Resolving Pest Control Issues

Got Bed Bugs? Here's What You Can Do To Stop The Infestation

17 November 2018 by Lance Burke

You don't have to throw your belongings out just because you've determined that they are infested with bed bugs. Here is what you can do to stop the infestation from getting worse and get rid of your bed-bug problem altogether:

Thoroughly Inspect Your Home

Now that you suspect that a piece of furniture in your home is infested with bed bugs, it's important to thoroughly inspect the rest of your home for signs of an infestation. Bed bugs can live in and on all kinds of furnishings, not just beds. So, check your couches, chairs, and any other pieces of furniture that are covered in material for signs of bed bugs. Signs to look for include the following:

• Tiny bloodstains and smears

• Fecal stains

• Small, rusty-looking spots

It's a good idea to use a magnifying glass when looking for signs of bed bugs, as the blood and fecal stains, as well as the rusty spots, could be as small as the tip of a pen – making them hard to spot with the naked eye.

Bag the Big Stuff Up

If you do spot signs of bed bugs on any big pieces of furniture in your home, it's a good idea to cover them with large plastic bags or pieces of plastic sheeting and then seal the plastic closed the best you can with tape. This will help reduce the chance that bed bugs will move to other pieces of furniture in your home before you can exterminate them from the place altogether. Move the furniture you've bagged to the corner of the room they're located in if possible so household members and guests will be less likely to use the furniture or brush up against it and loosen the plastic covers you've put on.

Move the Small Stuff Outside

Any small items in your home, like ottomans, suitcases, and clothing, that you suspect is infested with bed bugs should be taken out of your home altogether until it can be properly treated. To ensure that your belongings don't get ruined, create walls on a covered porch using tarps, and store your stuff there. Or set up a sturdy portable canopy in the yard, and put everything underneath it, then cover your belongings with a large tarp so they don't get wet.

Call in a Specialist

Once all of your bed bug–infested belongings are secured, it's time to call in a professional to get rid of the pests once and for all. Your service provider will not only treat the furniture and other items that you've already identified as infested, but they'll also inspect your entire home themselves to ensure that no small signs of infestations were overlooked when you did your inspection. If any further infestations are found, your service provider can treat them to ensure that you don't end up with another bed-bug problem again any time in the near future. To learn more, talk to companies like Arab Termite and Pest Control.

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