As experienced exterminators, we’ve seen firsthand the havoc bed bugs can wreak on a household. Luckily, bed bugs do not transmit diseases through blood. But their bites cause physical discomfort, itchiness, and swelling. In some cases, they can induce severe allergic reactions, leading to more serious health conditions.
However, the real nightmare lies in the psychological stress and sleep deprivation they cause. Many Londoners report feeling paranoid after encountering these pests in their homes. Even after successful bed bug extermination, some people experience a persistent sense of infestation and itching despite the absence of visible signs or new bites. As you can see, ignoring a bed bug infestation can lead to significant consequences. The good news is that a proactive approach to bed bug prevention can lead to a healthier and more comfortable home.
How to Stop Bed Bugs From Entering Your Home
Understanding how bed bugs get inside your home is the first step towards keeping them out. These sneaky pests can squeeze into the tightest spaces and travel on luggage, clothing, and furniture. A single pregnant female can lay hundreds of eggs, quickly multiplying into a full-blown infestation if left unchecked. The best way to prevent infestations is to make sure bed bugs don’t enter your home in the first place. Here’s how to do it:
Protect Your Luggage When Travelling
Hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and other tourist accommodation can be breeding grounds for bed bugs. Upon arriving at a hotel, don’t unpack immediately. Instead, thoroughly inspect the luggage rack, headboard, and mattress seams for signs of bed bugs (live insects, shed skins, or dark spotting). Consider keeping your luggage on a chair or a stand away from the bed and wall.
Be Wary of Second-Hand Treasures
The allure of a bargain can be tempting, but you should exercise caution with used furniture or clothing. Carefully examine these items for signs of bed bugs before bringing them home. Avoid buying second-hand upholstered furniture altogether, as it provides more hiding spots.
Beware of Shared Laundry Facilities
Be cautious if you live in a block of flats and use shared laundry facilities. Consider using tightly sealed plastic bags to transport your laundry and avoid placing your belongings on potentially contaminated surfaces.
Fortify Your Apartment
Living in a block of flats requires additional vigilance. Install a door sweep at the bottom of the entrance doors to discourage bed bugs from entering from hallways. Communicate with your neighbours about bed bug prevention strategies and the importance of early detection.
Eliminate Possible Entry Points
Tiny cracks and crevices can act as highways for bed bugs. Regularly inspect your walls, skirting boards, and around electrical outlets for gaps. Seal them up with a suitable caulk to eliminate potential entry points.
Create a Bed-Bug-Resistant Home
Bed bugs are tiny, sneaky pests that sometimes find their way into homes despite best efforts. However, implementing certain strategies can make your home less attractive to these unwanted guests. Here’s what to do:
Encase Your Mattress and Box Spring
Protecting your bed and mattress is a crucial preventative measure. Invest in high-quality encasing covers designed to trap and prevent bed bugs from accessing your mattress and box spring. Choose a light-coloured encasement for easier detection, and ensure it’s tightly sealed with no tears or holes.
Declutter Your Space
The less clutter you have, the fewer hiding spots bed bugs have. Declutter your home, paying particular attention to areas around and under the bed, behind furniture, and near walls.
Establish a Regular Cleaning Routine
Hoover your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture regularly, paying special attention to crevices and seams. Empty the hoover cleaner’s bag immediately after each use and dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag outside.
Change Your Laundry Habits
Bed bugs and their eggs can be susceptible to high heat. Wash bedding, clothes, and curtains that may have come into contact with bed bugs in the hottest water your washing machine allows (ideally above 60°C). Dry them on high heat as well.
Inspect Your Home on a Regular Basis
Prevention is all about vigilance, so regularly inspecting your home for bed bugs, especially after travelling or bringing in used furniture, is wise. Here’s what to look for:
- Live or dead bed bugs – these pests are small, flat, oval-shaped insects with a reddish-brown colour.
- Bed bug droppings – they look like dark brown or black spots.
- Bed bug eggs – the pests lay tiny, white, oval-shaped eggs in clusters in cracks and crevices near mattresses and furniture. They’re tough to see with the naked eye, but a magnifying glass can help.
- Shed skins – as bed bugs grow, they shed their exoskeletons. Look for these translucent skins near their hiding spots.
When checking for bed bugs, focus on places where these pests are most likely to hide. The most common hiding spots include the mattress seams, box spring folds, bed frame crevices, headboards, and surrounding furniture. Inspect the walls around your bed, paying close attention to wallpaper and electrical outlets. Check curtains, window frames, and skirting boards for signs of bed bugs.
What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs
Following these preventative measures and remaining vigilant can significantly minimise the risk of a bed bug infestation. However, if you suspect you have a problem, don’t try to tackle it yourself. We strongly advise against using commercial products to eliminate bed bugs. These products often have limited effectiveness and can make the situation worse.
If you decide to use a commercial product, keep in mind:
- Bed bugs are resistant to low concentrations of insecticides.
- They can sense poison and will do their best to survive.
- Treating only one room may cause bed bugs to migrate to untreated areas, re-infesting the entire property.
To ensure complete eradication, contact Toxic Respond. We have years of experience exterminating bed bugs in London. We work quickly and effectively, allowing you to reclaim your peaceful night’s sleep.
