly business model is important to us. We adhere to a strict Health, Safety and Environment Policy. All our work is carried out in accordance with the Health & Safety Act 1974, the Food & Environmental Act 1985 and Control of Pesticides 1986. Empire have lots of positive reviews on CheckATrade to back up our expertise and effectiveness.
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